Does anyone have any advice for learning how to fish? Nothing fancy. Just the sort of fishing one is likely to do with the PSK fishing kit. The thing is I'd like to add fishing to my tool kit of skills, but I don't really know anyone who fishes and I don't want to buy a lot of expensive equipment.

Also, how many people who include hooks, sinkers and line in their PSK have actually tried fishing with very basic equipment. How effective is it? Are you confident in it's usefulness?

Hi there,

There are plenty of webpages out there that can help you with learning how to fish (Google is your friend!).

As for including hooks, sinkers and other fishing items in a PSK, a while ago I added what I know would allow me to catch species I already know about (lake trout, for example). However, i'm not so sure i'd really catch something in a real situation. In other words, it might not be worth the energy expenditure to rig up and play around trying to catch fish. Your energy should be kept for important tasks such as feeding your fire and making sure you're ready to signal overhead aircraft.

It is well documented that you can survive for a while without food. I think it's safe to assume that if you are to be rescued, you probably will be before you starve to death.

I am considering taking the fishing items out of my PSK, as I think they're only "feel good" items.

My 0.02$. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I keep 25' 6# test and 5-6 small hooks in the handle of my BK10 knife. I fished with a similar setup on 3 separate occasions years ago while backpacking. The bait, if I recall, was small grasshoppers and worms. I caught nothing on two occasions and two small trout (probably planters) on the other. Not exactly a ringing endorsement I know, but I was just successful enough that I have carried a very minimal amount of fishing gear with me while in the outdoors ever since. Some leader and a few hooks take up little space and weigh (and cost) practically nothing.

I consider them "feel good" items as long as TEOTWAWKI doesn't happen. Then their "status" would definitely change in my PSK. I always keep in mind other uses for the kit like catching birds (Yum).

Brings to mind: I was out and about with someone and we decided to take out our rods and fish. "We don't have any bait. We have to go and buy some bait," he said. I rolled my eyes, whittled the end of a stick into a chisel and dug up some nightcrawlers 20 feet from the riverbank. I knew how and where to look though. Caught some nice redear.

Some of the best fishing I ever did was in a trout stream with some 4 lb. test monofilament, a small hook (salmon egg hook basically), one or two split shot, and grasshoppers for bait. It was early in the morning probably around 7:30. It was cool, and the grasshoppers were sluggish and easy to catch. Once it warmed up, the grasshoppers were about as easy to catch as shooting a flying duck with a rifle.

Very good question. I have read that gill nets are very effective for fishing, though they don't fit in PSKs.

If you have a local fishing spot nearby where other folks are fishing; talk to someone there. Most fishermen love to give tips.
Other than that get a simple rod with 4lb test, some #10 bait holder hooks and some splitshot sinkers. With this simple set up you can catch most North American pond and stream species like sunfish / bluegills, trout, bass, etc.
Use worms and grasshoppers for bait. All other fishing is to add a challenge (fly, lures) worms are great for when you want to eat. The key is to get a natural "drift" either toward the bottom and or with the current.
Bill

my only advice is to go fishing. books will help you with baiting the line properly and howto make a proper knot but I think the best is experience. I would still keep a small fishing kit available as doesn't take that much space unless you want to use gil net or the SpeedHook... my own experience with this subject (with a rod) is doesn't take much energy and definitely worth while if you can get some fishing in morning before gets to hot.
Of course every survival situation is different, and sometimes you must adapt to the area... But up here in canada and being someone who grew up with fishing it's definitely worth taking about same space as my whistle to put a small fishing kit.

If you want to fish as a sport, then it can get pretty complicated with all the different kinds of fish and artificial bates/lures.

If you want to buy a fishing pole, then the simplest setup is a bamboo or fiberglass pole without a reel. This works surprisingly well while shoreline fishing, especially for kids. That is just about all my dad used during most of his life. The next steup up would be a fiberglass pole with a spincast reel. My advice is to go to your local sporting goods store (or Kmart/Target/Walmart) and ask the salesperson for help finding a basic setup that comes with the rod/reel/line already together.

If you want to catch fish, then the simplest method is to use a monofiliment line, tie a hook to one end (Google "fishing knots" for a how-to), put a small lead sinker about 8 inches above the hook (keeps the bait from floating), and then put a float (usually a plastic bobber) on the line above the sinker. The float should be attached so the hook lies a foot or more above the bottom of the lake/stream ... so fish can find the bait.

In general the best all-around bait is worms or any kind of grubs you find under logs and such. Most insects will do too, though you don't want them too big or spiny.

Spear the bait on the hook and throw it out into the water. Then wait for the float to move - indicating a fish is grabbing the bait. At that point you need to jerk the line with a fair amount of force to "set" the hook before the fish trys to swallow the bait. Then pull in your fine catch.

Here is a nice basic web site:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/fish/fishing/bobber.htm

You can get started for little of nothing. Bass Pro and other stores sell small spinning rigs that are packable and can easily catch most species...depending on your local. I live in OK and if there is a pond, stream or lake nearby I can catch enough small perch to feed myself easily.

Now...PSK fishing is a bit different, but same principal applies. You need a few small hooks, split shot and line and then basically you tie it to a pole and have at it...here we call it perch jerkin. A bobber helps, you can use a dead piece of wood that floats, or a small piece of cork. Use worms dug up or grasshoppers...which incidentally you can cook and eat...but I prefer fish.

Now all of this really depends on you getting stranded where there is a place to actually attempt to get a meal...so you have to make the call. It may be comfort gear, but who knows, you might get lost right by a nice little pond. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />