Thought #1:

Before taking an extended break from Everquest to pursue a job, I spent
nearly 150 pp making flameless lanterns and my skill remained "Below
Average". I was told by a GM that tinkering is one of the hardest skills to
train, so perhaps I am either unlucky, or the skill is nearly impossible to
train up now.

Fact #1:

You cannot train tinkering using skill points. I have tried it. It is just
like other trade skills, in that you can only use training points to get it
so far before you must actually use the skill to learn it.

Thought #2:

If the collapsible fishing pole was in a shop, it would have been found long
ago. Of course, if it was only added in recently, then it may have yet to
be found. In any case, it still doesn't solve the problem of not having the
recipe to make them.

Thought #3:

The collapsible fishing pole recipe should be fairly cheap to make. I
really doubt that Verant made it difficult, considering it is a component
for another item. So, this should limit the parts to those costing 1 pp or
less, with the total cost not exceeding 5 pp.

Thought #4:

Whoever assumed that the spyglasses were being sold for 50% over cost is
assuming way too much. If you are the only producer of an item, you can
demand a much higher profit return on that item.

Thought #5:

There is no such thing as a "secret" on Everquest. There are too many
people playing the game, making any new discovery part of the common
knowledge base within a few weeks.

Thought #6:

Seeing "broken" quests, items, and spells in the past, I wouldn't put it
past Verant that the collapsible fishing pole recipe isn't really in the
game. I am merely speculating, but I find it rather hard to believe that
after months of uptime, not one gnome has found the recipe to such a trivial
item as the collapsible fishing pole.

Thought #7:

This is perhaps the most overriding aspect of this whole ridiculous thread
about the collapsible fishing pole recipe. There are literally hundreds of
items that could be used as a component, and it doesn't necessarily have to
make any sense whatsoever. Trying to guess it blindly is just like playing
the lottery. You might get lucky, but we don't have the hundreds of
thousands of players needed to insure that SOMEONE gets lucky.

Phenglei of Erollisi Marr