People started catching fish when they realized it could be used as food. They experimented with fishing techniques and methods for many years until 16 thousand years ago, when they invented the fishing rod. It significantly simplified the task and helped increase fishermen’s chances to succeed. Today, the fishing rod is an indispensable tackle. It is becoming available to everyone who is not too lazy to place an order online or go to the nearest store for fishermen. At the same time, emergencies arise when a person finds himself alone with wild nature. In this case, various improvised means can compensate for the lack of a fishing rod and other gear. With their help, catching fish will be difficult but possible. Below are the most accessible and effective fishing methods to succeed without using a fishing rod.
With your hands
Without a fishing rod, the most accessible method is catching fish with your hands. It is suitable for those cases when no suitable objects or devices are nearby. There are only a few options for this type of fishing. The first will be effective if they find a large school of small fish. Having walked around it and facing the shore, need to splash the water and everything in it onto the land with sharp movements of your hands. Most of the school will have time to swim away, but several fish will end up on the shore.
Noodling is suitable for catching large aquatic inhabitants. In this method, fingers are used as bait for predators. When the fish rushes at them hoping for a tasty breakfast, the fisherman must grab it by the throat, gills, or other parts. Then, all that remains is to go ashore without letting the prey slip out of your hands. Just do not grab piranhas and other fish with sharp teeth this way. Another way to catch large aquatic inhabitants is a sudden attack. In this method, the fisherman must quietly approach the fish at the water’s surface. After that, he should grab it with a sharp movement of the hand and pull it to the shore. This type of fishing is best done at night, when the fish are less mobile and cannot usually be seen. If you have AGM Night Vision devices or other similar optics, the chances of success will be even higher.
With a homemade net
Many ancient peoples survived by catching fish with homemade nets. This type of fishing is still relevant today, so it can be used to get food in an emergency. It is best to make a net from any available flexible and durable materials. The most apparent option is clothing. You can make several small holes in it for a more efficient passage of water. Then, all that remains is to attach the clothing to a strong base (for example, to branches tied together). As a result, will get a kind of landing net, which will be convenient for getting fish out of the water.
It is best to fish with a homemade net in areas of the reservoir where the depth is 0.5-1 m. This method can catch even fish near the bottom. Instead of clothing, you can use large leaves, pieces of fabric, plastic bags and much more to make a net. The principle of fishing will remain the same.
With a sharpened stick
Fishing with a sharpened stick is the oldest method of obtaining food in the wild. For a long time, it remained the primary method for many people and helped them survive in difficult conditions. Today, this method is used only in emergencies. Its advantages are its simplicity and availability. However, it is not as effective as other methods and allows only large fish to be caught.
Any strong stick 1.5-2 meters long will do for this simple method. One end needs to be sharpened to form the semblance of a spear. A knife and a stone are excellent assistants in this matter. Before fishing, you need to find a suitable reservoir area. The main selection criteria are maximum water transparency and a depth of up to 1 meter. To succeed in this type of fishing, one needs to be patient and know what the concept of “light refraction” means. Experience is also an indispensable assistant in this matter.
With a wicker basket
Basket traps are great fishing tools. They can be used to get food and survive in the wild, even without special gear. The main advantage of using this method is the lack of human involvement in the process. Any flexible and durable plant material is suitable for forming a basket. Vines, twigs, and reed leaves are an excellent choice. When weaving, the trap should be shaped into an elongated cone. The upper part can be of any width. At the same time, the bottom should be as narrow as possible. A small hole at the lower end is a must.
Fishing begins with lowering the basket into the pond. Several heavy stones should be placed inside (so that the homemade trap does not move under the action of the underwater current). It is also recommended that some bait be added. If there is fish in the pond, it will swim into the basket, after which it will be difficult to escape. The fisherman will only have to take out the trap 1-2 hours after its installation and take the contents.
With a plastic bottle
This simple method of catching various aquatic inhabitants was invented recently. However, it quickly became popular, and many fans of alternative fishing learned to use it. To succeed, need patience and a bottle of 2 liters or more. Preparation for fishing begins with cutting off the top of the plastic container. The removed edge must be turned over, lowered into the bottom of the bottle, and secured in any available way. The finished trap can be partially filled with bait. You should also place stones there, thanks to which it will lie motionless on the bottom of the reservoir. The bottle can be tied to any heavy object with a strong current.
Fishing begins when the prepared plastic bottle is lowered into the reservoir—shallow water is ideal. Then, you only have to wait 1-2 hours. During this time, several fish will fall into the trap in search of bait, and most will not be able to leave it. The only drawback of this fishing method is that it can only catch small fish.
Fishing without a rod is a unique phenomenon for the 21st century. This activity is used only by extreme sports fans who enjoy surviving in the wild and people in trouble who find themselves far from civilization. For both, fishing is the most accessible way to find food. Using the methods described in the article, everyone can succeed and learn alternative fishing methods that can one day save a life.
