Survival Fishing: How to Catch a Fish with Your Hand

 

Survival Fishing: How to Catch a Fish with Your Hand
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What will happen when you are near a water body and would like to catch some fish without having packed any gear? Well, there are many ways to catch fish without having any gear with you.  This article will chow how to catch a fish with your hand

If you have no gear and are not in a position to fashion an improvised fishing rod, hook, line or even a trap, then you can resort to hand fishing.

Hand fishing or otherwise referred to as noodling has been in practice for a long time now. It is not recommended, but if push comes to shove, you may have to resort to it.

In this tutorial, I will cover the steps on how to catch fish using your hands:

Pro Steps on How to Catch Fish using Your Hands

Step 1: To Wade in The Water or Not?

You can choose to wade in the water, but you will be susceptible to catching hypothermia. More so, if you opt to practice this craft at night, you will be at risk. During the day the water temperatures are warmer than at night.

If you do not want to get wet, then, you can find a spot where the water is flowing slower than the whole stream and place yourself there. Position yourself at the banks and lie in wait for the fish. Look for areas with a lot of stones lined along the coastline.

Step 2: Patience Pays

In hand fishing, you have to master patience as you lay in wait for the fish to come to you. Your hand will be radiating more heat than the surrounding of the fish. It will spook the fish as it will be a foreign object to it.

Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes for your hand to cool down and be at the same temperature as the surrounding. Once it cools down, the fish will have troubles differentiating your hand from other objects in its habitat.

Step 3: Tricking the Fish

When you resort to hand fishing, you are likely not to have any bait with you. You can either look for worms form below rocks or even use dead insects as bait. If not you can use your hand as bait.

Yes, you got that right. To use your hand as bait, you have to wiggle it like a worm and draw the fish that is likely to be hidden towards you. The motion of your finger will look like that of a worm that is struggling. The fish will move forward and take a bite on your hand.

We all know how fish relish a wounded bait. If the fish lies hidden in a cave, or rocks, you could lull the fish. Let it relax before you strike.

Step 4: Act Fast

Once the fish is within reach, act fast by holding it by the gills or the mouth. By putting your hands under its gills, you get an easier grip from the hard cartilage that makes up the gills of the fish. Otherwise, position your hands under the fish and quickly throw it on the bank.

If you used your hand as bait and the fish has gripped at it. Your first reaction may be to pull out your finger, but you have let your hand stay put in the mouth of the fish and pull it towards you.

Tips on How to Ensure Your Success in Hand fishing

Just like any other fishing technique, hand fishing requires precision and making calculated moves. How do you go about this?

➔ Approach the fish from behind. In this manner, your strike will be unexpected to it.
➔ As you place your hand in the water, be slow but steady so as not to startle the fish
➔ Look for holes and rocks along the shoreline. The fish are probably hidden here

Conclusion

Hand fishing is recommended for survival only. However, it is a sporting activity in some other parts of the world. You may step on something sharp as you wade in the water or cut you hand by sticking it almost everywhere.

It is advisable to put on shoes, have long pants on and even put on gloves as a precautionary measure. When catching fish with your bare hands, you are at risk of losing your hand or fingers if you get an infection.

If you have to resort to noodling, then let it be your last best option. You can build traps, improvised fishing rods, etc. These methods may not be as exhilarating, but they sure are safer.  Personally I like using a rod and reel, but even then you have to perform reel maintenance so their are drawbacks to that also.

Don’t risk getting hypothermia or frostbite but it will come in handy in survival mode. Have you ever practiced hand fishing? Let us know what your experience was like in the comments section below….

Jastek Aluminum Multi Charging Cable Review

Gear Review: Jastek Aluminum Multi Charging Cable
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I have reviewed several of these Jastek Multi Charging cables, at this point I do it just so I can get another set.  I love them.  I have one next to the be, in the laptop bag, in the truck, and at work.  The Aluminum Multi Charging Cable shown here, is my favorite.

The aluminum skin makes this charger sturdy, I also lover how it looks.

for $9 you get:

  • 4-in-1 Multi-function Charger Cable: 1x USB C Cable + 1x Micro USB Cables + 2x 8pin cable(not MFI certificated)
  • Multi Charging cables at 2A Maximum charging speed;the USB cables only for charging,not support Sync Data
  • Multi USB Cable length with 3.3 feet (1M) in total,and made of Nylon braided protective layer and Aluminum alloy connector
  • Universal Use Convenience: No need to carry many cables when you are in a car, office or in traveling
  • ►► Multi Cable WARRANTY:One Year Replacement Warranty.All the phones and tablets in the listing photo not included

As I said, I really like this multi charging cable, the aluminum sheath really makes it look nice, plus it seems to give the cable some strength.  I use this as my go to travel cable.

Renaissance Republican

Renaissance Republican
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I am a Renaissance Republican, another one of the silent majority of Americans who are too busy working on taking care of myself and fulfilling my own responsibilities to do much beyond vote and watch in disgust at modern politics.

But it has gotten to the point where I am tired of watching the contract our government has with me being rewritten without my consent.  I am tired of wondering what gives that Washington bunch the authority to take my taxes to increase their own power.  Have they not read the 10th Amendment of our Constitution?

They speak about charity and fairness but they don’t pay for their schemes with their dollars, they steal mine.  I don’t want to bail out bankers and then watch them use the money to buy up smaller banks that followed the rules.  I don’t want to give money to car companies that for years used their influence to shut-out innovative startup car manufacturers.   I don’t want to pay other people’s mortgages while my own home equity disappears.  I don’t want to pay for health care for criminals who have been breaking our laws from the day they invaded our borders.

Most of all I am tired of being forced to subsidize the ideas of those that dismiss my personal beliefs and rights.   Why is the 2nd amendment considered outdated while the 1st is being perverted to protect pornographers.  Why am I ridiculed for my beliefs, when others get federal dollars to expand theirs?  Why does their discomfort at the idea of a man that can and will protect himself and his family, outweigh my right and duty to be able to do so.

I believe that in this country, people have the right to believe as they want, to love who they want, and pray to whoever they want.  And while I may believe my way is better (at least for me), I don’t have the right to force my beliefs on others.  I believe they do NOT have the right to force their beliefs on me either!

I believe in our Constitution as it was written.  I believe that if the 1st Amendment protects more than printing presses and quill pens, then the 2nd protects more than muskets.  We don’t get to pick and choose; the law applies to everyone, WITHOUT prejudice.

I believe that it as an American I have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but that if I should fail in my pursuit, I don’t have the right to ask the government to steal from others to make it “fair” for me.

I believe that our government does not listen to my demands for justice.  That the system works for those who have their hands out, while ignoring the vast, silent few that work every day to support the system.

But mostly, I have a deep belief in this Country.  I believe deep in my being that the majority of citizens feel as I do.  I believe people are tired of being told that their beliefs don’t matter.  I believe that most of us submit to taxation but don’t get equal representation.

Now for the question…

What do you believe?

Email me.  I want to know what you think.  Am I wrong about the middle class?  If you agree, tell me, if you don’t tell me why…

Are Revolvers Good Survival Guns

Are Revolvers Good Survival Guns
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The old adage that says: the best gun is the one you’ve got, applies to not only everyday carry, but also to survival in general. Of course, it’s always better to have a gun chambered in a readily available caliber, should the S ever HTF. But again, whatever you’ve got and have ammunition for is better than a pointy stick.But this begs the question, then:

Are revolvers good survival guns? Let’s take a more in depth look.

Reliability:

Generally speaking, anything mechanical can break. Having said that, one thing that most revolvers have going for them, is their ability to function under almost any circumstances. They have earned the reputation as the ultimate point and shoot handguns, and it’s easy to see why.

Once the cylinder is loaded, it’s ready to fire.Taking it a step further than that, since they’re reliable without recoil springs and many other parts that wear out over time, they won’t need much work to stay running should parts become scarce. Are there inner workings inside a revolver that we don’t generally see? Absolutely.
And, those parts can wear out. They just usually don’t do it as fast as their semi-automatic brethren.Simplicity:There are no slides, safeties, or magazines that you need to manipulate. When the cylinder is loaded, simply aiming and squeezing the trigger are all that’s required for the “bang” to happen. In the rare instance where the gun does not fire, whether due to ammunition or otherwise, there is no need to clear the malfunction.Simply squeezing the trigger again will rotate the cylinder and fire the next round in line.

Limitations:

The main drawbacks to a revolver, is the limited overall capacity to hold ammunition, and the inability to fire it quickly. In other words, a semi-auto with a 12 round capacity magazine is much faster shooting than a revolver with six rounds. The trigger can usually (though not always) be squeezed quicker and there is no need to drop empty casings to reload.
Having said that, anything with practice becomes easier. And, as something becomes easier and you get more proficient with it, you can get faster.
While there are devices to help you load faster, I come from the frame of mind that says less is more. What I mean, is that I don’t want to become dependent upon anything externally, if I may end up losing or breaking it.

The Perfect SHTF Revolver:

What do you want to look for in a survival revolver? Well, it’s hard for me to say what you should look for, instead, I’ll tell you what my perfect survival revolver looks like.

  • First, it needs the ability to shoot two different calibers. I’d look for a revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, because it will also shoot .38 Special. If ammo is hard to come by, the more options I have, the better off I’ll be.
  • Second, it needs to hold as many rounds of ammunition as possible, just as long as it stays within my price range. There are plenty of six and seven shot revolvers available, along with a few eight shot revolvers. I would not go lower than a six-shot revolver.
  • Finally, my best survival revolver would have a barrel of no less than four inches. I love my snub nosed revolver, and while it’s a good travel gun, I wouldn’t hunt with it. All of my survival guns need to serve two purposes: Self-defense and hunting. .357 Magnum is more than capable to hunt deer with, but shorter barrels sacrifice velocity for concealment.

Calibers:

Just a quick word on calibers, before we part .38+p in a .357 magnum is likely my choice. There are plenty of other revolvers out there that, with the use of a part I might lose, could shoot cartridges generally not found in a revolver. While I think 9mm is a great cartridge for self-defense and survival, I would advise against having a revolver in nine that could turn into dead weight if my clip breaks or gets bent.
Larger calibers than .357/.38 are fine, but I won’t be able to find ammo for them for long. The more popular the ammo, the easier it will be to find.
That about does it. What is your go-to survival gun? Is it a revolver? Semi-auto? What is your opinion? Are revolvers good survival guns?

Let us know in the comments below.

Like myself, the Author has been a firearms enthusiast for many years.  Joshua has also, served honorably in the US Marines, and has been working in the firearms industry for several years. His work can be found on guns dot com, TTAG, Home Defense Gun, Pew Pew Tactical, Live Outdoors, Concealed Carry, and Gun Carrier. He also owns downrangedaily.com a website the gun minded readers of this site should definitely check out.

Should You Shoot to Wound?

 

Should You Shoot to Wound?
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Should you shoot to wound?  I talk a lot about lethal force, and one concept comes up almost universally. I call this idea the leg shot syndrome. The leg shot syndrome is expressed by the statement “I wouldn’t aim to kill; I would shoot the robber in the leg”. I believe I know where this thought comes from.

As propponents of self-defense, it is very important that we answer the question “Should You Shoot to Wound”.
It comes from the fact that everyone I give firearms classes to comprise the “good guys”. Good guys don’t go around killing, robbing, and raping people. They believe that everyone has redeeming qualities. Good guys don’t want to kill people, they didn’t start the encounter, and if they had their way, the bad guy would just leave. Now before I get tons of hate mail, let me say that I understand the reason people think this, and I wish everyone in the world felt that way. If there were no bad guys, there would be no crime. I could then put more energy into my primary job of preparing for natural disasters instead of diverting energy to preparing for criminal disasters.

While understanding and admiring this idea, I want to emphasize that this is not a good way to apply this concept. There are many reasons why this philosophy is not sound in the lethal force arena. Some of these reasons are legal, some tactical, and some, yes, are even moral.

I will jump into what I hear as the most widely use reason why the leg shot syndrome should not be used, legal. A handgun is a lethal weapon. Unlike a baseball bat, a butcher knife, or a policeman’s baton, there is no less lethal way to use a handgun against another human. The law does not distinguish the difference between shooting a person in the head, and shooting a person in the chest. If there is not legally defensible motive and the person dies it is still murder. A bullet cannot be recalled once it leaves the barrel, and what it does upon entering a person cannot be decided by the person who fired the bullet. There is a major artery in the human leg, which if severed, can kill a person as quickly as shooting them in the chest.

Tactically manipulating a firearm under lethal force pressure is extremely hard. Quite a few books, and statistics from a vast amount historical data show that only about 1/3 of the rounds fired impact on the target. This doesn’t seem to be that bad, until you look at other statistics that show approximately 90% of gun fights happen under 7 yards and comprise less than 3 shots total.

How realistic is it then that when most people can would be lucky to hit their attacker, you are going to hit one of the smallest areas, and an area that is most likely to be moving.  Tennessee (and every other state I have found that has a defined handgun training curriculum) specifies shooting center-mass with the intent to stop. This involves two concepts. The first being center-mass, this means aiming your projectile to impact inside the largest target area (the chest), since this is the largest area you have the greatest ability to actually hit it. Also the chest area has the largest ability to stop your attacker due to it being the location of most the bodies organs. Intent to stop, is neither aiming to kill, nor shooting to wound, either of these are irrelevant, your legal self defense ability is centered upon the attacker being able to kill you, and trying to kill you.

If the mere presence of your legally owned firearm cause the attacker to stop, it has done its job, if one well placed round to center mass persuades the criminal to stop, that’s okay, however if it takes 3 ” boxes of bullets to stop a drug crazed, gang-banging, neo-nazi terrorist from killing you, hey so be it. This intent to stop is the half of my moral argument.

The other reason comes from plain street sense. I have a few years working in corrections. These years are split between entry level corrections working on the recreation yards and cages listening to inmates talk about themselves and their crimes, to working as a supervisor in maximum security units and applying inmate psychological knowledge to keeping the prison running smoothly. Criminals do what they do because it works for them. If a mugger or a rapist tries to talk you into leaving with him, it’s because it has always worked for him before.

Believe me, a violent criminal hasn’t decided to start being a violent criminal just because your there, a criminal starts small and works up gradually becoming more violent. If a criminal gets away with hurting you, he will do it to someone else. I am not saying that vigilante justice is okay, I’m not. I am not advocating deadly force as a punishment for a criminal either. What I am saying is that you are a reasonable person, with an inalienable right to life and liberty, minding your own business, living a peaceful life. You have a right do what you need to do to be safe, to go home to your family, this criminal attacked you, tried to hurt you for no reason other than his personal gain, your not trying to kill him, only making him stop trying to kill you. This is not wrong. This is right, your family needs you; make sure you do what needs to be done to be there for them.

I hope you now know the reasons behind the question should you shoot to wound, as well as understand your moral and legal obligations.