Poles are producing gin (5)
I believe the answer is:
snare
'gin' is the definition.
('snare' can be a synonym of 'gin')
'poles are' is the wordplay.
'poles' becomes 'sn' (North and South poles).
'sn'+'are'='SNARE'
'producing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for snare that I've seen before include "Entrap" , "Trap or entangle" , "Wire on drum; trap" , "Animal trap" , "Catch" .)