i'm thinking of putting a fishing kit together and i was hoping for peoples input. i already carry the standard few hooks and a bit of line in my normal kit but i was wanting something a bit more substantial. i want my kit to be suitable for both salt and fresh water. i guess what i really want people to say is 'i've used this, this works' or 'i've tried this, it's crap, avoid it'.<br><br>thanks in advance.<br><br>take it easy.

Stu, I will hopefully be on a fishing boat soon to complete a long awaited review of several kits. For PSK units most people overlook a gaff hook.Tthis is merely a large hook secured to a short stick ( a small nail through the eye, a small channel scribed with a knife or awl, some wrapped wire or string and your set). The assembly is to help land fish as they are being retrieved. Your best bet in G.B. is to visit a tackle shop and talk to fishermen. Like any pursuit, you can rapidly get lost in a maze of terminollogy and local use. What a fly fisherman in a scottish stream and a north sea cod fisherman use is decidedly different. A most usefull item ( though often illegal for normal use) is a gill net.

The gaff is one thing I overlooked when doing my kit.

Me too. I still havn't figured out how to put the stick in my altoids kit. :o)

get a telescopic stick

LOL :o)

I know my fishing experience, my lack of skills, and my need to improvise. <br><br>I carry a full spool of 32 lbs line. That's about 330 yards. This is because I know I will lose some.<br><br>I carry 50 assorted hooks that have all been tied with leaders so I won't have to improvise.<br><br>Finally I have the usual assortment: dried bait, speed-hooks, extra hooks, gill-net, survival manual, flies, spoons, etc.<br><br>That manual from the SAS covers pretty much any scenario.

thanks for the tip about the gaff hook chris, that'll definately be going in the kit. i agree with you that there's a huge variety of different kinds of kit for different scenarios. the thing that i'm most curious about i guess is wether anyone has used their kits with any success, i've done some fishing with rod and line including quite a lot of fishing for freshwater predatory fish i.e. pike, perch etc. and have lots of success with artificial lures, spinners,plugs, etc. and i notice that most comercial kits include these items, i'm just curious as to how effective they would be when used without a rod and reel. <br>just as matter of interest, has anyone else out there tried spear fishing? fun isn't it?<br><br>take it easy

I think it was about 2-3 weeks ago a discussion took place on this board as to what constitutes a survival situation. The consensus was that the severity of the situation is relative to the amout of preparedness. <br><br>What is considered as a survival fishing kit to one person could be a regular tool for catching food for another person. As an example; During the course of my routine tasks and activities I travel long distances on ATVs, Snowmobiles and in Boats. I always carry a fishing kit suited to the environment that I am travelling in. In spring, summer and fall I carry a telescopic rod that folds down to 12 inches with a medium weight open faced spinning reel with 50 yards of 12 lb test mono line. I carry 3 each of number 2,3&4 hammered brass spoons with an orange stripe, red and white stripe and yellow w/red lines. I also carry 2 number 3 and 2 number 4 Mepps Silver.<br><br>My kit contains 3 number 0/13 hooks which I can use baited for big salt water fish or as gaff hooks for other applications such as gaffing fish in shallow water. A 0/13 hook can be straightened out to make a realy good fish spear. This component has 50 yrds of 40lb test nylon braided camo line included. I also carry a few other fishing sundries.<br><br>I carry this stuff in a water proof(so in will float) Plastic cylinder that measures 14 inches by 4 inches. The entire thing loaded weighs 3 lbs. There is lots of space left in the container for other stuff if I wish to utilize it. In winter I usually get rid on the reel and repack in a 14x2 in tube.<br><br>The point I am trying to make is that to me this is my fishing survival kit. It goes whereever I go when I travel. I don't need a fishing kit if I am not traveling. If there are fish around I will catch them with this kit. So my question to you would be why would you put yourself in a situation whereby you didn't have a pole and reel to use if you are going through the trouble of stocking up on various lures and stuff anyway?<br><br>Mariner