To a degree camo rods are ok. My fly rods have unfinished blanks which are dull. I've always figured the reflection off a shiney rod would scare fish while fishing a gin clear pool. I spoke with a rod manufacturer last week. He said they are beginning to paint the ferrels to break up the length of a rod to make it less noticeable to fish. I don't know.

I've always figured if a fish can see your rod then he can see you so whats the point.

As for the rods pictured above, A duck blind is the only place I can see them.

Several months ago, I went to a certain consumer outdoors expo... and when things got a tad slow, my friend and I spiced things up with a $10 bet on who could spot the person wearing the most camo items in one outfit. Mind you, this was Denver, in the winter, indoors. I lost the bet. The winning ensemble: six items... hat, shirt, belt, pants, boots, watchband, and eyeglass strap. I kid you not.

Koldkut, that is a good point. I am not a waterfowler (too busy fishing in the fall), and fishing from a duck blind didn't occur to me. That said, I think there are also some coastal guys who will cast to any redfish that might tail in front of a blind. So maybe the camo isn't such a bad idea. Next up: camo fishing reels?

Not having a retriever, I have had to use a rod, reel, and original Rapala (F18), to gather ducks and geese in the water. Would I need a camo rod, no, but but they do look pretty cool.

I have been known to cast to said redfish or to a trout busting bait from a duck blind. I don't particularly care for the camo rod unless the blank is actually worth the price. Usually if you are fishing from a duck blind a duck will see the movement camo or not. Generally I will not be casting to fish unless the hunting has just been horrific. Basically I find the camo rod concept boring.

I have to laugh ... not because of the ingenious marketing ... but because I still haven't figured out what came over me when I bought a pair of camo drawers. What was I thinking. Not sure a friend ever found the Mossy Oak billfold he lost in the woods.

I agree with buckhunter - would prefer a rod with a dull finish. Ever wonder why fly drying patches on fishing vests are bright white? Finally, seeing some in flat black.

Great! make it even easier for me loose another rod, I thinking of putting a car beeper on my last one....

This is great, until you strap your gold and chrome reel to it...

I believe that rods like that are just for style more than they are for practical use. I mean, don't get me wrong I like camo patterns but there is a reason why I dont have a camo light or camo knife... because if I drop it, I don't want to have a 1 hour search trying to look for it. Yeh, camo patterns might "camoflauge" your gear from whatver you are hunting, but they also are "camoflauged" when you drop them on the ground so finding them sometimes is almost impossible.

There is no practical use for having a camo fishing pole. It's all about flashy marketing, the fish don't care what you use. The only reason people would buy this pole is because they think it looks cool, that's it. I wouldn't waste my money on a $140 rod, the $50-60 rods are just fine with me, and catch fish, so I'm happy.

After 25+ years in the "rod" business and not the "pole" business, it is all about coming out with the thing that nobody has at the moment. At this moment the guys at USA are some clever ones. No rod company from Texas has ever won that award.