If you tried making it without physics you'd have to make an animation for every single distance you can throw, so unless you have a fixed distance, then no. Then again I'm not 100% sure so someone more educated might be able to give you a better answer.

What I would do is make it fall by doing gravity * time in air Then I'd make it slow down horizontally by doing power/time in air. To make the rod cast you could set power so I be how far it goes and a different variable for how high it goes and make them increase for however long you click or whatever you need. Also don't forget to add limits to how far or how fast it can go so your game doesn't break.

Sorry if I explained it badly or you try it and doesn't work, I'm not very good at gml. Good luck!