Yes sir,Uncle Snore,sir....

Nearly 50 years ago when I was in the Navy I used to get away whenever I could and go hitch-hiking around the countryside. Sometime I even hopped a freight train. I was quite a hobo.

I carried a little canvas dittybag. In it I had a knife, matches, a candle stub, and some fishing line and a couple of small hooks.

One time I had made it to Virginia. As night was coming on I circled to the back side of a fair size lake. I caught a pair of sunfish which I broiled over an open fire. Those two little fish and a hat full of huckleberries were all that I had to eat that night. I made a bed of spruce boughs and settled down for the night.

Next morning at quiet, peaceful, misty dawn I was prowling the lakeshore when I spied a good size bass. I tried to entice it with worms and bugs, but it would not bite.
Well, I had one other thing in my dittybag - a good old fashion "cherry bomb". I lit the fuse and tossed the firecracker into the water over that bass.

BALOOOM! A geyser of water shot skyward and the echo of the blast reverberated around the surrounding hills for what seemed like several minutes.

People came running out of several cabins on the other side of the lake. I ran off further into the woods.

I don't know what happened to the bass. I went on into a town and had breakfast at a diner.

Now THAT was funny.

But I'll bet you gained a lot of survival skills without knowing your were gaining them. People today pay good money to learn what you did for fun............and free.

Here is my end results. The pouch I got with other stuff off of a trade blanket. The "reel" is made from scrap Spanish Walnut that I salvaged from a kindling pile at a rendezvous. The line is Irish Linen, the sinker is a split .32 cal round ball. The hooks and extra sinkers go in a sleeve in the back of the pouch. The small tin container is for extra sinkers. The only part that is not P.C. is the nylon leader but the only ones that will see that are the fish.

One more picture

That looks like a good kit. Now put it to good use.

Yep, got all summer to keep the line wet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Iche Iia,