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whacko
A long bamboo rod with a fixed fishing line attached - ie no reel was used. The term was used in the Bundaberg district of Queensland, where I grew up as a child in the late '40s , early '50s: Did you catch many fish with your whacko? Also, wacko.
Contributor's comments: I used a wacko rod to catch fresh water mullet in the streams around Gin Gin, Qld during the 1950's. The line was tied onto a long cane rod which was 5 to 6 metres in length. The maximum length of line that was manageable was equal to the length of the rod. This limited the casting distance of the equipment. Many fishermen used an "extension" by placing a metal tube on the end and inserting a broom handle or similar piece of timber in the tube to increase the rod length. The line required a string of corks to allow the line to float on the surface of the water. Mullet only took a bait during summer. Preferred bait was worms for smaller fish while larger fish were usually taken on moss which was found in the shallow water of the stream.
Contributor's comments: I came across this reference (2000), so the term must be used in North Queensland. The barra have been taken on the Service Wharf, using the old wacko pole and garfish.