Extraordinary: The Fishing Pole
Fishing for a Smile
The fishing pole — an ordinary mix of resin, fiberglass, thread, and bits of steel — is anything but ordinary once it’s put to use. It can feed a family, calm a restless mind, or spark memories that last a lifetime.
The history of the fishing pole stretches as far back as civilization itself. Ancient carvings in Egypt, China, and Medieval England show early anglers using cane poles with bone hooks tied to lines of sinew or plant fiber. They baited them with worms, insects, minnows, and frogs. Simple but effective, these poles were strong, flexible, and long enough to reach far into the river — so productive that you can still find them for sale today.
As technology moved forward, so did the fishing pole. Cane gave way to metal, which worked about as well as you’d expect — functional, but far from ideal. Soon after came fiberglass, which transformed the experience. For the first time, anglers could feel every subtle vibration through the rod, sensing the lightest strikes and bottom changes beneath the surface.
The fishing pole has always been a tool of sustenance, but that’s only part of its story. Its real power lies in what it creates beyond the catch.
Today’s rods are built with materials that sound more at home on the space station than on a bass boat. Designers push the limits, shaving off every ounce to build rods that are lighter, stronger, and more sensitive than ever before. A few pounds of graphite and resin can now outmatch a furious, hundred-pound fish — yet even that incredible strength isn’t what makes them extraordinary.
When I think of a fishing pole, I think of the magic hidden inside it.
It’s a doorway to another world — to peace, quiet, and moments that slow time. It’s the laughter of friends, the quiet reflection on still water, or that sudden jolt of excitement when the line goes tight. Just some thread, metal, and fancy resin — yet together, they’ve given me some of my best memories.
A Day at Shell Knob
Late June in Shell Knob, Missouri. The humidity is thick, and sweat drips in buckets by noon. My son Tommy is blinking sleep from his eyes as I fire up the 200-horse Mercury outboard. It sputters, coughs, then roars to life, filling the damp morning air with that sharp, sweet smell of two-stroke exhaust. Every angler knows that smell — it means a good day is about to begin.
We ease out of the slip, glide into the main channel, then push the throttle. The boat leaps onto plane, and we rocket across the lake at sixty miles per hour in the soft light of dawn. The wind bites at our faces, our eyes water, and the morning air sneaks past our collars. Finally, I throttle back, the engine hum fades, and we settle near our favorite spot.
Close, but not on the hot spot. Always leave room for the fish to come to you.
The topwater bite was on fire. Smallmouth, spotted, and largemouth bass all crashed through the surface chasing a noisy, gaudy bait pretending to be an easy meal. We couldn’t stop smiling. Then I brought out the live worms — and that’s when the real fun began.
Every time I started to bait my own line, Tommy was already reeling in another. Bass after bass, a few walleye mixed in — it felt endless. By the end of the day, he had broken every record of his young life: most fish, biggest fish, and weirdest fish.
That week was our family reunion, full of wild moments — Tommy flying across the lake on a jet ski, spinning dizzy at Silver Dollar City, and getting launched behind the ski boat. But the photo that hangs on the wall isn’t of the rides or speed; it’s of him holding that giant bass with a grin that says it all.
Why It’s Extraordinary
Have you ever seen a child catch their first fish? The pure joy — or shock — that bursts across their face is magic. Laughter, cheers, sometimes terrified screams, but always unforgettable.
Those moments, those shared smiles, are what make the fishing pole more than a tool. They make it extraordinary.
@ksbigbass