Perusing a small book by Cliff Jacobson: Canoeist's Little Book Of Wisdom. Tip #296 got my attention:

"A plastic pink flamingo or an inflatable orange octopus is worth bringing on a canoe trip, if it makes you smile".

Seems to me there are a few around here that like that kind of smile. The flamingo kind at least. Don't remember hearing anything about an inflatable orange octopus.

I still treasure my pink flamingo but my wife makes me keep it in the garage.
My eyes do not pick out pink from the surrounding as well as they pick out yellow.  I carry 10 Ft of yellow flagging tape. Rolled up it is 1 inch long and 1 inch in diameter.

You guys know that Piragis marketed my doggone flamingo idea for years, right?  They began appearing in their catalog immediately after that BWJ story got published.  They actually sold the danged things as campsite markers!

A marketing genius, I ain't, I guess!

I suppose I should be sad or mad that Piragis stole my idea (and Cliff probably got it from THEM) but I've always attributed the original notion of using pink flamingoes to Old Salt, anyway. 

HE is truly the one who inspired it all....

Jimbo   

Although I haven't used it in a few years mine doubles as a bobber.  You can see it after dark, and sometimes even a big northern will hit it.  Here in the south we call the Hognators, or Big Smallies.   Be sure to install the hook, line, and sinker before using. And for God sake boys tie the line off to your canoe, it save a heck of alot of paddling!  That reminds me I need to change the hook in mine.   There ya go Jimbo go get yer patten QUICK!