I was able to use the fishing pole. although it took a while for a fish to actually bite the bait.
Make sure to attach the bait to your fishingpole and put the pole in your 4th slot.
make a chair and place it near water.
Equip your Pole so u have a crosshair, aim it at the waters and use m1, now sit and wait till a fish bites and do a mini-game.
p.s. when i tried this, my first batch of fish meat already got spoiled before i caught a 2nd fish.