so in the quest for building my 7day BOB, ive been looking to get the fishing stuff bought since im in Florida , ie surrounded by water so theres gonna be fish . anyways, i was looking on ebay for a collapsable fishing pole but i remember that ron popeil use to make the pocket fisherman, and i searched for it and what do ya know, there were a few of them for sale. if you had the choice between these two and it would be attached to the outside of the Alice pack so as to not sacrifice storage space inside, which would you go with.

Niether one.

If you look around on this board you will find most people here opt for a very small fishing kit.

You do not need much to fish, and fish well.... line, bait and hook.

In my BOB I have an altoids tin (filled with about 12 hooks, 4 lures, some sinkers and swivel), and a spool of 300 yards of 30lb test fishing line. This setup takes virtually no space or weight and is fine for even long term fishing aspects of 1 month+

Around the world many poor people fish without the use of any sort of poles, there are islander children that fish with coke bottles and fishing line then sell the fish for money for their families.

There is also a way to make a floating contraption to catch fish unattended using milk bottles and fishing line/hooks/bait.

You do not need a pole to catch a fish, in fact, for a BoB I would advise against it, the weight/space could be used much more efficiently.

For Bugging out, probably not. But last summer went camping and on the way there stopped at a walgreens for whatever and they had the pocket fisherman on clearance for 5 bucks, I now keep it in the car and usually take it when hiking or backpacking if I know there will be fishing nearby. It works and have used it multiple times since then. It's lightweight and easily attaches to a pack. Best 5 bucks spent in a long time...

If you can't find a stick, or some other improvised fishing pole, I'd suggest working more on the skills and less on the gear...

I personally think that rod-and-line fishing is too inefficient for actual food gathering. A gill net or some kind of unattended line rig is a better option for non sport fishing.

We used to pull snappers out of our pond with air filled milk jugs and hooks baited with chum. Makes a damn fine turtle soup. Of course in some places it is illegal for use in harvesting game fish; check with your local F&G Dept. But for survival purposes that is what I'm probably going to use. I just keep a variety of hooks, weights and lines in an altoids tin and I figure I can catch anything edible in the water with that rig, using an empty 2 liter bottle (Backup water storage) as a floater. I don't have time to hold a stick over the water if I'm surviving; there's zombies to kill.

As to an actual collapsible pole, if you must have a rod to go on your line there are usually field expedient ones to be found.

Yeah, I'd agree on just a Fishing Kit. I always think that you don't need a pole because if you're near water, it's pretty much guaranteed you'll find a stick somewhere, although if that Pocket Fisherman works....I might get one at some point just to keep around.

Here is a great idea from Woods Walker for a Nalgene bottle fishing system.

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=

I would just skip the pocket fisherman pole deal. It just saves space and weight, bob wise, to just keep a small tackle collection and just craft a pole out of a stick or find some trash bottles to use to string and bait. Really, I have about 300 yds of 30lb line and a roll or 180lb catfish trot line. Both have many uses other than fishing if needed and both can be used to set lines that you can walk away from and do other important things.

Also, I like the KISS (keep it simple stupid) policy with things. I just always felt like that stuff was too complicated and fragile to really trust my life with it so to speak. Its great for hiking and just having fun and what not.

I did see a vid on youtube a while back where a guy made this pole out of pvc pipe. its a lot like WW's Nalgene bottle kit, just using pvc pipe. I made one to play around with and must say, not sure if it will make it to the bob, but I do like it. pictured below




Hope this helps!

One word: Emmrod.



http://www.emmrod.com/

If you don't have the room or weight for it just bring the tackle box, but they are close to indestructible, pack down to nothing, and don't weigh much. I like it, but it isn't like other rods, you use the spring to cast so you get better distance than you would think from such a small rod.

I have a few collapsible rods that I picked up at the bass pro shop. They're good for keeping in the car kit with a Zebco 33 mounted.

I want that thing.... I bet I could hit my coworker with a booger from across the office.

For food gathering in a survival situation, increase your odds… use a trotline. Think of it as setting multiple snares for fish.

Want it

I agree with the sentiment that some line and some hooks are all you would really need the rest could be improvised. Just thinking out saving space.

If you stop and think what you really need a fishing pole for, it's mostly to cast out into deep water, signal you when a fish is on, and absorb some shock from the fish. So maybe ask yourself "Do I really need all that in my BOB?".

If you do, then cool, get one, I had a collapsable pole as a kid and it worked great on small to medium sized fish.

If you can live without the big cast, etc., then go with some line and hooks and make do with what's handy in the field.

That said, I really think you should heed the previous advice and learn to run a trot line, and spend the $20 on a gill net. It's all about economy of motion; little work for big reward.

Here is a little review I did of a telescoping pole setup I take backpacking.

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=36850

I believe my hand casting system link was already posted in this thread but here it is again.

viewtopic.php?t=12054&highlight=

Personally I wouldn't pack a pole for a BOB as a hand casting system takes up no room after all it uses your canteen for a reel. Plus even if you don’t fish guessing there are tons of usage for the line.

A fishing trip posted on ZS.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=43146

Any see a trend? Fish caught and killed. I fish maybe 60 times a year so have gotten good at it. But like anything else if you don’t put your time in someone shouldn’t be surprised if they are full of fail. I fish all year including winter. Once had a Steel head freeze solid in upstate NY fishing at -11F. I have used trout lines just to mess around but for me don’t see the point as for the most part even using marginal gear I tend to get more than most. For a 72-hour bug out despite packing some fishing items probably wouldn't spend the time fishing as pack enough food to make it to the BOL and the longer I am twisting in the wind the greater the risks. If for some crazy reason I was forced to forage than wouldn't hesitate for a second.

Go with the gillnet. It can be used for both catching fish and for trapping birds. Once you set it up you can do other things while it works.

Only use one in a real survival situation or where permitted by local game and fish laws.

I agree with all the guys saying all you need is line and hooks. I do plenty of fishing with just the white strands you can pull out of paracord and bent saftey pins. Thats a fine way to save space. But something like that little rod just looks like a lot a fun.

Also.... do not forget about trott lines very compact and can net you a boat loat of bottom feeders in a single day, if placed and baited right.

AZA do you fish for carp in China? Here in Japan we have some huge ones. They swim in the canals. In remote areas they can be crafty. Its fun. But I would never eat one. They would have to be just so damn polluted, dont you think?

I live here in Guangzhou (HUGE) city there's some public fishing areas and I am esentially on an island in this district as my community is surrounded by 3 rivers in this delta and I do fish in the rivers.

Yes I have been fishing a lot here, as I love fishing. But yes the water is polluted I wouldnt dare eat anything I caught. Oh I miss the good ol'days back in NC when I would just slay the fish all day long, and have a nice fish fry that evening... Small channel cats were my favorite to eat.

Edit: Also IMO carp is not a very good tasting fish to begin with.

I found a good recipe for carp.

1. Small carp.
2. 5 scallions.
3. 2 oz of butter.
4. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Maple board.

First gut and gill the carp and stuff it with scallions and butter then season the outside with salt and pepper. Then wrap the fish in Al foil. Place the fish on the plank and bake at 350F for 45 minutes. Dump the carp in the trash and eat the wooden plank.

Find your way back to NC safe AZA.

Thanks man, and when I do....the catfish had better watchout.