April 13, 2005 - WASHINGTON, D.C. � The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Children's Fishing Poles

Units: About 1.5 million fishing poles

Distributor: W.C. Bradley/Zebco Holdings Inc. doing business as Zebco, of Tulsa, Okla.

Hazard: The paint on the rods of these fishing poles contains lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been no reports of injuries or illness associated with these poles. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent any possibility of injury.

Description: The recalled fishing poles are brightly colored and feature pictures of the following cartoon characters on the reels: from Nickelodeon's SpongeBob Squarepants® are SpongeBob, Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks; Nick Jr.'s Dora the Explorer®; Disney's Tigger; and the cast of Nickelodeon's Rocket Power®. "ZEBCO®" and "Floating Catch 'Em Kit™" are written on the handles of these poles with the exception of the Rocket Power poles. The Rocket Power poles have a two-piece rod, were sold with sunglasses and "Rocket Power" is written on the rod. Newer fishing poles with a date code on the rod (near the handle) are not included in the recall. Sold at: Discount department, sporting good and toy stores nationwide from August 2001 through March 2005 for between $9 and $13.

Sold at: Discount department, sporting good and toy stores nationwide from August 2001 through March 2005 for between $9 and $13.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled fishing poles and contact Zebco for information on receiving a free replacement fishing pole.

Consumer Contact: For more information, call Zebco at (800) 444-5581 Ext. 6217 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.zebco.com/recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.