A couple of years ago, my wife bought me a clean Popiels Pocket Fisherman at a yard sale for three dollars.            Mine has the original box, paperwork, and plastic bag, which it was wrapped in.                                                          Ron Popiel was a famous TV huckster, who sold these along with all kinds of other cheesy gadgets. I remember these from years ago.                                   So my question is, honestly, has anyone ever actually used one and caught a fish?                                    Don't worry. If you bought one or used one, nobody will laugh.

 

I haven't but I will tell you that as a child there's nothing I wanted more than a ronco rotisserie cooker. That informercial would come on right after the Saturday morning cartoons and boy did it work on me as a child. 

 

OMG, I never had one, but I was just thinking about that yesterday! 
 

My guess is that, yes, they caught fish. If it will cast a bait, it’ll catch fish. But how it would hold up against a 4-5 lb. bass is something to ponder. 
 

Great post! And for $3.00, what the heck! Give it a go! And clean your catch with a Ginsu! 

I’ll step up. When they came out my mom bought my brother and myself each one for Christmas. My dad took us on an annual fishing trip to Minnesota every year and I couldn’t wait to try it out, I’m sure there are pictures somewhere of me after catching perch, bluegill and crappie on the dang thing. They couldn’t cast worth a crap but  dropping it on the side of the boat the thing was a blast ?.   Thanks for the trip down memory lane. 

Never owned the Pocket Fisherman, but as a kid in the 1970s, my parents bought be a Fishing Machine, which interestingly enough was a St. Croix product - and a piece of junk from what I can remember - lol

 

My mom and I got my dad a pocket fisherman for Xmas back in the 70's.  I'm pretty sure it got to the lake once.

I had one as a kid.  I caught a few fish with it but I believe it fell apart at some point. My favorites back then were the Daiwa Travel Set and the Mini-Cast Gold kit. Both were a lot of fun. 

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

I had one as a kid.  I caught a few fish with it but I believe it fell apart at some point. My favorites back then were the Daiwa Travel Set and the Mini-Cast Gold kit. Both were a lot of fun. 

Wow. You just triggered a memory. When I was a lad in the 70s, I really wanted a Daiwa Minispin combo. Something about that tiny spinning reel on a UL rod with a pistol grip just shouted “cool”. Never got one and forgot all about them until I read this.  

20 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Wow. You just triggered a memory. When I was a lad in the 70s, I really wanted a Daiwa Minispin combo. Something about that tiny spinning reel on a UL rod with a pistol grip just shouted “cool”. Never got one and forgot all about them until I read this.  

 

I felt like the James Bond of fishing when I carried the briefcase around that had the rod and reel in it.  It was cool but I liked the gold spin cast reel set up better as a kid.  Not for sure why but I would bet that it casted further or it was easier for me to use. 

10 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

I haven't but I will tell you that as a child there's nothing I wanted more than a ronco rotisserie cooker. That informercial would come on right after the Saturday morning cartoons and boy did it work on me as a child. 

 

I had that rotisserie oven and a Juiceman juicer all because of those informercials.

 

Both were useful. Out of the two I used the Juiceman way more. I loved the commercials with Jay the Juiceman, he looked like a mad scientist.

13 hours ago, Mobasser said:

A couple of years ago, my wife bought me a clean Popiels Pocket Fisherman at a yard sale for three dollars.            Mine has the original box, paperwork, and plastic bag, which it was wrapped in.                                                          Ron Popiel was a famous TV huckster, who sold these along with all kinds of other cheesy gadgets. I remember these from years ago.                                   So my question is, honestly, has anyone ever actually used one and caught a fish?                                    Don't worry. If you bought one or used one, nobody will laugh.

 

 

My brothers and I each have one that we stuff in our camping bags for giggles. I've caught panfish and small bass on it. My brother caught a 4lb 5oz largemouth on his, handled it surprisingly well.

I just wish I had a ShamWow for my boat! 

I can’t tell you how many  pocket fisherman I have gotten as gifts over the years. 
 

It seems like it’s a no-brainer right? He loves fishing, the pocket fisherman is the perfect gift for him.