Thanks Doc for the picture. When I lived in Georgia, on the river I fished in when it got real low you could see where the Indians piled rocks in the river to direct the current through it and was told it was a fish trap. I never could understand how it worked, but when I saw your trap I realized how it worked. Cool.
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Fishing Kit and Skills
- Thread starter Bowie Mike
- Start date
Thanks Doc for the picture. When I lived in Georgia, on the river I fished in when it got real low you could see where the Indians piled rocks in the river to direct the current through it and was told it was a fish trap. I never could understand how it worked, but when I saw your trap I realized how it worked. Cool.
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,194
My experience with trout fishing has been mostly with bait-- salmon eggs or worms. So I carry a couple long prepared leaders with smaller snelled hooks that I can bait with worms or whatever bugs I can catch and a few split shot. I would rig it up to float the bait off the bottom in a shallow lake or pond. I could rig up a bobber with a twig or pinecone too--- have you ever seen the old porcupine quill bobbers? A branch would be my fishing pole.
The longer part of my fishing line would be some small diameter seine twine I carry and I've been looking for a deal on Spiderwire or other Spectra line. I really don't want to drop a bundle on a big roll when I only want 50 feet or so. All said, I guess some good ol' monofilament would be better than nothing.
I could see floating a fly downstream and maybe getting a bite. it might take a little more patience than a full fly fishing rig, but it's not impossible.
You could always add more quality fishing gear, but my aim was to add some sort of fishing stuff without loading my PSK up with it--- just a real basic setup. You could always grab one from the stream like Bear Grylls and eat it raw
I could just see getting hypothermia from trying to grab a trout in a cold mountian stream.
The longer part of my fishing line would be some small diameter seine twine I carry and I've been looking for a deal on Spiderwire or other Spectra line. I really don't want to drop a bundle on a big roll when I only want 50 feet or so. All said, I guess some good ol' monofilament would be better than nothing.
I could see floating a fly downstream and maybe getting a bite. it might take a little more patience than a full fly fishing rig, but it's not impossible.
You could always add more quality fishing gear, but my aim was to add some sort of fishing stuff without loading my PSK up with it--- just a real basic setup. You could always grab one from the stream like Bear Grylls and eat it raw
I could just see getting hypothermia from trying to grab a trout in a cold mountian stream.It's always seemed to me like it's a lot easier to catch a lot of little fish than it is to catch one big fish. Little fish are usually hungry, they are really easy to clean and cook, and they eat just fine. You can even shove a stick down a little fish's gullet, hold him over the fire a couple of minutes, and eat it like an ear of corn without doing any cleaning at all. Even tiny ponds and ditches often contain little fish or big minnows (and crawdads, turtles, etc.). For that reason I believe in carrying mostly small to almost tiny hooks, like #8 down to even #12. Tie one of those on some 6 to 10 pound line, stick a cricket or a worm or part of a worm on that little hook, and you stand a real good chance of catching some lunch or supper. The pole part I think you can figure out for yourself. :yawn:
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- Apr 28, 2002
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#12 are pretty standard size for steelheads up here, and they weight up to around 20lbs, so it think its plenty big for lil ones.
I didn't read all the thread due to all the flaming, so sorry if this was already mentioned. Size & weight, go for just line and hooks.
We might better go for minnows with a net as they can be eaten whole and raw. just something to think about.
If you have access to a resteraunt that uses 50lb bags of onions, ask for the nylon net bag they come in. you can cut a 2 1/2 ft square (or so) and roll it up very small. You could make a frame in the field and have a working minnow net. did that when I was 15 (long ago...) because my dad kept gettin mad when I stole his minnow net, and I was too broke to buy one.
I have 100ft of dental floss wrapped around a plastic card in my wallet (credit card sized). taped to it is 12 fish hooks, 4 safet pins, and 2 needles. I never notice it's there, and fishing kits make sense here in Michigan.
We might better go for minnows with a net as they can be eaten whole and raw. just something to think about.
If you have access to a resteraunt that uses 50lb bags of onions, ask for the nylon net bag they come in. you can cut a 2 1/2 ft square (or so) and roll it up very small. You could make a frame in the field and have a working minnow net. did that when I was 15 (long ago...) because my dad kept gettin mad when I stole his minnow net, and I was too broke to buy one.
I have 100ft of dental floss wrapped around a plastic card in my wallet (credit card sized). taped to it is 12 fish hooks, 4 safet pins, and 2 needles. I never notice it's there, and fishing kits make sense here in Michigan.
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- Jul 2, 2000
- Messages
- 1,667
I am one of those people who could fish in a trout farm with dynamite and still not catch anything. I have all the standard bob fishing gear, however, I also have a 5 pronged, barbed fish spear head as well as a 3 prong frog gig (only for survival needs) but I think if I can see the fish I can spear it.
I have used some of the best fishing gear available and I still can't catch a fish with it. The only fish I ever caught was a dolly varden from my canoe but even then I had to lure it up to my triple teaser with fisheggs and then I just snagged it. Not very sportsman like, I know, but I ate it anyway!
Ciao
Ron
I have used some of the best fishing gear available and I still can't catch a fish with it. The only fish I ever caught was a dolly varden from my canoe but even then I had to lure it up to my triple teaser with fisheggs and then I just snagged it. Not very sportsman like, I know, but I ate it anyway!
Ciao
Ron
I am one of those people who could fish in a trout farm with dynamite and still not catch anything. I have all the standard bob fishing gear, however, I also have a 5 pronged, barbed fish spear head as well as a 3 prong frog gig (only for survival needs) but I think if I can see the fish I can spear it.
I have used some of the best fishing gear available and I still can't catch a fish with it. The only fish I ever caught was a dolly varden from my canoe but even then I had to lure it up to my triple teaser with fisheggs and then I just snagged it. Not very sportsman like, I know, but I ate it anyway!
Ciao
Ron
What are you fishing for? What test pound line are you using? What size hooks? Tell me how you are rigged up because that has a lot to do with it.
All it takes is a little nudging in the right direction to unleash the hidden fisherman within us.
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
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- 2,325
I am one of those people who could fish in a trout farm with dynamite and still not catch anything. I have all the standard bob fishing gear, however, I also have a 5 pronged, barbed fish spear head as well as a 3 prong frog gig (only for survival needs) but I think if I can see the fish I can spear it.
I have used some of the best fishing gear available and I still can't catch a fish with it. The only fish I ever caught was a dolly varden from my canoe but even then I had to lure it up to my triple teaser with fisheggs and then I just snagged it. Not very sportsman like, I know, but I ate it anyway!
Ciao
Ron
Take a #8 or smaller hook, 4 pound mono where ever you are fishing, lake, stream or river, roll around rocks in the shallows, catch whatever is crawling around under there and put it on the hook and you will catch a fish. If you don't, roll more rocks and catch another crawly thing and try it, keep at it and you will catch a fish guaranteed.
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2006
- Messages
- 118
I must be on a hot streak, these trout are 12 to 19 inches long - and would provide several meals if I needed them (I do the catch and release thing on the rivers).
I have read that some of you have practiced with your minimalist kits with success - I think that is great. I am guessing that most of you have not actually tried just the gear that you have in your bag. It may be harder than you think.
I just bought a 6.5 foot 5-piece rod spin casting rod for $15, it packs pretty small. I will use my cheapy fly reel with it and, though it probably won't last forever, it should catch some fish - I'll give it a test soon.
Keep in mind that I am in the Rocky Mts - about the only fish you can find are trout, due to the cold water - usually melted snow - so I have to plan my gear for the fish in my area. Trying to fish for trout by hand, with a hand line, trot line, fish trap, or with a spear would be very difficult and would probably only produce a lot of wet clothes - without practice.
From my original thread, I recommend you go out and try the gear that you have planned to use to obtain food and adjust it accordingly based on your success.
Good Luck,
Mike
I have read that some of you have practiced with your minimalist kits with success - I think that is great. I am guessing that most of you have not actually tried just the gear that you have in your bag. It may be harder than you think.
I just bought a 6.5 foot 5-piece rod spin casting rod for $15, it packs pretty small. I will use my cheapy fly reel with it and, though it probably won't last forever, it should catch some fish - I'll give it a test soon.
Keep in mind that I am in the Rocky Mts - about the only fish you can find are trout, due to the cold water - usually melted snow - so I have to plan my gear for the fish in my area. Trying to fish for trout by hand, with a hand line, trot line, fish trap, or with a spear would be very difficult and would probably only produce a lot of wet clothes - without practice.
From my original thread, I recommend you go out and try the gear that you have planned to use to obtain food and adjust it accordingly based on your success.
Good Luck,
Mike