The Clever Fisherman

Just another fun, previously-used puzzler today. I got it originally from a Marilyn vos Savant Parade Magazine column, and it's simple and clever, with the ring of a 'lateral-thinking' type puzzle (and probably a good one to show young arithmetricians!):

A fellow is in town to buy a 5-ft. fishing pole. Following the purchase he begins to board a bus home, but the driver informs him that objects longer than 4 ft. are NOT permitted on the bus. Disappointed, the fellow walks back to the store, only to emerge briefly later, still with the same fishing pole, and boards a bus with no problem. 
What has he done (...and no, the pole has not been collapsed, telescoped, or in any other way adjusted or changed)?
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.answer:

he placed the pole diagonally in a 3 x 4 cardboard box and walked on-board with the box.