Tale of the Fishing Pole (a tragedy)

We thought it would be a good idea to buy the kids a fishing pole. It would give them something to do while on the boat (besides pick at each other) and they could entertain themselves when we went camping.

We went to Wal-Mart and found a Spiderman pole for Jack but they were completely out of anything remotely girl. So we went to another Wal-Mart. Again the same result - nothing girl, they were totally sold out. Who knew there would be such a run on feminine fishing poles?!? Finally in desperation we tried the local Target and - - JACKPOT. Of course it was a few dollars more than it would have cost at Wal-Mart, but we figured it would be a small price to pay.

As soon as we got home the kids just had to try them out. They insisted that we fill the kiddie pool so they could "fish". While they were waiting for the pool to fill, the "fished" over the bannister to the basement.


A few hours later we went down to the lake so they could try them out for real. First we tried it off of the dock.


Here's Madeline - always stylish!


Notice the sign Jack is standing next to.

Jack - making a cast.

Once we got out on the boat Mark showed the kids how to cast.

For a while he casts and then the kids reel it in.

The poles have a small plastic "thing" on the end to prevent the line from going into the reel. There is a spider on the end of Jack's pole and a pink butterfly on the end of Madeline's pole.

Each time after Mark casts Madeline's out and she starts to reel it in, as it gets closer and she can see the pink butterfly she gets really excited, seems surprised and shouts "I caught a fish, I caught a fish!!" This happens numerous times within a 10 minute period. Each time she is surprised that she caught a fish.

Finally the kids try to cast on their own. Jack is doing a good job, although it doesn't go very far. Madeline then decides that she is going to do a REALLY big cast and yep, you guessed it - - she casts and throws her pole into the lake!! Mark jumped in and tried to find it, but the water was too dark and he couldn't find it.

Madeline was sad and Mark was mad. His comment was "We just spent $13 on a stupid Barbie fishing pole that lasted less than 4 hours!!" I told him that someday it would be funny. Not today, but someday.