Archive for the ‘fishing’ Category
How to Make a Fish Trap
June 29th, 2010 | 
Author: 
The goal when you use any fish trap is to catch fish. You want to make a fish trap that the fish can swim into but not out of. Part of the trick is the bait, but a big part of the success of any fish trap is its design. Here’s a simple fish trap you can put in a river to catch a load of fresh fish.
There are numerous methods to make a fish trap and all sorts of materials can be used. Below is how to make a fish trap using wire mesh. More traditional fish traps can be made using natural materials such as willow. A small fish trap can even be made out of an old plastic drinks bottle.
The Otter Board
A little while ago an acquaintance of mine told me about a fishing technique using an otter. This is not the furry thing that is apt to get itself cuddled by Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers in sickly films: this is a method of poaching trout. An otter is a wooden board, weighted to float on its edge in the water. A line is attached to one side in such a position that, when the otter is towed through the water, it angles away from the shore and out into the lake/loch.
Fishing Techniques Part 3 – Spear Fishing
The fishing method uses a spear. Spear fishing can be accomplished using many different designs of spear, anything from a simple single point (sharpened stick), to a multi point (trident), or barbed point (Leister).
In general the more points the better giving you some lee way. Aim slightly below the fish to allow for light refraction.
How to Make a Bamboo Fishing Spear
Back in May a neighbor gave me some bamboo, I thought I’d see what I could make with it. The first thing I made was a fishing spear.
First thing I did was whittle off the end just shy of a ring on the larger end, and then tied some string very tightly around the shaft at the second joint from that end, and then split it lengthwise in quarters down to the string and started shaping the tines.
Fishing Techniques Part 2 – Hook and Line
In the first article, entitled Know your prey we looked at the different categories of fish predator, prey and mixed. We also looked at where these fish may be feeding and what they were likely to be feeding on. Now, let’s take a look at some of the techniques and equipment which we can use to catch fish. When I say equipment I’m not referring to the huge array of fishing tackle which can be found on offer in tackle shops around the country. Ray Mears once said “most tackle and lures you find in fishing shops are there to catch one thing… Fishermen”. I think he makes a good point.
Fishing Techniques Part 1 – Know Your Prey
Spending my early years in Worcestershire, I did a little fresh water fishing. Then living by the sea in Cornwall I progressed to sea fishing. Regarding the fresh water fishing I caught a few trout (mostly rainbow), bream, perch and a few pike. Sea fishing has mainly been whiting, mackerel, flounder and if I’ve been very lucky the occasional bass.
**Please note that in normal situations you should NOT use some of these techniques that will be covered in this and future fishing articles, in the United Kingdom as they are illegal and others require the correct permit or licenses.**
OK! Let’s address the most common mistake that inexperienced anglers make. When I say ‘inexperienced anglers’ I’m thinking of people such as myself. I’m interested in survival and bushcraft not fishing itself. When I am fishing it is not for sport or merely pleasure, although I do enjoy it to a certain degree, it is to obtain food. Food which may possibly help to keep me alive or at least enable me to function.