I went pond hopping with about a 12 foot bamboo cane pole, 8 pound mono, forceps and 2 jigs (one for back up) and caught a mixed bag of everything and I had a blast! I got to thinking of the advantages of a simple cane pole, so I thought I would list them in no particular order.

very light and easy to balance while walking
fight off cotton mouths
help herd cows around the pond
inexpensive
built in camoflauge when leaving it to go grab lunch
instant recognition while driving with it hanging out of truck window
hands won't cramp from reeling
can use as a walking stick for slick areas
easy to rig
makes people who drive by laugh
gets a satisfying smile from 90 year olds
easy for newbies to operate
can easily operate while holding your beverage of your choice

thanks for looking
flymoron