Fishing

[Emdiesse]

Ah yes.
How do you guys do it?

With a net or with a rod?
Whats easiest and best for a begginer?

I know that one of my firend that would be interested in Bushcraft is a fisherman. In fact any minute of free time i can guarranti (spelling?) he is fishing! lol

Thanks,
Emdiesse

[tomtom]

fising with a net isnt particularly viable in this country in most parts..

there are various ways to fish with rod and line.. the best way to get in to it is probably to go with your mate!

be warned: fishing is probably more expencive than bushcraft

[Emdiesse]

Ok
I just meant as a means of catching food whilst bushcrafting
What do you all do as for food?

[tomtom]

rod and line could = stick + string + sinker + hook + worm

many people carry a length of fishing line an assortment of hooks and weights!

[Emdiesse]

I'm sure my fisher friend will explain the bear minumum needed just to catch food

Thanks

[Celtic Dragon]

My next door neighbour came across this problem on excercise, when he was in the marines. The bare minimum he needed was a handgrenade, in a trout farm!!!!! Boy was he rosted over the coal in the courtmartial for it!!!

[match]

I haven't done much fishing when out doing bushcraft things (mostly because I've never been close enough to any lakes/rivers that would merit fishing!). However, I carry a box of hooks, a reel of line, and some weights in my pack, as well as a small plastic fishing float that I found many years ago. This all fits in a small tin, so isn't a noticeable amout of extra kit to carry.

However, the bear minimum you need is some kind of line, a hook, something to weight it down with, and some bait.

Line can be any kind of material - cotton thread/string/paracord, or woven plant fibres are good (however fish are less likely to bite on a visible line).

Hooks can be made out of a lot of different materials as well, from bits of bent wire (paperclips etc) to plant thorns, wood, bone etc.

Bait can be insects, bread, or for predatory fish, something that looks like a smaller fish (foil, shiny plastic etc).

Floats are useful if you plan to leave a line sitting, but don't want to be holding on to it to notice bites/nibbles - floats can be very easily fashioned out of elder stems, as these have a pithy core and float well.

Bear in mind with all fishing that some days, fishermen with the latest and greatest lines, lures, baits, rods etc will fail to get a single bite - so don't be disappointed if you don't get anything with a more home-made set of kit :?:

And one last important note - always make sure that you don't discard used line/hooks etc, as these have a seriously detrimental impact on wildlife, particularly birds which often get tangled in used line. If you have some spare and nowhere to dispose of it, burning is the best way to get rid of it.

[Ed]

I just meant as a means of catching food whilst bushcrafting

Well unless you are at the coast then you will have to use a rod/hook&line .... you can only fish with nets and traps if you have the correct license and permissions (best ask den, he was looking into it) .... survival methods like handlines are illegal to use in the UK on freshwater so don't really get practiced unless crab fishing at the coast or abroard. (there are a couple of threads on crab fishing if you do a search)

:biggthump
Ed

[Ahjno]

(...) However, I carry a box of hooks, a reel of line, and some weights in my pack, as well as a small plastic fishing float that I found many years ago. This all fits in a small tin, so isn't a noticeable amout of extra kit to carry. (...)

A kit example (I know, more a kit chatter sort of reply) can be found here.

[jakunen]

fising with a net isnt particularly viable in this country in most parts..

there are various ways to fish with rod and line.. the best way to get in to it is probably to go with your mate!

be warned: fishing is probably more expencive than bushcraft

Wrong Tomtom, very wrong.

My bushcraft kit £4000.
My fishing tackle £20,000.

Once you start match fishing and get into poles...

You can do it quite cheaply, just don't get into match fishing or specialist stuff (carp in particualr).

[tomtom]

am i missing something jak?

[hootchi]

I think you said fishing is probably more expensive than bushcraft and according to jakunen it definitely is!!

I was a tad confused untill I read it for a second time! :?:

Maybe we are both missing something!! :?:

[tomtom]

:rolmao: ops:

[bushwakka]

I think that it was the comedian Bill Hicks that said - "It's a fine line between fishing and standing by a river looking like an idiot"

Not wishing to offend any fishermen out there but fishing for food and sport fishing are two totally different skills. Bushcrafters can learn an awful lot from anglers - where to find fish, feeding habits, bait selection etc... Sport fishermen are happy to pit their wits and skill against fish using lightweight tackle. The fish has a chance to get away if the line snaps...

In bushcraft you want a meal cooking in your pot or ground oven. For fishing I tend to use longlines of up to twenty baited hooks set at low tide mark or across rivers. These are left out overnight/all day then retrieved along with any fish that are caught. I use the guts and trimmings of these fish to rebait the hooks for the next days meal.

Using a fishing rod with only one hook in the water can be relaxing and fun but it is not an efficient way of getting food. Setting out longlines leaves you free to get on with other camp tasks.

P.S No offence intended to any anglers out there

[JimH]

Fishing and bushcraft are equally expensive - either will expand to consume available resources

For what it's worth, Jak, my carp gear cost 50 quid - rods, reels, pod, alarms (naturally it is low end, but anyone carping 15 years ago would be jealous, so I'm happy) :wave:

My trout (fly) gear is nearer a couple of grand, and I don't buy dear rods!!!

It's that elusive search for the perfect tool for any given job, innit?

Jim.

[pumbaa]

I have done sea , course and a little game fishing . I have also listened to quite a few poachers tales , but i have to agree with Bushwakka long lines rule if your after food in a bushcraft situation . If your by the sea , try prawn nets . youd be supprised what they bring up besides prawns ! Also , think lobster pot . They can be made from buscraft resourses . In theory these should work in fresh water too , but have not tried them as they are illeagal in freshwater .
Pumbaa

[Viking]

Fishing is cheap and easy to do.

Hobo Fishing:
A beer can, some fishing line and a spinner and 5 minutes practice.

Mete (dont know the english word for it):
A 3-5 m long stick, some fishing line, a hook, some weights, flotation (that indicates when the fish is on the bait) and of course some kind of bait peronally I prefer worms.

These are simple but effective ways of fishing and oes not cost more then a few pounds. I caught my first fish when I was 6-7 years old so it not that hard to learn and is always fun even when you don´t get any fish.

[logstacker]

I do a lot of beachfishin` at my static `van.Whole set-up was a hundred quid,including a lugworm baitpump.Inland I lure -fish.About the same cost.Buy the gear online,you can do well.I used to match fish but now it`s a food thing.

[Doc]

When you start fishing, you just want to catch a fish.

Then, you want to catch LOTS of fish.

Then, you just want to catch a big fish.

And the final stage; you don't really mind what you catch - you just like being there, fishing.

[Seagull]

Nice one,Doc.
Zane Gray couldnt,ve put it better.

Seagull

[jstyles]

When you start fishing, you just want to catch a fish.

Then, you want to catch LOTS of fish.

Then, you just want to catch a big fish.

And the final stage; you don't really mind what you catch - you just like being there, fishing.

That's exactly how I started, Doc!

Check out my fishing net - here!

[Wayland]

My next door neighbour came across this problem on excercise, when he was in the marines. The bare minimum he needed was a handgrenade, in a trout farm!!!!! Boy was he rosted over the coal in the courtmartial for it!!!

I found a thunderflash works pretty well too....

[grahoom]

i go fishing.

i live in brighton, so the sea is right next to me. - i was given a beach casting rod by my friend and a reel - so it was a cheap set up. - i go fishing for food mainly - although the last time i went the only thing i caught was a little star fish - i say caught, in reality the little fellow was hanging onto the bait, and wasnt hurt.

but i have caught some whiting, cod, bass, makeral from brighton marina.

[grahoom]

about the cost of fishing - it all depends on how far you want to take it.

my set up was cheap (i know i was given it, but to buy - it would be cheap) - and i dont need all the fancy gadgets and stuff.

it's like most things, it can become expensive, but it doesn't have to be.

when i was in japan i bought a cheap telescopic rod and reel costing £25 and some tackle and bait, and it was very cheap, and i manage to catch 12 scorpion rock fish for supper.

[AJB]

Hi, I just bought one of these:-

http://www.streamlines.com/

They’re good for lake, stream, pond, sea (shore and boat) and back garden in the absence of water!

The guy there was incredibly helpful, because I was in the UK and the postage would be $5, which he thought was too much, he threw in a spare real (last years model). Two casting handles, line, a practice weight, instructions and P&P to the UK, all for $12!!!! And they arrived in two working days!!!

I’ve not got them wet yet, but they work brilliantly, and I can now state for a fact there are no fish in my garden!

[AJB]

PS

If you contact him, please mention my name, he was really helpful and I would like him to know it was appreciated.

Andy

[Buckshot]

Hi, I just bought one of these:-

http://www.streamlines.com/

They’re good for lake, stream, pond, sea (shore and boat) and back garden in the absence of water!

The guy there was incredibly helpful, because I was in the UK and the postage would be $5, which he thought was too much, he threw in a spare real (last years model). Two casting handles, line, a practice weight, instructions and P&P to the UK, all for $12!!!! And they arrived in two working days!!!

I’ve not got them wet yet, but they work brilliantly, and I can now state for a fact there are no fish in my garden!

Isn't that classed as a hand line?
If so you need to be careful where you use them in the UK.

Looks good though !!!

Cheers

Mark

[jstyles]

For anyone interested in gamefishing, I came across on a show on Sky last night. It's called "Hardcore fishing" (or similar!). Channel 160 at 10:00.

I assume it's weekly and is full of action and tips to catch edible (mainly mahi-mahi/dorado) and non-edible fish.

It's the kind of stuff I do once a year and it's awesome (if you iike that sort of thing!). We have used a Guatemalan company called greatsailfishing-dot-com for the last two years and are going again in February! Check out their site and the above TV show for a taster!

[AlexRowan]

So does anyone actually fish for food in the UK's rivers?? I figure you can catch trout and salmon but aren't those areas normally pay per fish? Other than that, it's illegal to take fish out of rivers isn't it??

You could eat eels I suppose but to be honest, would you want to risk eating ANYTHING that came out of our rivers??

This isn't a dig, I'm actually very interested because I was going to get back into fishing with a view of using to provide food whilst out in the woods but was put off by all the restrictions that go with it..

[stovie]

I am very lucky, in that I get the chance to fish two rivers in Northumberland, the Aln And the Coquet two or three times a year. And yes I fish to eat, salmon, sea trout and trout.

i have fished these rivers since I was a nipper (grew up on the Aln) born in Alnwick (home of Hardy Bros, which will mean something to those that fly fish) and have several of their rods and a basket of tackle (courtesy of my grandfather who used to work for them ).

Don't do so much fishing now I live in the sunny south as the standard of fishing I can afford is not what I enjoy. To fish a stretch of chalkstream costs an arm and a leg....and I am attached to both.

Having said that, I regularly fish for Pike on the Arun, and eat them. Not a bad fish when baked whole with lots of flavouring. Bones are a pain, but only when stuck in the throat