First time poster
Everyone talks about guns for protection and food gathering but when comes to fishing, most people just seem to have some fishing line and a few hooks even in their BOB. I include an ultralite fishing rod and reel with 4lb test line and a small box of lures in my BOB. I also include a small fishing kit in my knife pouch and heavier fishing line for making a pole and fishing for larger fish.
I agree that deer and squirrel and other small game will be quickly depleted in a disaster. Fishing, at least in my area, should provide a supply of food for longer. There are numerous small ponds in my bug out area that will provide both a fresh water source, good place to camp and good food supply.
For bait, I have a few lures that I have learned over time work well and hooks for using insects as bait.

Another thing I haven't seen mentioned in here is that when you shoot that game, that gunshot is going to attract attention in a situation where you are probably wanting to keep a low profile.
Guns are a part of my bugging out supplies, but I like to keep my options open and I really like to eat.

Welcome MOAlan

With my track record as a fisherperson I have never considered fishing much for emergency food, altho I know that it can work. I think that location makes a big difference, the more remote the water, the less chance that the little fishies have already tasted a hook.

And some folks seem to need an Ugly Stick, graphite reel, spyderline, and some $10 lure. Then there is the guy I met one time. He had just come back from a week in the back country of the Sierra Nevada Mtns, and had caught his first trout (several of them), on a BARE hook, which was tied onto a four foot length of line, which was tied to a stick...

First off, welcome to the forum!

You make a lot of good points about fishing. However, I haven't fished in decades, and wouldn't know a good lure if it snagged me on the finger. On the other hand, I shoot all the time so hunting is a far better bet for me. Maybe I need to take up fishing. Yeah, I need another hobby to spend money on. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good Idea.
Fishing can be done with little effort too.
For survival needs, it's a good choice provided you are next to
some body of water that contains fish.
It's more likely to catch fish in such cases than to snare game.
The Mils Spec survival fishing kits are found on ebay and such and cost about $20. Well worth it or just make your own.
Of course a lot of people may not have the streams or lakes accessible for fishing.
All in all a very good idea plus it may serve to calm a person down and give time to plan the next step(s).

I agree that in most parts of the country, fishing is your best bet for obtaining substantial nourishment. In a survival situation, you are better off going for small fish that you normally wouldn't consider when sport fishing. Small fish are just so much easier to catch and after gutting and cooking, you can eat them head and all. Forget going after the 14 lb. bass. I'm a frequent fisherman and use many different artificial baits, but if I had to eat, I would use natural live baits. Grubs in rotten logs or under bark, worms, tadpoles, lizards, mayflies, caterpillars, crickets, hellgramites, whatever you can scratch up. Fish that turn up their noses at all artificial lures will usually rush to get natural live food they are used to seeing. I always have plenty of fishing gear in my vehicle, but to be prepared for an emergency situation, it really doesn't take much equipment. With a few small hooks, some fishing line, and some sinkers you can catch small fish or large minnows with natural bait quite easily in even very small streams. An very adequate fishing kit can be packed in a 35mm film cannister. You don't even know you have it in your pocket. A small fishing kit can usually provide a reliable protein source without the weight and bother of a firearm. Plus you can take it in Parks where you would get arrested promptly for having a firearm.

"Fishing for Survival" ... The manic fisherperson's dream! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Maybe I should rethink getting one of the GI gill nets. Not legal in most places for "normal" fish gathering, I doubt that even fish cops would go crazy if you used one in a true survival situation. They aren't much bigger than a space blanket...

Yes having a rod and reel can be great but most freshwater fish can be caught on a cane pole.
As far a BOB's and PSK's that is a matter of personal preference.
I tend to go a lot lighter than a lot of other ETS members; so in most cases all I might have is a few hooks and line.
For short time survival food is not an issue.
Longer term scenarios would involve getting food anyway possible. Trot lines in the water and traps / snares on land.
While actively hunting and pole fishing too.

First time poster,

Maybe someone can help me out on the fishing stuff.

Most kits I've looked at have some kind of fishing line and some hooks. My question is, is there anything else you can use that stuff for.

The only year round body of water around here is the LA river and no way I would eat anything living in that place.

I mean, when you basically live in a desert is there any use for fish hooks and line? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I live in a more urban area and if it was between life and death i would just loot an abandoned grocery store since it would take something of epic proportions to make fishing a life or death issue. And if that did become an issue then i would just go home, or loot another store, and get a fishing pole.