Before purchasing, consider that the basic Fishing Pole is disposable and replaceable when your bags get full, and you can buy 20 lures for the same money as the Strong Fishing Pole. They grant +25 fishing skill lasting 10 minutes each, 200 minutes total. In addition, the lures can be purchased as you need them, rather than all at once. Since the changes to Fishing in 3.1, skill only affects whether you catch a fish or junk, and you will skill up either way; plus, the level requirements have been removed, so fishing bonuses have lost much of their value.