In various embodiments, a fishing pole includes a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end receives a grip and the distal end includes at least one line guide for receiving a fishing line. The grip of certain embodiments includes a flexible mounting tube that engages the proximal end of the rod and a sheet including a polymer outside layer and a fibrous inside layer. In some embodiments, the sheet has a configuration corresponding to the exterior shape of the flexible mounting tube, being wrapped about and adhered to the mounting tube, with the side edges of the sheet abutting one another to define a substantially longitudinal seam extending from the interior surface of the sheet to the exterior surface of the polymer layer. In some embodiments, the grip includes a tube and a strip that is spirally wrapped around the tube to form a substantially helical seam.