Rod rests are used to provide a convenient place to put the rod when it is not being held in the hand. When legering or still water float fishing the rod will spend a lot of time in the rests, while for running water fishing they provide a safe and convenient place to put the rod when re-baiting or unhooking a fish.
Rod rests are available either with a male thread to allow them to be screwed into bank sticks, or as a single unit incorporating a V shaped rest, and a metal pole to be pushed into the river bank.
If you are on a very tight budget, the single construction type will suffice, but the screw-in type are generally better and more versatile.
For float fishing it is convenient to have both a front rest and a back rest, especially when still water fishing.
For legering you may need both a front rest and a back rest, or just a front rest if you need to point the rod into the air, such as when fishing at range on fast flowing rivers.
Bank Sticks
These are metal poles with a spike at one end and a female threaded section at the other. They are used for both rod rests and keep nets. If you obtain rod rests of the screw-in type, or are intending to use a keep net they are essential, otherwise they are not needed.