River cane was plentiful around the places I grew up. Big stands of it along the rivers. I have made the mistake of trying to take a shortcut or two through a stand and its always a mistake. Briars and cane. I only did that shit in winter too. Mr No Toes lives in there too. I know of only a few big stands on the Fourche where my cousin’s farm is. Now, folks are trying to restore them laft and right. They do serve an important purpose in nature I suppose.
Anyway, my first encounter with a rod and reel didn’t happen until I was in the second grade, by then a veteran cane pole fisherman. And I didn’t own a rod and reel until I got one on my 11th Christmas, a Zebco 33 combo from my Uncle Huck.
The ones we used were cut and dried by my uncles and were maybe 10 footers. Store bought ones, all varnished and pretty were 14 ft and more. It was a common sight in those days to see a car with cane poles tied front and back and bent over the top of the car on one side.
And it was with a cane pole that I learned (and agree) with what Hidehunter says is the most important lesson you’ll ever learn in life, “When the cork goes under, pull!”. That lesson applies to many, many important things in our lifetimes.
I’ve since changed it to a disdainful, “They ain’t got no hands” when Birddog needs reminding, but some folks are slow learners.
I was just wondering how many of you elders remember how to rig a safety tip on a cane pole and if you ever fished much with one.
BKB