A fishing device attaches to a fishing pole so as to automatically set the fish hook when a fish takes the bait while the pole is unmanned. The device includes a retainer and a cord. The cord extends between a lower end of the pole and the retainer. A hook on the retainer mounts onto the tip eye of the pole so as to bend the pole into a flexed position. The fishing line extends through the tip eye and then through a recess in the clip. The bent pole can be left unmanned. When a fish takes the bait, the tug on the fishing line pivots the retainer so as to release the retainer from the tip eye, thereby causing the pole to spring from the bent position and thereby set the hook in the mouth of the fish while the pole remains unmanned.