I would never use one. However I'm sure he will sell a million of them and maybe 4 will see actual use lol

When I read this article, I had to laugh.
Back in 1969, my brother and I moved to Mexico, and lived on a small volcanic lake in central Mexico, full huge largemouth bass.
We befriended a young family, who grew up on the lake. They fed us well on wonderful bass dinners, which had become an obvious burden for the family, since they were very poor.
My brother and I finally got it through our thick, naïve heads to ask the man who provided us so many great meals to teach us how to catch the bass, and the woman how to cook our catch. They were more than pleased to teach us their ways.
The next morning, he met us lakeside, and gave each of us a beer can, wound with some mono line. He then gave us a handful of hooks and some large nails.
He showed us how to rig our beer cans, how to tie on a nail a couple of feet up the line and a hook on the terminal end.
We then were taught how to collect some bait...Tadpoles, worms, and salamanders.
We put some bait on the hook, and we were ready to go fishing. We would strip out a few feet of line, and used the nail, as weight, to throw out the bait out into the lake.
After many practice casts, we became quite adept in catching bass, using the identical method that his ancestors had used for many years.
Every once in a while, I'll drink a beer (or so) and rig it up with some mono, a nail, hook and bait, to see if I still could catch some fish. Much to my enjoyment, I still had it in me!
The technique I learned from my Mexican friend, has been used for generations by these generous people.
It was great to see this article. It brought back many wonderful memories!

Need an edit function.

I would never buy that I am a backpacker and its not a functional survival tool. Plus they have travel rods that are a way better solution.

I would probably use one of my "Gatorade" bottles with 10# line for my survival kit, part of the bottle would have my duct tape wound on it and the inside holding the hooks sinkers etc.this would sit in my enamel ware mug. This as well as some other things go into a small shoulder pouch that I call my everywhere bag!

I would never use one. I agree that you can make one for much less than $20 and if im worried about a grip I will just use a rod and reel.

We were out on the family boat with some guests on board and were going to stop and fish for walleyes. When all the rods were passed out there was not one for my mother. So, she wrapped some braided line around her hand and started fishing. Guess who caught the biggest fish? you guessed it. She got a nice 5+ pound fish on a handful of braided line.

This is a great idea for ice fishing if you use a handline...no need to bring a flask of whiskey! You can just put it in your water bottle and fish with it all day long. Catch a fish, take a drink to celebrate...call for a ride either when the fish stop biting or the bottle's empty...whichever comes first :-)

There is a woman in Allentown, Pa. She uses a water bottle, mono, teardrop & hook, and catches quite a few fish like this!