Wire, rope, and fishing line recommendations

[Sesoku]

I am starting to select the snare wire, rope, and fishing line for my survival kit. I think that Bagheera uses brass wire in his kits, does anyone else recommend this? I assume this is for corrosion resistance? What gauge wire is the best? I was thinking around 20. Also, do you think that 550 cord is better than normal braided nylon rope?
Lastly, what test weight fishing line does everyone recommend? At what point does the strength of the line become less important than the difficulty of tying knots and using it? I also was thinking about an improvised flat "spool" to wrap the fishing line around. What do you think about a plastic card (like a credit card) with shallow cutouts at each narrow end? I was thinking that since it is plastic it won't get mushy if it gets wet, and I may have enough room left over on it to tape the fish hooks to also. Let me know what you think.
Thanks.

 

[GREENJACKET]

I have four types of line in my survival kit.

Nylon, tent grade, sewing thread. Bird snares.
10 lbs double strength breaking strain leader material (trout fishing).
35 lbs breaking strain wire trace (pike/sea fishing). This is very fine and you need the tube crush connectors. Good for rabbit snares.
Fine cord: kite string, reel backing or micro para cord. Best for rabbit and bird traps.
Buy the best as quality matters. Some of the stuff was quite expensive.

Add some split shot, swivels, and a selection of barbed hooks (size 14). From this I can make up an assortment of fish catching kit. Better to catch little ones than have the big one get away.

If you are ocean sea fishing, you will have to beef up the stuff big time to the point where you may as well make up a sea fishing rig.

Snares and fishing take time. The more hooks and snares you have out there the better. You have to find what works in the enviroment you find yourself. Something easier said than done and in most survival situations you are unlikely to have the time. Practice the various methods in your own time and find out what you can make work. Check your traps twice a day. Local wildlife laws apply unless you are really in a survival situation.

PS: its fun practicing the skills.

[This message has been edited by GREENJACKET (edited 02-07-2001).]

 

[Plainsman]

I carry brass snare wire for snares, etc.

Paracord if I have it, currently out, so I have a roll of duck decoy CORD! That stuff is strong and can be unraveled for smaller threads.

For rope, I do have some nylon rope for general use in the packs, anything heavier usually isn't needed here. Mountainous terrain may dictate otherwise.

Finally, fishing line, I have different weights, but like to have 25-50lb test so it can be used for fishing, sewing and if necessary shelter construction in multiple strands.

Many recommend Spiderwire, but I find it VERY expensive compared to other lines of the same test. Yes it is smaller and lighter, but it doesn't make that much of a difference in 100' lengths.


------------------
Plainsman
primitiveguy@hotmail.com
<A HREF="http://pub7.ezboard.com/bplainsmanscabin.html" TARGET=_blank>
Plainsman's Cabin Forums</A>