How to Make a Tuna Jack Pole

Before the advent of large seine nets, which are designed to encircle entire schools of fish, jack poles were used by commercial fishermen to harvest large quantities of tuna. A play on words, jack poles are stout rods, traditionally made of bamboo. When a tuna is hooked with a jack pole the fish is literally yanked, or “jacked” from the water, and into the boat, in one quick and smooth motion.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-inch diameter by 6-foot long piece of bamboo
  • Ruler
  • Felt-tip marking pen
  • Drill
  • 1/8-inch drill bit
  • 3-foot section of size-6 stainless steel wire fishing leader
  • Pliers
  • Size-10 stainless steel swivels
  • 15-foot long section of braided 100-pound test fishing line
  • Size-10 stainless steel snap-swivels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure down 2 inches from one end of a 2-inch diameter by 6-foot long piece of bamboo with a ruler; mark the spot with a felt-tip marking pen. Be sure the mark is at the center line, or the middle of the diameter, of the rod.

    • 2

      Drill a hole through the bamboo, at the mark, with a 1/8-inch drill bit.

    • 3

      Insert a 3-foot section of size 6 stainless steel fishing leader through the hole with your fingers.

    • 4

      Bend the tag end of the wire over with a pair of pliers, so the end of the wire is flat along the pole. Grasp the wire leader with the pliers and wrap the wire around the pole, over the tag end of the wire leader, four times. Insert the free end of the wire back through the hole and pull the wire tight with the pliers.

    • 5

      Attach a size 10 stainless steel swivel to the end of the wire, which is sticking out of the hole, with the pliers. Tie a 15-foot long section of braided 100-pound test fishing line to the swivel with a square knot. A square knot is tied by bringing the left end of the line over the right, and then the right end of the line over the left, and pulling tight.

    • 6

      Tie a size 10 stainless steel snap-swivel to the terminal end of the fishing line with a square knot. Squeeze the snap-swivel open, with your fingers, and attach a size 8 fishing hook.