GASTON, NC—A North Carolina angler gave a whole new meaning to the term “fighting rod” when he used his fishing gear to subdue a would-be robber who threatened him with a knife.

The Gaston Police Department says an unnamed man and his young son were fishing at a city pond when the perpetrator brandished a knife and demanded the twosome’s money.

The father equally grasped the basic geometric disparity between a 4-inch blade and a 6-foot fishing rod and simply proceeded to beat the heck out of the bad guy using the business end of his fishing rod, including the lure, which hooked deeply into the unfortunate thug’s hide.

Gaston police says a man fitting the description of the alleged assailant was seen fleeing the scene, with a bright orange jig embedded in his arm.