I thought this was novel - using a very short (2"-3") section of paracord and a smallish hook (#8), you can fashion a lure to catch fish. Obviously you are going to have some paracord with you and if you use the hooks from your Doug Ritter survival kit you can make these out in the field. Note: This site has some other very interesting homemade tricks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQmGNQvyXrU&list=PL01E98D1C54101037

This is a video of how to utilize drinking straws to carry various items.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiB9kUPRXZ4&list=PL01E98D1C54101037

Make your own "natural" fatwood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoFEj8QyEV0&list=PL01E98D1C54101037

Make your own paper/wax firestarters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoFEj8QyEV0&list=PL01E98D1C54101037

Watching the video on making "natural" fatwood, I wonder - why is he going to all that rouble. When I needed to make a fire, i always looked around for a semi-rotted pine trunk and pulled out the pine knots. They light right away, even if they have been lying on the ground, burn nice and hot, and take little if any effort. They do tend to soot up the pot a bit, but when you absolutely, positively need to make fire, pine knots are unexcelled.

California is much easier to survive Good find, anyway, subscribed. Thanks!

I wonder if you can do the same more economically with paraffin?
Might not smell as sweet, though.

in the 1865 book "superior fishing" by Robert Roosevelt,Teddys uncle,he said that the indians on lake superior would tie a hook on bit of yarn and attach that to their canoe paddle with a few yards of cod line,the para cord of its day.just paddling along they would get fish attracted to the movement of the yarn.