I have often pondered how similar a rubber band is to a worm or perhaps they can be fashioned into a bug or minnow.

Using my knife I fashioned a small minnow and thought I might coax a pan fish that typically hang out around my dock. To my surprise I caught a good sized bass instead. As I pulled it up to the dock it broke the line! I was dismayed but it did prove that my improvised lure worked!

For now I exercise catch and release when fishing at my pond and I’m quite sure that I’ve caught this one before as illustrated by the photo of our last encounter.

I made another improvised lure using a smaller hook and to my surprise I hooked more bass but they they all got off and I concluded that a larger hook was needed to be effective with bass.

I believe that a small hook works well with pan fish but a different rubber band shaped more like a grub or insect might appeal to them better and perhaps using it at a different time of day may yield more success.

I recommend experimenting with rubber bands for fun and with the prospect that rubber bands might be a good addition to your tackle box or survival kit.

A trip to the local dollar store provided the mitt so I removed one of the many protruding parts and attempted to attach it to a fish hook like I would mount a worm, but as similar as it looks like a worm, it is not hollow but rather a fuzzy string. The tip of the hook could pierce some of the fiber so it had to be in effect woven throughout the length as illustrated in the photo.

To my delight a large pan fish took the bait and I landed it easily. Because of the tenuous attachment to the hook the fuzzy fabric came loose in the process but of course it’s purpose was fulfilled and the task was accomplished.

These microfiber washmitts come in different colors and are very affordable to experiment with. You might not normally pack a washmitt in your gear but it might not be a bad idea to clip a piece off of the mitt for backup to natural bait or lost lures on a fishing trip.

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!

The advantages of this fishing device is that it stores easily in small spaces like your car’s glove compartment or in your Go-Bag/BOB. It will hold your fishing line, hook, sinker, lures and small float. The line can be stored by wrapping it on the outside with the rigging tucked inside, or you can wrap the line around your fingers to gather it for placing inside the tube as well. Additional fishing gear or perhaps survival kit items can be placed in a plastic bag and tucked inside the tube for easy retreival.

To anchor the end of the fishing line, I cut an 1/8″ deep slot across the open end of the tube then tied a slip knot at the end of the fishing line and fed it up through the inside of the tube from the opposite end. Once the line poked through to the slotted end I placed the loop into the slots and over one half of the tube while cinching up the knot and then capped it, thus securing the line in place.

The disadvantages of the tube is that the small diameter requires more winds than with a soda can for the same length of line to be retrieved. It’s a little more difficult to cast compared to a larger can, and whereas I use a thumb to release the line with a can, I use my fore-finger with the tube. Some times it’s just easier to sling the line by hand for casting.

Yes, it’s nice to have high-end equipment, but sometimes there is joy in simplicity. I keep a hand-spool fishing kit in each car, ready for an unexpected opportunity that crosses my path.

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.

A trademark of survival is simplicity, and I like to ask the practical question “what can you do with what you have?”. In my tackle box I usually have a 2/0 offset shank hook that I use to make a worm or lizard jig. The shank is long enough to accommodate a bent cap. Admittedly I carry a leatherman multitool that is a tremendous help in crafting things, but the lure can still be created with other items that can be used for bending or hammering. I simply put some small stones inside a bent cap and closed it around the hook shank. I found it helpful to offset the halves so that one edge tucked under the other for a more secure container for the stones. The purpose of the stones is to make a rattling sound that many fishermen believe attract fish. I also bent up the end of the cap at the top of the shank so that it would not slide down toward the hook end, thus giving the hook better exposure for a more secure catch. As it happens, I often use a swiveled clip to fasten my lures, so this was already in place.

Sure enough, it works! I highly recommend that you give it a try, and have fun trying different colors too!

Later that week, we camped early by a small lake. My uncle often reclined after a bite to eat while the rest of us were eager to explore our new surroundings. With a quick motion, my uncle struck his cupped hand on the ground and came up with a grasshopper. Turning to us he said “I’ll trade this for a trout”. Whereas I had been mesmerized by fancy lures and flies, this simple statement struck me with lasting impact… how a simple bait could be so effective. Even today I try different lures, but nothing beats the real deal. I have kept a long slender branch with an attached line and hook hidden by my favorite pond, knowing that when I happen by occasionally, I just need to scuffle through the brush, or roll some rotten logs to find the tender of trade to exchange for a fish.