fishing with your hiking pole

[benben4u]

I plan on bringing a fishing line with a small hook to use on the end of my hiking pole during my 2011 thru hike. has anybody done this before? seems like a great way to keep occupied and catch some dinner, plus its weighs nothing, Its gonna be a must on my pack list, at least for me.

[HiKen2011]

Good idea!!!!!!!!!!!!

[M1 Thumb]

Don't forget to carry the appropriate fishing license and know what is allowed to be fished. Fish and Game authorities tend to pop up when you least expect it and that kind of visit will greatly increase your $/mile for your hike.

[weary]

I plan on bringing a fishing line with a small hook to use on the end of my hiking pole during my 2011 thru hike. has anybody done this before? seems like a great way to keep occupied and catch some dinner, plus its weighs nothing, Its gonna be a must on my pack list, at least for me.

I would just cut a small branch or sapling for use as a pole. Something with a bit of spring to it works better in my experience than a stiff hiking staff. I fished a bit with a sapling, a hook and a line, during my long walk in 1993. I never saw a warden anywhere along the trail.

But I avoided using my gear near road crossings. Wardens tend not to be walkers. Nor do most fisher people, which works fine for us thru hikers. I spent only a couple hours fishing over the six months. It seemed foolish to invest several hundred dollars for licenses good for 14 states.

I have a Maine fishing license good for my lifetime. I gambled in the other states, though some probably had reciprical deals with Maine, though I never checked.

Very few thru hikers find they have much time for fishing. I tried because I was curious about what I might find. I found I would have gone pretty hungry if I had relied on fishing as a significant item in my hiking diet.

Weary

[nighthiker]

what ever happened to living off the land, mountian men style..now they are requiring salt water fishing lic. on the east coast! use to be free....with as many fish that are killed by lic. fisherman due to not knowing how to release a fish...is it so vain to break or take a legal or illegal fish or two?

[nighthiker]

i too am grappling with this question...tough call! then again, if everyone fished during their thru...how would it effect the fish stocks? thats my spin & cast on this one

[emerald]

Perfectly legal in Pennsylvania if you time your hike to coincide with Fish for Free Days. A fishing license is also not required at private fishing preserves such as Limestone Springs Fishing Preserve.

[Del Q]

Good luck, I have never seen many fish nor had the time or energy to go fishing.

[nighthiker]

a few hooks, few slit shots, 120 yards of line on an old spoil not a lot of weight for what might be an easy catch. seem catch em...fish for free days

[halftime]

Go for it...but know the rules and be prepared to pay any consequence if you choose not to follow them.

[topshelf]

how bout inventing a backcountry fishing pole that doubles as a hiking pole.

When youre hiking its the length of a hiking pole, and then when you get to the hole you take a protective covering off the bottom and pull out the rod to full length. The extendable part would give you your rod bend for fighting fish.

but I agree with nighthiker even if a few of us fished and kept our fish for dinner on a small mountain stream the fish population would be ruined quickly.

so fish but only fish using catch and release practices

[weary]

how bout inventing a backcountry fishing pole that doubles as a hiking pole.

When youre hiking its the length of a hiking pole, and then when you get to the hole you take a protective covering off the bottom and pull out the rod to full length. The extendable part would give you your rod bend for fighting fish.

but I agree with nighthiker even if a few of us fished and kept our fish for dinner on a small mountain stream the fish population would be ruined quickly.

so fish but only fish using catch and release practices

I only fish for food. The idea of "catch and release" strikes me as simple torture of another creature. I know some see catch and release as a great sport, But I'll just leave the creatures in the water.

I like to eat fish, both fresh and salt water varieties. Even shellfish. But the idea of putting a hook through a creatures lip, or eye as sometimes happens, just to see if I can do it, I find obnoxious.

Anyway, my rule is simple. If I catch it, or shoot it, I eat it.

I'm also quite sure that thru hikers will never have a major impact on any fisheries, regardless of how they choose to fish.

I suspect that only in Maine is there a chance of encountering a wild fish, anyway. Increasingly most fish one is likely to catch along the trail was raised in a government hatchery and deposited in the stream a few days before the hiker arrives. Sad, but true.

Weary

[Mrs Baggins]

[QUOTE=weary;1060488]I only fish for food. The idea of "catch and release" strikes me as simple torture of another creature. I know some see catch and release as a great sport, But I'll just leave the creatures in the water.

I like to eat fish, both fresh and salt water varieties. Even shellfish. But the idea of putting a hook through a creatures lip, or eye as sometimes happens, just to see if I can do it, I find obnoxious.

Anyway, my rule is simple. If I catch it, or shoot it, I eat it.

I'm also quite sure that thru hikers will never have a major impact on any fisheries, regardless of how they choose to fish.

I suspect that only in Maine is there a chance of encountering a wild fish, anyway. Increasingly most fish one is likely to catch along the trail was raised in a government hatchery and deposited in the stream a few days before the hiker arrives. Sad, but true.

Weary[/QUOTE

I absolutely agree! I will not fish for it if I can't eat it! What's the point? To torture the fish? I paid for the tackle and the bait, I sat there for the hours it may take, and if he bites he's mine for dinner - period. How about "deer hunting" with paint balls??? "oh see? I got it!" No you just caused it a lot of pain with the stupid paint ball and you "got" nothing.

[Boothill]

as someone who has guided fly fishermen, i would suggest getting yourself a spool of fluorocarbon tippet to add to the end of your fishing line, having a crystal clear tippet material can make all the difference in the world, especially if your going to be fishing anywhere there is decent amount of pressure on the fish and you will probably need any advantage you can get when your using your trekking pole as the rod

i would suggest something in the 5x or 6x range, you can usually get fluorocarbon tippet for about $10 for 25-30 yards

boot

[topshelf]

you can cheat and buy fluorocarbon fishing line and it works much the same with no difference ive ever noticed fly fishing, unless you're using a small dry fly cause fluoro sinks. 4, 6 , or 8 pound line will do. you'll get 200 yeards instead of 30.


Bait fishing causes a lot of damage and harm to the fish which is why I dont do it. But fly fishing with barbless hooks and properly handling the fish causes very minimal harm to the fish if any.

[Torch09]

Not much of a fisherman myself, but i did hike with a few. They didn't find too many places worth trying along the trail, although we did have mild success with your mentioned trekking pole fishing method. Obviously don't rely on fish as a food source while on the trail, but if you take a zero in the woods, its highly relaxing.

[REBELYELL]

when the weather is good for fishing you should be hiking. it is really hard to sacrafice the few good days sitting on your butt with a piece of string on your leke.I'd concentrate on your knees and feet not fish.just saying

[Johnny Thunder]

not a whole lot of fish on top of mountains these days.

[sbhikes]

Friend of mine took hooks and line in a tic-tac box. To catch the fish, just pulled the line in with his bare hands. Another friend of mine told a story of buying a bunch of fishing gear and going down to the wharf to fish off the pier. Didn't catch anything but some little kid with line wrapped around a tin can was hauling them in just wrapping the line around the can to reel them in.

[Old Hiker]

.............................

Anyway, my rule is simple. If I catch it, or shoot it, I eat it.

.........................

Weary

Does that include the intruder coming through the bedroom window at 0200 ?!?