Do you carry one in your survival kit, or is it excess baggage?

If you do carry one, lets see em! What do you have in it? I've got the basics... swivels, hooks, line, sinkers... but I seriously doubt I can catch much as I don't fish very often. I poke at crappie next to the shore, since that's all I generally have luck with (although I wouldn't know what to do with it if I caught it...)

For a survival situation, what do you guys think of something like a trout line, speed hook, gill nets or other specialty items? Most of it is too large for a pocket kit obviously... but being able to set a line and walk away from it, and check it daily would probably be more efficient time and energy wise than sitting on the bank fishing with a stick and line...

Speaking of that however, what kind of bait do you guys include? Gummy worms? Lures? Flies? or do you forgo anything other than a hook and rely on natural things you find in the area (live worms or insects)?

Since food is a low priority in a short term situation, my survival fishing gear is more of an afterthought than a comprehensive fishing kit. Carrying a few basics takes very little weight and space, so it doesn't hurt to have some hooks, line, etc. but I don't go much farther than that in my pocket kit.

One thing that is very helpful, at least for me, is a fishing knot diagram. I do not fish enough to be handy with these knots, and it is surprisingly hard to keep a hook on a line with basic scouting knots.

I also think a tied fly lure or two is nice to have in case natural bait is scarce, and these are small and very light.

If I really wanted to be organized, I would have a swivel pre-tied on the line and the fishing hooks snelled with about 6 inches of line on each that would just clip into the swivel. This would eliminate most of the tedious and delicate knot tieing in the field, which might be difficult with cold or injured hands, etc.

Being able to secure a loop to the tip of an improvised fishing pole and pass the line through and down to your hand makes a more sophisticated rig capable of handling larger fish with less strain on the line. Some carry a commercial rod tip for this purpose, but a safety pin can work as well.

Your idea of a trout line is a good one that I have seen in some survival manuals. Speed hooks and nets would also probably increase production, but now you are talking about more weight and space in the kit. You have to weigh that trade-off for yourself. Those kinds of things wouldn't make the cut-off in my pocket kit, but if I were preparing a larger kit, they would be nice to have. It would depend on the specific purpose of the kit and I would definitely prioritize fishing below additional shelter, water and signalling items.

Fishing gear is also a very small part of my gear, and it all fits inside a (1.625" x .625" thick) metal pill box (3/$1 at the dollar store). The round shape allows the line to be coiled without kinking, & the few other things fit inside that. It's so small it will fit in the corner of virtually anything.

Amen on the knot-tying instructions! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I carry no "dedicated" fishing gear. I do however carry the following "multi-use" items which would be very effective for fishing.

5 Very tiny bait hooks: In addition to their intended purpose I have used them as sewing needles (since I don't carry dedicated sewing needles).
1 Large (3") Gaff Hook.
16' waxxed green 100# test Fireline
5' Black 550# 7 Strand Paracord
5' Blaze Orange 300# Nylon Cord
48' Black #69 Thread 10# Test

I also have used a speedhook and it is awesome but I do not keep it in a pocket kits due to its size.