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Is a survival fishing kit a necessary element in your prepper gear? It seems as if it is a simple question, but survival experts have different opinions. Some of them recommend fishing kits for both your bug out bag (BOB) as well as for your survival gear stash. Others think that in an SHTF situation, you may never have a chance to use it, so get it off your BOB list, and make it a low-priority for your survival gear.

Both opinions are correct to a certain extent. It depends a lot on potential dangers, your SHTF plan, and of course, geography. At the end of the day, it comes down to your better judgment. In my opinion, the simplest answer is usually the best. So, let’s see.

Why You Need a Fishing Kit

Typically, bug out bags are assembled to help you survive and relocate in the course of roughly 72 hours. So, you will have food to cover this period and you won’t even think about gathering additional food. At least, not until you reach your permanent location. Therefore, a survival fishing kit is not a necessary item for your BOB. However, it is a small and lightweight kit, so if you have some extra space, it’s not a mistake to add a survival fishing kit. In a disaster scenario, something can always go wrong. Having another tool that can help you obtain a decent meal may be valuable.

When it comes to prepper gear, IMHO, a survival fishing kit is a must! You can’t be 100% sure that you’ll use it, even if there’s a body of water near your location. But, these kits are so small and lightweight, while potential benefits are huge. Therefore, it would be foolish not to have it. Fishing can make the difference between barely surviving and thriving. It’s the easiest way to obtain fresh proteins, oils, and minerals.  

When disaster strikes, food sources can become scarce. Your food supplies would run out sooner or later. You can forage for edible wild plants, eat some insects, or try to hunt. However, each of these activities comes with a risk of exposure, takes time and energy. Unless you catch some animals, you may burn more calories than you’ll get. Bear Grylls may have a thing for live insects, but it’s just a survival TV show. While insects are rich in protein and fats, you should always cook them first. And you’ll need a lot, and I mean A LOT of them, to make a decent meal.

So, keep this small kit at hand, as it may easily become your most efficient tool.

How Can You Build a DIY Mini Fishing Kit?

Purchasing a fishing kit is a small investment. Most of these kits are really affordable. However, if you’re an experienced fisher, you can easily assemble your own emergency survival fishing kit. If you’re not a fisher, but still want to do it yourself, this is what you’ll need.

  • Fishing line
  • Hooks
  • Sinkers
  • Bobbers
  • Swivels
  • Lures

There you have it, it is as simple as that. Still, if you’re new to fishing, I’d recommend a ready-made kit. They often come with manuals and instructions to help you get started.

Best Survival Fishing Kit – Top 6 Picks Reviewed

1. Best Glide ASE Survival Fishing Kit Standard Version

best survival fishing kit

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It is a lightweight and compact survival fishing kit that contains all you need to catch some fish. A water-resistant tin container includes a rubber seal and Silica Gel Desiccant to protect your gear and keep it dry. You’ll get a lot of different hooks (2 treble hooks included), lures, split-shots, jigs, flies, and salmon eggs among other things.

Key features

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Water resistant
  • Wide variety of hooks and accessories
  • Two lines (50 ft of 12 lb line and 25 ft of 30 lb line)
  • Ready line with a bobber, sinker, and hook
  • Assembled in the USA

2. Vigilant Trails Pocket-Survival Fishing Kit

survival fishing kits

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This fishing kit is a great bang for the buck. It is as compact as it gets, but it still has almost every piece of tackle you need. It comes with a pre-spooled hand-reel unit. Truth be told, you won’t be able to catch larger fish with a 125 ft 10-pound fishing line. However there’s a variety of hooks, lures, and other pieces to catch a variety of small fish. After all, this is a basic, emergency survival fishing kit. The quality of the tackle is excellent.

Key features

  • Very Compact
  • Nicely organized
  • Affordable
  • Comes with a lock-back knife
  • Hand reel
  • Wide variety of hooks and lures (all of them are pretty small, though)

3. Yoyito Aluminum Hand Line Reel Pocket

the best survival tackle box

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Yoyito is on the more expensive side but it is probably the finest quality you can find. It has an aluminum reel and a 30lbs fishing line. 12 hooks, 6 sinkers, and 4 barrel swivels will allow you to catch almost any fish including some heavier specimens. Speaking of survival fishing kits, Yoyito was used by one contestant in the survival TV show “Naked and Afraid”. She caught several piranhas and not only survived but thrived.

Key features

  • Exceptional quality
  • 30lbs fishing line
  • Fits in a pocket
  • Smartly designed sets of holes for attaching to piers or unattended fishing
  • Sturdy and durable

4. Speedhook US Military Emergency Fishing Kit

best survival fishing kit

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This is not a typical fishing kit, but it is a perfect survival tool. It is a sort of spring-loaded fish trap. The Speedhook trap is so effective that it is illegal to use for non-survival purposes in some areas. It comes with a fishing line, one hook, one bait, and instructions. And that is all it takes!

Key Features

  • Works like a charm
  • Used by military
  • No training needed
  • Perfect for survival in Canada or Alaska

5. Survival Fishing Kit – Compact Kit For Campers/Hikers

best fishing kit for survival

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This is the simplest, basic, and most affordable fishing kit. It will fit nicely into your bug out bag. It is not the best option out there, but it is quite decent considering the price.

Key features

  • Very affordable
  • Approximately 118ft line with line winder
  • Plastic covers for hooks
  • 2 hooks, 2 sinkers, 2 swivels, and 2 lures

6. OFF GRID TOOLS Mini Fishing B.O.S.S Survival Fishing Kit

best survival fishing kit reviewed

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OFF GRID fishing kit contains 45 pieces of tackle! You may think it is an overkill, but we are talking about small pieces of gear. 4 or 15 hooks doesn’t really make a big difference when it comes to the weight and size of the kit. But, a wider variety of pieces provide more options and a better chance to catch a fish. So, this package is pretty small and lightweight.

Key features

  • It comes with two lines: 100 yards of 8-pound line, and 20 ft of 50-pound line for larger fish
  • 15 hooks
  • A couple of sinkers, swivels, lures, grubs, and jig heads
  • Foldable multi-tool pliers