Fishing Kit and Skills

B

Bowie Mike

Joined
Sep 30, 2006
Messages
118
I had a successful day on the river today - 6 trout. This is a pretty good for me, I usually only catch two or three using fly fishing gear - sometimes none.

Let's face it, fishing for trout (or any other fish) is usually not easy, it takes practice to be consistently successful. Trout are very particular, you basically have to get the fly/nymph directly in front of them to get a bite. This is sort of an art and is a lot of fun once you start to get the hang of it.

I frequently see threads on PSKs that include safety pins and other things to fabricate fishing gear. I'm not shooting down these ideas, but I think it might be more difficult than it appears. Plus you need to consider the air and water temperatures that you might be fishing in.

I just want to pass on a few thoughts based on personal experience:

1) I recommend you build a good fishing kit with real fishing line, real hooks, and real flys/lures. If you have room, add a reel. If you have more room, add a take-down/telescoping rod.

2) If you want to catch fish, you need to practice (in all seasons and in all kinds of weather). If you are planning on eating by catching trout with a safety pin hook and an inner strand of paracord for line, please give it a try before you need to do it for food. I'm sure it can be done, but it might take all day instead of a half hour or so.

3) It's like everything else in your PSK, it should be of good quality if you are going to stake your life on it. I have used a bamboo tomatoe stake, a short piece of a spin cast rod, wire, zip ties, and a $15 fly reel to catch trout - so it doesn't have to cost much, but your chances of success are much better using decent gear for the rest (line, flies, strike indicator, etc).

Again, I'm not putting down the multiple uses of safety pins and paracord.

Just my thoughts - hope this is useful.
 
Well, I know I've been a successful fishermen for years, and a few times I've tred catching fish with my emergancey kit. I've had good luck, but its true, you need to know how to use your gear, if you dont, your in for a rougher' trip.
 
My BOB rod happens to be my favorite. It's a 1980's vintage Zebco telescoper topped off with a 404 reel. I usually use store bought crawlers, however I have sucessfully used site 'dug' bait too.
 
mp510 said:
My BOB rod happens to be my favorite. It's a 1980's vintage Zebco telescoper topped off with a 404 reel. I usually use store bought crawlers, however I have sucessfully used site 'dug' bait too.
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I have a decent 4 piece fly rod, but would like to find telescoping rod for under $75 (under $50 or less would be better) that is very compact - less than 2-feet - that I could leave in my bag.

Any leads would be appreciated - thanks.
 
Mmmmmm. Trout. Not many down in southern AZ. How about sending me a few and I'll dry them and put them in my kit. :)
 
nemoaz said:
Mmmmmm. Trout. Not many down in southern AZ. How about sending me a few and I'll dry them and put them in my kit. :)
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You know, sun dried carp are not bad with some salt - when you are really hungry. I know it's a desert, but there must be some rivers in the area?

I've never tried them, but I hear the flowers/blooms from a prickly pear cactus are pretty good when fried - almost like a fish. :D
 
If I was looking for something compact that is of high quality, I'd look at the ice fishing rods with a medium action (24"). Add a small spin cast reel or open face reel and you have the tools to fish and 6-8 lb test line. I would look toward using bait (have a selection of hooks, split shot sinkers, and one heavier sinker, a few small jigs, a small rapala, small plastic worms or grubs) and small metal spinners. Spinners are quite effective at catching fish, many kinds of fish.
 
I do agree that I've seen many PSK's or other mid-sized kits with fishing gear. I made a post a couple weeks ago with pictures of me and my two kids. It was just a day hike, but at a decent sized pool from the creek we were hiking up, we stopped and I pulled out my mini fishing kit and we caught a few sunfish. I absolutely agree that it largely depends on presentation. Another good option is using a trot line, if you have the time to leave it in place (within legal guidelines of course). Practice is essential, and I've used mine several times.

As to fishing poles, I've improvised a few. Carry a small reel and zip ties and you can attach it to a willow or other suitable field-expedient pole. Using some trip wire from your kit, you can fabricate the eyelets and attach with dental floss or duct tape. I have a small, collapsable fishing pole (can't remember the site) with a micro reel. This could easily fit in a butt-pack...and works pretty well. Another (more expensive) option is the Emmrod line http://www.emmrod.com/...these a remarkable design that actually work and work well. I like the idea of how robust they are, they break down small and you can actually cast quite some distance. Another simple option are hand-casting devices. I have one that was purchased and have made some from soda cans...both work well for what they are.

Unfortunately I can't post pictures from my Photobucket account here in Iraq, but I have a good photo of my fishing kit and my micro fishing kits. Some fishing line, a few small sinkers, dry flies and some assorted hooks are good basics and with practice, can put some fish on the dinner plate. But, it's like everything else, don't pack it your kit until you've actually used it...and continue to practice as much as possible to stay proficient.

ROCK6
 
Well, I don't know how well it would work for trout. But I have 20 lb spider wire (a lot) in my PSK. I figure on making a cane poll and going for catfish, or sunfish. I've done this several times before.

Trout, or bass might be a different story though.
 
Bass can be quiet stupid at times, but if in a survial situation, most trout streams here are full of chubs and dace and shiners that can be eaten and are easy to catch.
 
Bowie Mike said:
I have a decent 4 piece fly rod, but would like to find telescoping rod for under $75 (under $50 or less would be better) that is very compact - less than 2-feet - that I could leave in my bag.

Any leads would be appreciated - thanks.
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I have two-
My Zebco cost like $5 (and came with ACCYS) at a flea market. I bought the 404 reel later.
I also have a Shakespeare that cost about $20 on sale at Wal-Mart. None of it is really expensive equipment.

I would recommend checking out eBay and using sear term 'travel rod' or something similar.

My major complaint is that the guides need to periodically be realligned. But that's justa couple seconds here and there- not a big problem at all:cool:
 
If you are seriously dependent on fish in order to survive, a hook and line is a poor bet, unless the local fish are susceptible to trotline fishing.

Nets and/or traps will gemerally get you more food.

I know it raises legal questions, and it's not "sportsman-like", but it works.

Yes, some skill is involved!
 
Grampa said:
If you are seriously dependent on fish in order to survive, a hook and line is a poor bet, unless the local fish are susceptible to trotline fishing.

Nets and/or traps will gemerally get you more food.

I know it raises legal questions, and it's not "sportsman-like", but it works.

Yes, some skill is involved!
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maybe I should try to have my dogs catch it so I can stab it!

lol sorry I couldn't resist.
 
LOL! Fish dogs! They grab 'em by the nose while you stab 'em with a fillet knife! :D :eek: :D
 
JackBauer24 said:
maybe I should try to have my dogs catch it so I can stab it!

lol sorry I couldn't resist.
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Do you actually have any knowledge or anything to contribute to this forum? You are really starting to seem like a Peta troll, I really fail to see the difference in stabbing a fish, a hog or anything else with an arrow from a bow or a knife in your hand, why don't you explain it to me. BTW I have a 3mo old Cur pup in my lap as I type this who will be hunting for me this fall, come on down and see for your self. Chris
 
runningboar said:
Do you actually have any knowledge or anything to contribute to this forum? You are really starting to seem like a Peta troll, I really fail to see the difference in stabbing a fish, a hog or anything else with an arrow from a bow or a knife in your hand, why don't you explain it to me. BTW I have a 3mo old Cur pup in my lap as I type this who will be hunting for me this fall, come on down and see for your self. Chris
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it was a joke that you're taking entirely too seriously. (the fish dog thing) And if you'll pull your head out of your ass and read my posts, you'll see that I never said I had problem with the boar/pig hunting. Let it go brother...let it go. I have no problem with you, your dogs, your hunting methods, and/or whatever.
 
Mike,

You don't use the safety pins for improvised hooks, bend them at a 90 degree angle and tie them to your field expedient rod as guides, it works very good. If you are handy with a knife it is fairly easy to whittle a passable reel if you have the time. I have used all these techniques and they work very well but in a survival situation I will depend on set lines, twitch ups and trot lines. Chris
 
JackBauer24 said:
it was a joke that you're taking entirely too seriously. (the fish dog thing) And if you'll pull your head out of your ass and read my posts, you'll see that I never said I had problem with the boar/pig hunting. Let it go brother...let it go. I have no problem with you, your dogs, your hunting methods, and/or whatever.
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I ain't letting anything go, I'm still waiting on the difference between stabbing vs shooting with a broadhead explanation.

If you don't have a problem keep your mouth shut. Chris
 
runningboar said:
I ain't letting anything go, I'm still waiting on the difference between stabbing vs shooting with a broadhead explanation.

If you don't have a problem keep your mouth shut. Chris
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I never said there was. Like I said ALREADY. Read my posts. You're clearly a hotheaded little feller. You should comprehend a little better before telling someone on the interent(all important as it is) to keep their mouth shut.
 
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