Building the Perfect Survival Fishing Kit

Fly fishing is a very simple and effective way to fish for just about every fish species. The hardest part is learning the cast. Tenkara rods take that out of the equation. Instead of a reel, spooled with fly line, you have a length of line equal to the length of the rod, connected at the tip of the rod. This is the perfect setup for catching fish along a stream, or pond. In the kit, you get the rod, line tippet material and select flies. You also get the tube that the whole rod breaks down into. This is fly fishing in its simplest form. Getting the rod set up and ready to fish takes just a couple of minutes. We have one of these rods and love its simplicity and how fun it is.

You can’t go wrong with a spinning rod and reel combo. It is an easy reel to master and Ugly Stik rods have attained legendary status as being nearly unbreakable. The reel is a simple, rugged 3 bearing unit with a 5.1:1 gear ratio, for a decent, steady retrieve. The rod breaks down for easy transport, so you can have it in the back of the truck, SUV or car, and get on some fish wherever you happen to be.

You’re going to need some basic fishing tackle, and you’ll need a way to carry it. Plano’s Stowaway boxes are a great way to store tackle. The Satchel models have a handle for carrying ease, and the best part – You can stash one under the seat in your truck. You can configure the internal storage to fit your needs, and if you have two, they can be connected for easy carrying.

While they’re not the cheapest hooks out there, they may be the best option for putting fish on the table. We’ve fished with these hooks for every fish species from panfish to salmon. They are ridiculously sharp, hold their point and the barbs keep the fish on the hook better than anything we’ve used. When you want fish for food, there is no better option.

We like balsa wood floats for fishing. When it comes to balsa floats, the name to know is Thill. They have the widest assortment of floats going and they all work great. For survival situations, we recommend the spring attachment style versus the bobber-stop style. They’re easier to use.

You may not always have live bait available for fishing, and sometimes lures don’t work. Berkley Gulp! Bait often works as good or better than live bait. It has tons of scent in it and fish go crazy for it. The bait is edible and biodegradable, so you’re not using anything toxic. It comes in several types that mimics live baits. Have some in your tackle box.

You are going to need a knife and some pliers, plus you’ll undoubtedly find some other tools you need. You might as well get a Leatherman Tool. Leatherman Tools are simply handy tools to have on hand and they are the perfect addition to your fishing kit.