Hiking, or just wandering around on a hot afternoon, I often carried a simple fishing kit make of a small tin can (the type that have a single serving of juice are ideal), cork stopper that fit the open end, a small assortment of small hooks and weights, a few lures, and a length or two of light line wrapped around the can. For some reason a small yellow popper, which looks a whole lot like nothing natural, was the best lure. I would squeeze on a tiny split-shot, toss the lure from shore, and work it in short jerks back toward me. On a good day I could land a four or five good sized brim in a couple of minutes.

If I was feeling lazy, and perhaps in need of a nap, I might cut a piece of bamboo or a small branch, have a seat, and fish with a worm pulled from the forest duff. If I want a nap, or to do some uninterrupted cloud spotting, I might not bait the hook.