Fishing with only your bare hands is one of the most important survival skills you could learn for being able to live in the outdoors.
How well do you think using just your bare hands to catch fish will work? Here’s proof that it works and it works well. It works even better if you know how to fish like a redneck.
What Is Hand Fishing?
Fishing with just your hands isn’t exactly called hand fishing. It does have different terms and names, but there is actually a proper term to describe these techniques. Fishing with your hands is called “Noodling”.
How To Catch Fish With Your Hands
If you needed food and didn’t have any equipment or gear at all. But there was a river. Would you be able to catch fish? With only your hands?
Watch this video to learn amazing fishing techniques with your bare hands
Knowing how to catch fish with your bare hands would make catching food in the wilderness much easier. If you didn’t have any supplies or gear for fishing and you need food.
Imagine being able to just go in the river or body of water and catch your dinner with nothing but your hands. It’s an essential fishing survival skill to have.
Fishing is a fun activity that has been around for ages, and fishing with hands was the first form of fishing that man ever tried. As machines and equipment have made work easier, fishing with your bare hands is something that is still fun to do, so here is what to consider before you go fishing.
Find a laden river
We all know that some rivers do not have fish so it would be useless to spend your entire day waiting for something that does will not happen. If it is a fun activity you had planned out and you’re not trying to survive in the jungle, you will need a river that has some fish in it. This means you might have to do some research for that.
Use your hands
It is unadvisable to wade into the water to catch a fish. Apart from dying from hypothermia, you run the risk of being injured by debris or being bit by something you don’t want to be bitten by. Instead, look for good areas with shade and some grass and lie down. Then dip your hand in the water where fish go through and wait.
Use some bait
The fish will not just approach your hands because it is there. Lure them in. If you have a problem holding out some worms, you can try some small fish which act as good bait too. This way, even if the number of fish is small, you can still go ahead and catch one or two.
Learn to be quick
Fish are slippery and quick. If they notice they are in trouble, they will wiggle their way out of your grip in an instant. As soon as you notice some activity in your hands, grab the fish by the gills and pull it out of the water. If you want to grab it by the body, you need to be sure of your grip because the wiggling will cost you a fish or two.
Do not go alone
There is nothing worse than lying there and waiting for the fish to come without having someone to talk shop with. Doing such things alone only look good on a movie montage. No one will laugh at you when the third fish slips from your hands. It also helps pass the time when you have company.
Carry some storage
Just like you would with an actual fishing trip with nets or lines, you need to carry some form of storage where you will put your fish once you catch it. A cool box will work excellently in keeping your fish fresh for the entire period you will be outside until you get back home.
Fishing with your bare hands is a fun activity to do. Just like lighting fire with flint stones, no one is doing it because they don’t have the tools unless it is on an episode of Survivor. Take time, gather your crew, and have some fun. Make some videos while at it.
I hope you liked this post on hand fishing and how to fish with just your bare hands If you liked this post, check out the rest of the tips listed in the Bushcraft Survival Skills guide and also our bowhunting skills guide.
