troutfisher13111
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The picture thread about fishing kits got me thinking. How important do you guys think a fishing kit really is in survival?
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Importance of a fishing kit
- Thread starter troutfisher13111
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I'm probably going to step in it here. . .
The tiny pocket kits that are popular I don't think are worth much. Some of the more extensive kits like K_Estela's and the one by the guy with the short little pole (ROCK6), I think are good to have. Fish, in most areas, will be easier to get than most land game.
The tiny pocket kits that are popular I don't think are worth much. Some of the more extensive kits like K_Estela's and the one by the guy with the short little pole (ROCK6), I think are good to have. Fish, in most areas, will be easier to get than most land game.
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Troutfisher,
Fishing is important when an emergency situation becomes a survival situation. Food is low on my priority list but I know I will eventually need it. Small fish are voracious eaters (think pan fish) and are easy to catch. Fish hooks are easy to carry and are no where near as strong as metal hooks when crafted out of wood or bone. Fishing line is ounce for ounce stronger than any cordage that can be made naturally. The gear is compact and is easily forgotten. Therefore, it is always with me. Last but not least, considering the majority of the Earth's surface is water, fishing kits are important to include in your kit.
Fishing is important when an emergency situation becomes a survival situation. Food is low on my priority list but I know I will eventually need it. Small fish are voracious eaters (think pan fish) and are easy to catch. Fish hooks are easy to carry and are no where near as strong as metal hooks when crafted out of wood or bone. Fishing line is ounce for ounce stronger than any cordage that can be made naturally. The gear is compact and is easily forgotten. Therefore, it is always with me. Last but not least, considering the majority of the Earth's surface is water, fishing kits are important to include in your kit.
troutfisher13111
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I was thinking about how most survival situations are less than 24 hours and I believe 3 days is what a lot of experts say is a realistic max before your found. I know there are a lot of different scenarios, I am just wondering how a fishing kit stacks up to shelter, water, and signaling.
troutfisher13111
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Kev, good point about the multi purpose usefulness with the fishing gear.
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Troutfisher,
In my opinion, it stacks up after all of these. It also follows fire. Each emergency situation will dictate which priorities come 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on. You may have an abundance of water available but limited shelter material. You may have an excellent makeshift shelter but no means to make fire. Each situation will be different. Normally, food should follow these needs but you may have all covered and want food ASAP.
In my opinion, it stacks up after all of these. It also follows fire. Each emergency situation will dictate which priorities come 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on. You may have an abundance of water available but limited shelter material. You may have an excellent makeshift shelter but no means to make fire. Each situation will be different. Normally, food should follow these needs but you may have all covered and want food ASAP.
I think it's a good idea to have hooks, but to put this in perspective remember the rule of Three's
The body can go 3 minutes without Air
The body can go 3 hours in extreme elements before hypothermia or heatstroke
The body can go 3 days without water
The body can go 3 weeks without food
That is how I pack my bag. There is a difference between comfort and necessity.... but like I said fish hooks and inside strands of paracord attached to a cane pole make for some good panfishing.
The body can go 3 minutes without Air
The body can go 3 hours in extreme elements before hypothermia or heatstroke
The body can go 3 days without water
The body can go 3 weeks without food
That is how I pack my bag. There is a difference between comfort and necessity.... but like I said fish hooks and inside strands of paracord attached to a cane pole make for some good panfishing.
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Just to add a to what Kevin allready said, I think its important to stay busy in a survival situation so that your mind doesn't wander into darker territory. If your plan is to stay put and you allready took care of the more important needs that the situation dictates; what better morale boost can you think of than catching food.
troutfisher13111
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Thanks guys. I already carry fishing gear in my kit, I just wanted opinions of how it stacked up to other stuff.
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I don't really couch it in that way. Survival is merely incidental to my outdoors experience.
I'll drop lines in just for fun, as my playmate did below after I showed her how to do it:
Even if I didn't carry a fishing kit I'd still carry fishing line in with the abduct tape 'cos I can sew things up with it and mend stuff. Once I'm at that stage going the extra half-yard and adding hooks, swivels and whatnot is trivial.
Further, I'd pull fish out just because I was a little peckish, let alone in a survival situation. I'm not that keen on eating eels but on the day the above photos were taken I would have chomped some if I was still a little hungry and we'd exhausted the munchies. If I bagged something nicer to get a feed off then so much the better.
That I can broaden it out for a survival thing to take birds and rodents etc. is really just sprinkles on the top. That it is probably the best way for me to reliably get food on a daily basis for the least amount of effort, making it ideal for 'survival', really is just a happy coincidence. For me it is one of those things that functions on many levels from the whimsical to the deadly serious.
I'll drop lines in just for fun, as my playmate did below after I showed her how to do it:
Even if I didn't carry a fishing kit I'd still carry fishing line in with the abduct tape 'cos I can sew things up with it and mend stuff. Once I'm at that stage going the extra half-yard and adding hooks, swivels and whatnot is trivial.
Further, I'd pull fish out just because I was a little peckish, let alone in a survival situation. I'm not that keen on eating eels but on the day the above photos were taken I would have chomped some if I was still a little hungry and we'd exhausted the munchies. If I bagged something nicer to get a feed off then so much the better.
That I can broaden it out for a survival thing to take birds and rodents etc. is really just sprinkles on the top. That it is probably the best way for me to reliably get food on a daily basis for the least amount of effort, making it ideal for 'survival', really is just a happy coincidence. For me it is one of those things that functions on many levels from the whimsical to the deadly serious.
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For some reason I didn't catch the survival aspect of the first post, so let me ammend:
I see two "survival" situations I might get into:
1.) Short-term, this could be an injury in the woods, trapped away from home for a couple of days, etc. For this, fishing doesn't enter in, I carry enough food.
2.) Long-term, this could be several weeks without power due to a storm, and not being able to get out, etc. Here it's secondary, as I stock food, and if it comes to it, my house is my survival kit, and I have as much fishing gear as I want.
In my pack, I carry fishing gear to have fun.
I see two "survival" situations I might get into:
1.) Short-term, this could be an injury in the woods, trapped away from home for a couple of days, etc. For this, fishing doesn't enter in, I carry enough food.
2.) Long-term, this could be several weeks without power due to a storm, and not being able to get out, etc. Here it's secondary, as I stock food, and if it comes to it, my house is my survival kit, and I have as much fishing gear as I want.
In my pack, I carry fishing gear to have fun.
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I guess it depends on a persons location. for me I always have a small fishing kit on me or in my bag,light weight and small, and Fish are pretty easy game for the most part. I do not venture out w/o one in my PSK
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The kit need not be as extensive as k_estala's. In each of my small survival kits, however, I keep a few items in a film cannister. Items I know would catch a fish in a pinch.
How do I know? I've fished all my life. If you're going to put together a kit, go practice with the items you choose and see if you can produce fish.
How do I know? I've fished all my life. If you're going to put together a kit, go practice with the items you choose and see if you can produce fish.
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here is a pic of my very small kit. a few hooks, and in the tinder tab zip back is a single strand of para cord with swivels on both end for adding snell hooks or addtional para cord and pinch on weights.
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If nothing else it will give you something to do. If your stuck out in the woods and you have already made your shelter and fire you might as well go fishing.
Fish are a lot easier to catch and cook than small game. So the return is greater IMHO. Less energy expended for the amount of food you get in return.
Fish are a lot easier to catch and cook than small game. So the return is greater IMHO. Less energy expended for the amount of food you get in return.
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baldtaco--I see your hiking partner is a plumber, huh?
Because she has a penchant for water sports?
ROCK6
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I've added "3 seconds without thinking"...purpose is to remain calm under stress.:thumbup:
My son caught this little perch with his very minimial kit:
Fishing is really a long term necessity for survival, but for short term, it keeps the mind working and occupied and depending on how you fish, could keep you in one location awaiting searchers (my kids for example). There are some risks...don't go near fast moving/deep water, especially in colder temperatures. But for smaller streams in the summer, you can spend hours angling and keeping your mind off worrying too much.
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I'm going to play a bit of a devil's advocate here as I've posted before here regarding small fishing kits.
1. Many say it's a moral booster to catch a fish and keep your mind occupied. BUT what if you catch no fish, does one who is not in top mental shape start to panic more because now they feel like a failure and the thought of no food really starts to set in?
2. Anyone who has ever fished has experienced snags and various hang-ups I'm thinking Murphy's Law here. Sometimes with all the right gear a person gets hang-ups, snags etc. Now imagine in a dire situation where each cast each hook set is life dependant--does this not add more stress to an already stressful situation?
3. I guess I'll state the obvious here but depending on where one lives the type of tackle would come into play. If by the ocean I don't think split shots and #10 egg hooks would work as well as other terminal tackle.
4. I have not heard of or read of someone "surviving" using there mini survival fishing kit. In a truly survival situation why not just eat the worm you find instead of using it to catch fish-just an idea.
5. I think valid arguments can be had pro or con for using a small survival fishing kit. With all that being said I still pack a fishing kit, but for nothing other than to have extra gear stashed about if needed. I fish alot in my area so fishing for me is a pure joy! But I think that practice comes into play when using a fishing kit, just like any piece of gear example fire starting, shelter building etc. I think many people just put the fishing kit in and think they are set for food.
1. Many say it's a moral booster to catch a fish and keep your mind occupied. BUT what if you catch no fish, does one who is not in top mental shape start to panic more because now they feel like a failure and the thought of no food really starts to set in?
2. Anyone who has ever fished has experienced snags and various hang-ups I'm thinking Murphy's Law here. Sometimes with all the right gear a person gets hang-ups, snags etc. Now imagine in a dire situation where each cast each hook set is life dependant--does this not add more stress to an already stressful situation?
3. I guess I'll state the obvious here but depending on where one lives the type of tackle would come into play. If by the ocean I don't think split shots and #10 egg hooks would work as well as other terminal tackle.
4. I have not heard of or read of someone "surviving" using there mini survival fishing kit. In a truly survival situation why not just eat the worm you find instead of using it to catch fish-just an idea.
5. I think valid arguments can be had pro or con for using a small survival fishing kit. With all that being said I still pack a fishing kit, but for nothing other than to have extra gear stashed about if needed. I fish alot in my area so fishing for me is a pure joy! But I think that practice comes into play when using a fishing kit, just like any piece of gear example fire starting, shelter building etc. I think many people just put the fishing kit in and think they are set for food.