It takes practice, but you can catch a fish without using expensive rods and reels. There are many ingenious ways that people have come up with over thousands of years, here are just a few of the ways of catching a fish without a fishing rod.
Steps
Method 1 of 10: Hand Line
Step 1. Get some line, tie a hook (and sinker if necessary) to it
Step 2. Put a bait on the hook
Step 3. Stand near the edge of the water, or a bridge or boat, and let the line dangle in the water
Step 4. Tug the line to secure the hook when bitten, then pull the fish up
Method 2 of 10: Trap 1
Step 1. Cut off the top of a 2-liter soda bottle, or another bottle with a funnel-shaped top
Step 2. Insert the top with the spout of the bottle back into the cylinder of the bottom of the bottle and secure it with hot glue
Step 3. Place baits and small stones (to sink it) into the bottle
Step 4. Tie a line to the bottle, long enough to reach the bottom of the water when you are fishing
Step 5. Throw the bottle into the water, trying to "guide" it so that it sits on the bottom
Step 6. Pull up the fish trap bottle after an hour or two and see if any fish have swum through the opening and are trapped inside
You should use the same principle to create a larger trap, using wooden planks or wire mesh, to catch larger fish.
Method 3 of 10: Trap 2
Step 1. Purchase a dogfish trap at a local outdoor store
They come in different shapes and styles, so ask an employee for the best type for you.
Step 2. Get the bait
Putting the bait into this type of trap is really simple. You can use anything from a handful of French fries to expired food from your fridge. You just need something that gives off a strong smell and attracts the fish to the trap.
Method 4 of 10: Harpoon the Fish
Step 1. Purchase or build a harpoon (or bow with arrows for fishing)
Step 2. Tie a line to the harpoon so you can retrieve it after casting it
Step 3. Find a place on the beach where you can hide your figure from passing fish
Step 4. Throw the harpoon at the fish as they swim
It will take some practice, as the light in the water bends, making it necessary to adjust the aim to compensate.
Method 5 of 10: Whip the Fish
Step 1. Carry a long stick with you (a thick stick will yield better results, but would be less comfortable to carry)
Step 2. When the fish approaches, stick it to paralyze it
Repeat this step repeatedly if you miss it on the first try.
Step 3. This takes practice, as the light bends in the water, making it necessary to adjust the aim to compensate
Step 4. Don't use this method unless you really have no other choice
Method 6 of 10: Can and Weight
Step 1. Use a can or thick stick as a reel to hold the line
Step 2. Wind the line onto the spool
Wrap it up carefully to avoid tangling.
Step 3. Tie a weight at the end of the line and a hook about 30cm from the weight
Step 4. Grab the line about half a meter from the end and swing it over your head (like an ancient slingshot), releasing it towards your target
Step 5. Point the end of the spool as you bring the line up towards the target so that the line can easily slip out of the end of the spool
Step 6. Hold the line and, when a fish bites, pull it up, rewinding it to the spool to prevent tangling
Method 7 of 10: Put the bait
Step 1. Purchase or catch worms, crickets, flies or other insects
Step 2. Fish love certain types of vegetables (corn, celery, carrots, lettuce, peas)
Step 3. Be satisfied with a leaf, or some other plant you find; cattails work well
Step 4. Shrimp attract big fish
Step 5. Even small fish that you don't need or that die can be used as bait
Method 8 of 10: Texas approach
Step 1. Get a bottle of clean water
Step 2. Fill it halfway with bait of your choice
Step 3. Add a hook inside and pierce the top of the water bottle to hold the bottle with another hook as well
Step 4. Tie the line to the hooks
Step 5. When you hear a jerk, yank the line and pull up the fish, bottle and all
Method 9 of 10: Bear Grylls Gap Network
This is a method used by Bear Grylls during an equipment-free stay in the Scottish Highlands.
Step 1. Look for a narrow area between two lakes or two bodies of water, or a narrowing in a stream, etc
Step 2. Look for large rocks and create a small causeway through the restricted area
Leave a small opening in the middle of this causeway. Now this little hole is the only way across the causeway.
Step 3. Place a net, plastic bag, or other trap object on one side of the hole
Secure it down with a rock inside. Hold it open with a stick or other object (a fish must be able to swim in it). This creates the trap for the fish to swim in. Now all you need to do is encourage the fish to swim in this direction.
Step 4. Throw rocks or hit the water under the trap
If it's a lake, throw rocks as much as you can towards the center. If it's a stream, hit the water with a branch or throw rocks. This will encourage the fish to swim away from the hustle and bustle, down to the trap.
Step 5. Stop the fuss
Go check the trap. If there is a fish inside, retrieve it quickly and carefully place it on the shore. If not, go back to the hustle and bustle until a fish swims into the trap.
Method 10 of 10: Bright Colors
Step 1. Find something that is brightly colored
It could be anything from plastic pieces and weights, to enameled nails or painted sticks.
Step 2. If you want the fish to stay alive, tie the shiny object to a long branch
If you don't want it alive, tie a hook to the branch and attach the object to the hook.
Step 3. Get a coil without wires or cables
Press the coil against the branch.
Step 4. Spread two bundles of rubber over the tip of the branch until they hold the top and bottom of the coil tight to the branch
Step 5. Reattach the free end of the string to the spool
Step 6. Dangle it in water and rustle softly
Advice
Luring fish with feed (chicken or rabbit feed, or cornmeal) sometimes helps attract them
Warnings
- Don't lean on the water and don't stand on it unless you are a capable swimmer.
- Never wrap line around your hands, wrists or other parts of your body. A very large fish could cause serious cuts with a sudden snap.
- Wear a life jacket when trying these methods.
- Even a capable swimmer can suffer from hypothermia if he falls into cold water.
