How to Fish Without Fishing Gear

Piolvaco

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posted on 15 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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In a survival situation, you may be called upon to catch fish without having any fishing gear. Fortunately, the old fashioned art of fishing without gear has been perfected over the centuries and there are many ways to capture fish with only a few simple tools--or even with your bare hands!

Steps

Improvising a hook

Find an item that can be fashioned into a hook. Good candidates include: PaperclipsFish Without Fishing Gear Step 1Bullet1.jpg Broken pop-topsFish Without Fishing Gear Step 1Bullet2.jpg Sharp twigsFish Without Fishing Gear Step 1Bullet3.jpg Bobby pins.Fish Without Fishing Gear Step 1Bullet4.jpg

Twist the item into a hook shape, if necessary.

Attach the "hook" to a line. Good items to serve as an improvised line include: ShoelacesFish Without Fishing Gear Step 3Bullet1.jpg Unraveled thread from clothingFish Without Fishing Gear Step 3Bullet2.jpg Twine, string, or yarnFish Without Fishing Gear Step 3Bullet3.jpg Long strong grass, flax, or seaweed stems.Fish Without Fishing Gear Step 3Bullet4.jpg

Bait the hook. Items that can serve as bait include: Food scraps (meat is ideal)Fish Without Fishing Gear Step 4Bullet1.jpg Bits of colorful plasticFish Without Fishing Gear Step 4Bullet2.jpg LeavesFish Without Fishing Gear Step 4Bullet3.jpg Dead insectsFish Without Fishing Gear Step 4Bullet4.jpg Jewelry.Fish Without Fishing Gear Step 4Bullet5.jpg

Dangle the improvised "rod" and "hook" into a promising location. Fish tend to hide in shadowy areas, such as the overhangs of banks, below overhanging trees, within water plants, or near rocks.

Wait for a fish to bite. Once a fish does bite, scoop it up. Don't try hauling it in with the line, which will likely break. Use your hands or an improvised net made from clothing or other items you have on hand.

Using a trap

Get a container in which to trap fish. Good improvised items include: ClothingFish Without Fishing Gear Step 7Bullet1.jpg A bucketFish Without Fishing Gear Step 7Bullet2.jpg Jar or plastic containerFish Without Fishing Gear Step 7Bullet3.jpg Plastic bagFish Without Fishing Gear Step 7Bullet4.jpg

Lay your trap in a likely fish hideout. Wait for a fish to swim in. If possible, hold the trap so that your hands will cease to alarm the fish as they grow used to your presence–be patient!

When a fish swims in, pull up your trap with the fish inside.

Cornering the fish

This method is best if you have assistance. You will need to get something to block and corral the fish, such as a length of cloth.

Stretch out the length of cloth. This is best if your partner(s) holds the other end. Make sure that there is no escape route underneath.

Move slowly towards the fish, backing them into an area, such as a bend in the river, or the end of a tidepool, where they cannot escape.

Once you have backed the fish into a sufficiently small area, grab for them. It is a good idea to have a container handy to either scoop them, or to toss them into.

Using scoops

This method requires speed and dexterity.

Get two scooping devices, such as buckets, empty containers, even plastic bags.

Find a group of fish in a relatively contained space, such as a tidepool or small pond.

Lower the scoops slowly into the water. When the fish are comfortable with the scoops and have settled between them, bring the two scoops together. Many fish will probably escape, but a few may be caught. This method is not recommended in a serious survival situation.

Using a spearing device

Get an object with which to spear the fish. Useful improvised items include: Pocket knivesFish Without Fishing Gear Step 18Bullet1.jpg Scrap metal, glass or hard plasticFish Without Fishing Gear Step 18Bullet2.jpg Scissor bladesFish Without Fishing Gear Step 18Bullet3.jpg

Use twine, shoelaces, or other string to attach the sharp object to a stick or pole. Alternately, sharpen the stick itself.

Get used to light refraction. Water distorts the position of underwater objects, making the fish seem closer than it actually is. Warm up your perception abilities by taking some practice stabs at rocks and debris to make sure you understand how much you must alter your aim to account for this discrepancy.

Find a fish in a relatively contained area. Be aware that you will only get one opportunity to spear the fish successfully.

Aim and stab quickly.

Collecting by hand

This method requires the most patience and skill on your part. First, select a fish hideout, and check for fish. It is best done in shallow water, such as low tide, or a shallower stream or river, although some people are adept at fishing in this way in deeper waters.

Stand in the water if safe.

Slowly lower your hand into the hideout, palm up, with your fingers extended towards the fish.

Keep your hand as still as possible.

After several minutes, the fish should be used to your hand. Begin inching it towards the fish.

When you can feel the fish's chin, close your fingers onto the fish's gills, and pull the fish from the water.

Bailing out

This is a traditional method known well in Africa and Southern Asia. This method is not beneficial if you're low on energy, however.

Find a small pond or small water area. This could be rock pools, tidal pools, smaller areas of water off a lake, lagoon, or river, etc.

Bail out the water from the pool using a container.

Try to attract fish to the container used for bailing (see method above for catching with a "trap"). You can also use a basket or netting to filter the water and catch fish at the same time, acting like a strainer.

Using wax

Take a ball or piece of wax from Babybel cheese. Thread a very strong string through the middle.

Tie the string three times tightly to a sturdy branch. Dangle the bright red wax in the water. The size can be adjusted depending on the intended target fish's size.

Wait.

Pull up the string if it is very strong. You can use an empty thread spool attached to the branch with rubber bands to manually reel in the line, in which case, tie the line to the spool.