Fishing isn’t only a fun activity—it’s also a practical skill that’s important to learn. When camping or hiking—especially in a rugged and remote area—fishing can serve as an excellent resource for fresh and nutrient-rich food. If you know how to fish, you don’t have to stress about bringing as much food with you on a camping trip—you can always just pop over to your nearest lake, stream or river and catch a fresh meal. Additionally, in the event that you happen to be short on food during a camping trip—or, worst-case scenario, you happen to be lost or unable to return to camp—fishing can provide you with the crucial resources you need to survive. However, what if you forgot to bring a fishing rod with you? Or, what if your rod accidentally broke? Interestingly, making a DIY fishing rod is pretty basic. Here’s a quick how-to guide, courtesy of Survival Life.

First off, you’re going to need a stick—something lengthy, so a larger branch might work well. You’ll also need some fishing line or string and a fishing hook. Remember, while you can always improvise a fishing rod, fishing line and hooks are harder to whip up on the fly. Many emergency kits—which can be stored easily in a back pack or car—often feature fishing line and hooks. So if you can, try to purchase one of these kits.

Tie your fishing line or string to the stick. Remember, don’t simply tie the line to the end of the stick—if you catch a big fish, the end of the stick might not be strong enough to support the fish’s weight, and it could snap. So, tie your string to the “handle” portion of the stick. Then wind the line up and around the stick, until you get to the end. Winding the string up the stick is key—it helps to evenly distribute the fish’s weight across the entirety of the stick, and if the stick breaks, you have plenty of line to work with for pulling in the fish by hand. Then tie the end of the string off at the end, and then attach your hook, a small weight and your bait. Small insects or worms should work just fine for your bait. Learning how to make a DIY rod is a great skill—as long as you have access to fishing line and hooks, you should have everything you need to catch some dinner out in the wild.

Source:
http://survivallife.com/2015/07/15/diy-fishing-pole-out-of-a-stick-diy-survival-gear/