Rocket Fishing

For his birthday, Jack asked for the Rocket Fishing Rod. Advertised as "one of the greatest fishing innovations ever!", the rod has a special fishing hook contained within a bobber which, at the push of a button, shoots out 30 feet and releases the hook only when it hits the water.

The rod sat in Jack's toy chest for several months before we finally got the nerve to try it out. After watching the instructional DVD, we packed a picnic lunch and headed for Surprise Lake in the Watchung Reservation. We set up camp by the dam, where, directions in hand, we inserted the bobber into the barrel, and pushed the button. Much to our disappointment, the reel did not release and the bobber became entangled in the line then shot free of the rod into the middle of the lake.

Con managed to rescue the bobber from the lake but the reel was hopelessly tangled so we finished up our lunch and headed on home. A quick e-mail to the manufacturer resulted in a replacement bobber and reel. We'll keep you posted on our next fishing expedition.