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I live in a State that is considered a "Lake State" that has any many miles on it's lake shores as the Eastern Coastline. It also, since the dustbowl days, has added numerous watersheds, small ponds and even small private lakes in almost every nook and cranny. The rivers and streams are plentiful too. These bodies of water are filled with food if one is not too picky. Fishing is often overlooked as survival gear and food. It can be accomplished by a novice but as we all know it's fishing not catching so it can be hit or miss. However the less picky you are about the size and type the greater your chances.
My BOB has a small amount of fishing line, hooks and a small bobber. I am going to add a collapsible rod to it as well with a few lures. Plastic worms, which must be kept in a worm tray/container to keep it from melting on your other gear, are a good lure to have as not only fish will take them, you can catch snapping turtles if you drag it across them as well. I have also used them to catch frogs with a fly rod dangled in front of them. It's almost comical but they are good eating later.
On the homefront I have perch traps which we mainly use to bait trotlines, juglines and banklines however the small perch and occasional greedy water snake that get caught in the perchtrap could be eaten too, it's just more work. We use dogfood, bugs, pieces of meat/fish for bait as well as crawdads which are also good to eat in the perchtraps. Crawdads can be caught by catching them with your hands, poking a stick into their living holes in the mud and when they pinch the stick in aggression you pull them out. Same principle using small pieces of meat tied to fishing line, they are greedy for food and won't let go till you have them in hand. Their are also specialized traps for them as well.
We don't ice fish here but I've seen it up north where they fish by hand and lines in the wintertime too, we catch blue catfish that feed year round when it's cold so it can be a year round event.
My family also bowfishes and gigs. The regulations for what kind of fish or marine life are tight but that would open up greatly after an event.
For those on the coastlines spearfishing can be used. I don't know anything about this but I hope to someday. It looks neat. Chime in if you do it with some tips.
Noodling is also an option but it comes with greater risk and I don't recommend it for folks that are not good at it. The dangers are not knowing where you are sticking that hand and coming up with a beaver and no fingers, snakebite and being trapped under a log or rockledge. Never do this alone it's just silly to.Your hand/forearm will also suffer abrasions from the fish itself as you stick it in their mouth. This could open you up to a higher risk of infection after an event.
The line/hooks on your fishing equipment can be used to sew or stich. It works better if you smash the barb on the hook. The line can also be used as cordage for shelter, gear tie ons etc.
Anywhere you can fish you can also generally forage as well for plant life such as cattails which are very edible. Water draws all kinds of life. I know this isn't for everyone as you may live in the desert or high plateau where there is nothing like this. For those that live near water though don't overlook fishing on your next exercise, shopping trip or just plain ole day off. It can be a family event they will think is fun with skill building and they won't even know!
My BOB has a small amount of fishing line, hooks and a small bobber. I am going to add a collapsible rod to it as well with a few lures. Plastic worms, which must be kept in a worm tray/container to keep it from melting on your other gear, are a good lure to have as not only fish will take them, you can catch snapping turtles if you drag it across them as well. I have also used them to catch frogs with a fly rod dangled in front of them. It's almost comical but they are good eating later.
On the homefront I have perch traps which we mainly use to bait trotlines, juglines and banklines however the small perch and occasional greedy water snake that get caught in the perchtrap could be eaten too, it's just more work. We use dogfood, bugs, pieces of meat/fish for bait as well as crawdads which are also good to eat in the perchtraps. Crawdads can be caught by catching them with your hands, poking a stick into their living holes in the mud and when they pinch the stick in aggression you pull them out. Same principle using small pieces of meat tied to fishing line, they are greedy for food and won't let go till you have them in hand. Their are also specialized traps for them as well.
We don't ice fish here but I've seen it up north where they fish by hand and lines in the wintertime too, we catch blue catfish that feed year round when it's cold so it can be a year round event.
My family also bowfishes and gigs. The regulations for what kind of fish or marine life are tight but that would open up greatly after an event.
For those on the coastlines spearfishing can be used. I don't know anything about this but I hope to someday. It looks neat. Chime in if you do it with some tips.
Noodling is also an option but it comes with greater risk and I don't recommend it for folks that are not good at it. The dangers are not knowing where you are sticking that hand and coming up with a beaver and no fingers, snakebite and being trapped under a log or rockledge. Never do this alone it's just silly to.Your hand/forearm will also suffer abrasions from the fish itself as you stick it in their mouth. This could open you up to a higher risk of infection after an event.
The line/hooks on your fishing equipment can be used to sew or stich. It works better if you smash the barb on the hook. The line can also be used as cordage for shelter, gear tie ons etc.
Anywhere you can fish you can also generally forage as well for plant life such as cattails which are very edible. Water draws all kinds of life. I know this isn't for everyone as you may live in the desert or high plateau where there is nothing like this. For those that live near water though don't overlook fishing on your next exercise, shopping trip or just plain ole day off. It can be a family event they will think is fun with skill building and they won't even know!
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