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      John AdamaStaff - September 30, 2021

      I’m pasting this feedback that was emailed in from a reader: 

      Some thoughts on how the fishing 101 article can be better.

      I disagree with most of gear suggested. It sets you up to sport fish in today’s world, but doesn’t teach you the skills needed when supply lines collapse.

      First, monofilament is the worst type of line to suggest. It degrades rapidly just with heat. We have always restrung our reels with monofilament line at least once a year. A braided line will hold in the long course.

      Learning a spinning reel or other mechanical reel system is also only setting you up for the short term. Especially in salt water environments. Learn how to use a cane pole. And equip it with brass hooks rather than steel. It is better to lose a fish than to lose an irreplaceable hook. You can bend a brass hook out of snag. A steel hook means cutting the line and losing all of your tackle.

      I also would not advise learning how to fish with artificial lures. The loss rate is extremely high. Learn the live baits of your area and how to fish with those. Grubs, earthworms, crickets, and so forth and so on. The huge advantage to these is that nature replenishes them and these are the actual food fish naturally eat.

      I would also add yo-yos to the passive list. While mechanical, if not used in salt water and well maintained, they last forever. Dad has some that are 20-30 years old. Also, as a single line device that works in a point zone, they do not give you away as a long trotline could. A basket fish trap is also a very visible item. A yo-yo is hard to see if you’re not looking for it. A line tired to a limb, a 3″ diameter spool, and a line descending below the waterline.

      Also, the “humane” way to kill a fish is nonsense in a SHTF scenario. Either smash its head in by the most expedient manner or put it on a stringer. The stringer allows you to maximize the time before spoilage as the stringer is full of live fish until you decide to dress them. Once the fish is dead, the clock is ticking on it spoiling.

      With a cane pole, natural bait, and a stringer, I could could come home with perch, bass, and catfish that are all reasonably fresh.