Freshwater fishing with a rod and reel is an enjoyable way to take in the scenery while providing food on the table. In case of emergency, knowing how to fish in freshwater could prove essential for survival.
The initial step in freshwater fishing is selecting the appropriate equipment. A rod and reel combination with a basic line and hook should be sufficient for most species of freshwater fish. Furthermore, you need to know where to fish; look for areas with structure like rocks or fallen trees where fish tend to hide.
It's essential to remain quiet and avoid scaring away fish. Be patient as it may take some time before you get a bite. Once caught, make sure you know how to clean and prepare it correctly for storage. With these survival skills in place, freshwater fishing with a rod and reel can provide ample food while helping you stay fed in the wild.
The fishing practice dates back at least 40,000 years. The method of using a rod is traced back to Ancient Egypt, Rome, Medieval England, and more ancient civilizations from that time.
The rods back then were made from any material that could bend and withstand the pressure of the fish's weight.
Bamboo is a great example: combined with other plant materials, it made a very durable rod. The bamboo rod is still used today, but we mainly use graphite and fiber carbon fishing rods.
As much as we know, the first fishing reel was made in 1195 AD in China by the Song dynasty. The first ancient fishing reels were made purely out of wood, and as technology progressed, inventors started to add other materials to the reel, such as metal.
For example, the reel handle was wooden, while the rest was metal and vice versa.
Fishing Equipment Needed:
Rod
Reel
Line
Swivels
Leader line
Lead
Hooks
No matter where you are, your local fishing and hunting store should have all the gear to make an inexpensive survival fishing kit.
From a survival perspective, you don't need a rod to catch fish; a reel with the other gear will suffice.
If you use a rod with the reel, a 3-meter graphite rod will be enough. Ask the store manager for a decently strong rod because you can use it for years without worrying it will break.
Fishing for smaller fish with a heavy rod isn't optional, but in survival scenarios, it is better to have something you can rely on.
Pick a light rod only if you target small fish, like trout. Graphite rods are the least expensive, and with care, they can be very durable too.
Look out for the end of the rod because it is known that breaks occur from top to bottom more. Always disassemble the rod when moving.
You should look for a semi-big reel. The size of reels isexplained in numbers. Example: 1000 is small, 2000 is more extensive, etc. A size of 3000 - 4000 is suggested. You will want to be able to put enough line on the reel.
A monofilamentline will do just good. It's inexpensive, and it is considered to be the most versatile line type. Look for around 300 meters of line; the thickness should be from 0.24mm to 0.30mm.
Choose heavier line only in the scenario that you are after bigger fish. If you go with a thicker line, consider buying an enormous reel (5000-8000).
Next, you will need some fishing swivels of sizes 8 to 12. The swivel is not complicated, but it is a crucial component to set up the rig easily.
Using another line for the leader line is optional because you can always use the main line. The only benefit of having a separate leader line is using other materials, such as fluorocarbon, less visible to the fish.
Fluorocarbon leader usually comes in 50 meters packaging, which is more expensive than monofilament.
If you are fishing on a lake, a 20-gram lead-fishing sinker will suffice. However, you can use heavier lead for longer throws. On a river, you will need to consider the current.
If the river is low, you can always fish the still water with a 20-gram lead. But, in reality, for river fishing, a survivalist should have a wide array of leads, from 20 grams to 100 grams or even more, and adapt to the river's condition.
Hooks should match the size of the fish you are targeting, as the hookup rate will be the highest that way.
If you still don't know about the hook size, figure out what fish live in the body of water you would fish in a survival situation and adapt the hook size to the size of the fish's mouth. Usually, smaller hooks perform better.
The Most Efficient and Easiest Rig To Learn - Carolina Rig
Above, you got all the gear listed to make an effective Carolina rig. Unfortunately, I don't use the fishing bead below the sinker, but if you would like to follow the tutorial from the video, feel free to purchase fishing beads as well.
Follow the video, and the rest is self-explanatory. If you are not using a rod, connect the Carolina rig to the spool and throw the lead in the water with your hand.
Next, wait for a bite and pull the line with your main hand. If you feel the weight, pull the fish up. Cleaning the fish as soon as possible is suggested.
Keep the remaining meat in the shade, cold water, or anything that will preserve the meat. You can also cook the fish right on the spot over a fire.
