Take your floss kit to a local sports department to see what hooks and sinkers will fit inside the container and if possible look for flies or plastic nymphs too. Remember that there is no substitute for live bait such as bugs or worms that you can acquire in the field. Floats such as sticks or buoyant trash can also be acquired in the field.

Although I think in terms of emergency use, it can also be available in spare moments when a fishing opportunity presents it’s self just for fun. The photo above shows my catch using floss fishing this morning having tied the floss on my finger and jigged the lure. I used green colored floss with a leaded jig hook and a mini tail tube lure. The bass was caught off of a dock on my first cast. Give it try… you’ll love it!

The next day, while visiting a friend, I pulled the canister out of my pocket and showed it to my friend and asked him if he might have a use for it. He shared with me a story about how his friend had used a similar canister which made his fishing trip a whole lot easier.

Have you ever gone fishing and at the end of the day tried to hook your lure on some part of your fishing pole or reel only to have it come loose and snag on your clothes, upholstery or other gear? This fellow solved this problem by using a canister to enclose the lure, thus preventing hooks from snagging it’s surroundings.

Enclosing the lure is like putting it in a locker for storage and it can be accomplished in different ways. For instance, you can simply place your lure inside the canister, close the lid, and reel in the line and let the canister swivel from the tip of your rod. Or, you can stabilize the canister by using a rubber band to attach it to your fishing pole handle for transport or storage. Depending on the severity of the lid’s edge, you may want to cut a slit from the outside edge to the center in order to provide an opening so as not to crimp the line.

The canister that I found was an empty M&Ms candy container but there are many containers available. Next time you check out at the register at a grocery store, take a look at the variety of candies and their containers to see what might work best for you. If it contains candy that you like, it will be a win/win scenario for you!

I heard of a low-tech way to fish that I just had to try, it’s called “Hobo Fishing”. This method uses a conventional fishing line with assorted hooks, lures, weights, baits and bobbers but uses a stick or similar object for a spool and eliminates the need for a rod and reel. Indigenous people have used this technique for generations. In the present day this simple technique allows a greater latitude for improvising along with the benefits of easy storage and transport.

I began preparing my rig by measuring out a suitable length of fishing line then fastening it to an empty soda can using the pull tab as an anchor point. From there I wound the line around the can with successive loops heading toward the other end where upon I tied on the hook and bait.

To operate this rig, feed out about 1 foot of line and place your thumb on top of the can. Your thumb becomes your casting release. I find it easier to cast from the side and just after a cast or two it begins to feel natural and can be quite effective. On my third cast I caught the bass shown in the photo. What makes this type of fishing particularly exciting is that you literally have a direct line to the fish so you feel it’s every move. When the fish takes the bait you retrieve the line by grabbing it with alternate hand-holds much like the rhythm and motion when paddling a kayak. Landing the fish is pretty much the same as when using a rod.

You owe it to yourself to experience this method of fishing as you are able to feel a more direct connection with your catch and the satisfaction of your achievement.