“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles” is a jocular fishing saying that has been printed on many images. American newspaper columnist Doug Larson (1926-2017) wrote this in his column in the Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette on February 27, 1987.
 
 
Wikipedia: Doug Larson
Doug Larson (February 10, 1926 to April 1, 2017) was a columnist and editor for the Door County Advocate (1953–1964) and wrote a daily column, “Doug’s Dugout,” for the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1964–1988), both Wisconsin-based newspapers. The column was originally syndicated through United Media under the title “Senator Soaper Says”; Larson took over authorship in 1980. Previously, it had been written by Bill Vaughn of the Kansas City Star. Larson was born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
   
27 February 1987, Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette, Doug Larson column, pg. A-7, col. 5:
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.
 
7 September 1987, Centre Daily Times (State College, PA), “Good Morning” by Laurie Fedon, pg. 1, col. 1:
SUNDAY SERMON: If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.
—Doug Larson
 
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 131, Issues 783-787
1987
Pg. 21:
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles. —Doug Larson, United Feature Syndicate
     
9 June 1991, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), “Fun fishing keeps kids fully focused” by Ron Schara, pg. 15C:
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles. - Doug Larson
 
Google Books
The “Official” Dad Book:
The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Being a Dad
By Martha Bolton
West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing Company
2004
Pg. 87:
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’ d be a shortage of fishing poles.
Doug Larson
 
Google Books
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Wisdom of Dads:
Loving Stories about Fathers and Being a Dad
By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Edited by Amy Newmark
Cos Cob, CT: Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
2008
Pg. ?:
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles. ~Doug Larson
     
Twitter
Fortune Tweets
@fortunetweet
If people concentrated on the really important things in life,
there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.
—Doug Larson
2:00 AM - 2 Apr 2008
   
Twitter
GARY MORITZ
@RITZCracker
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life there would be a shortage of fishing poles.” -Doug Larson #FishforSouls #Spinningthequote
8:08 AM - 4 May 2019
 
Twitter
ShermanPoleBuildings
@pole_sherman
MN FISHING OPENER
May 9th, 2019
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.
- Doug Larson
12:30 PM - 7 May 2019