Even if you live in a major city, if you evacuate the area using a little known county road (refer to a detailed state map to find these county roads, which exist in just about every region of America), those county roads can take you through protected state lands where there may plentiful fishing opportunities and not a lot of people to compete with.
Most people who fish do so for recreation. Following a major disaster, the last thing people are going to be thinking about is recreational fishing!
At the same time, waters or fish that may have been off limits previously, are now open season -- if this is a catastrophic disaster we're talking about where you need to fish to survive an emergency!
One of the goals with this website is to provide information to help you survive any disaster. (We also get to tell a lot of people about God and his plan for the world at the same time -- and that the disasters that are taking place around the world and the larger disasters still to come are part of the 'last days' warnings given throughout the Bible -- are you finally ready to believe?)
One of these is food. If you're near water, or know how to make your way to a water source, that can mean fishing.
Of course, all water is not created equal. There's freshwater fishing and there's saltwater fishing.
Freshwater Fishing Equipment: The essentials
1. A fishing rod and reel.
2. Sinkers
3. Hooks (sizes 6-10)
4. Floats
5. Bait (live or artificial)
6. Fishing line (between 4 and 10 pound test)
Saltwater Fishing Equipment: The Essentials
1. Rod (a fly fishing basic rod will be between 8.5- 9 feet and will cost over $100 easy)
2. Reel (must be resistant to saltwater corrosion and will again cost over $100)
3. Saltwater Line
4. Leaders (long ones for shy fish, tough ones for the scarier variety)
5. Bait (live and/ or artificial)
Now remember, the purpose of telling you what fishing equipment to have is so you can go out and purchase it prior to a disaster. But let's just say that you don't and then that disaster hits.
Here are some considerations.
Fishing when you don't have the equipment
Well, the first course of action is to find something to lure the fish in. That's right: We're talking bait. Some of the more popular baits are earthworms, hotdogs, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, insects, and kernel corn depending on the type of fish you're going for. Thus, these are things that may be available in your house or in the land around you. Simply put them on your hook and you've got a chance.
What if you don't have a fishing pole?
That's easy: Make one.
Well, actually it's not all that easy; but it is possible. Some things that you'll need are:
1. A pole (preferably made of bamboo or green wood)
2. A hook (think metal coat hanger)
3. Fishing line (the thinner and more powerful the string, the better)
There, of course, is more to it than that. Thus, if you want to learn more try either of the following links:
Make Your Own Bamboo Fishing Pole
Try it Survivor style
If you've ever seen the reality television show, Survivor, then you know that the contestants often spear their fish. This is possible, even if it won't be easy. Thus, if you have a knife and can shave a stick into a spear, that's also an option. A net could also help.
And finally, you'll need something sharp to gut your fish with.
REFERENCES:
Bass Fishing: Tips for Beginners
Make Your Own Bamboo Fishing Pole
Wilderness Survival - Fishing Devices