What about bait? Do people even use worms anymore? If not, how would he have got bait? No reports of any tackle shops nearby that we've heard about. Did Mark maybe buy some at hellmart the night before? Not that I believe that he went fishing that morning, but that 'details' thing, yanno?
Still thinking the whole fishing pole thing is a red herring.
jmo
I would say he may have been fly casting, but I can't see MR calling that a fishing pole. For years when I fished, I just used corn as bait.
I know you didn't mention walking 4 miles to the lake, but a lot of other people have. When I was 14, I walked about 3.5 miles to the lake practically every day during the summer, and on a lot of weekend at other times of the year. It usually took me 45 minutes, and sometimes less if I was in a hurry. I know my younger brothers also walked there at times, and it didn't take them much longer. I could see him easily making it in an hour or less.