How to Make a Fishing Hook the Old Fashioned Way

 

When it comes to survival and living off the grid, finding the source of food is one of the most important things. One of the easiest ways to get food is to go fishing. When SHTF, you might find yourself lost in the wilderness, hungry, then you’ll find a pond or stream full of fish. But to be able to get those tasty fish, you will need to improvise a fishing hook, unless you’ve brought some in your bug out bag, which is least likely to happen.

The way primitive people make fishing hooks can be really helpful in times of survival. It is very easy to make and the things needed are easy to find as well. If you’re into learning survival skills or you want to be prepared in case you get lost in the wilderness, we are going to share with you some ways on how to make a fishing hook the old fashioned way using completely natural materials in a wilderness survival situation.

Gorge Hooks

Gorge hooks are the oldest style of fish hooks on earth. However, this type of fishing hook is not suitable for catch-and-release. They are made from different materials and they can be very effective as a survival tool. These can entice the fish to swallow a pointed object that will lodge in the soft tissues of its stomach or esophagus which will allow you to land the fish. And with this kind of hook, you will need to give out 10 to 15 feet of line and use a net or a basket tied to a stick to lift the fish from the water. It comes in three different styles.

Single-Point Hook

This is the simplest form of gorge hook. It is made using hawthorn, hardy orange, honey locust, and other trees and shrubs that have sharp thorns which are ready to go without any modification needed. Aside from that, you can also use broken bone shards and wood splinters with a single point.

To create a single-point hook, you need to tie your fishing line to the blunt end of the gorge. Then, insert the hook into a chunk of meat or fat grub. Position the gorge to make a “V” shape with the fishing line. That position will enable it to act like a hook. For trout and panfish, it’s better to choose inch-long thorns.

Double-Point Hook

Dounble-point gorge hook is usually made using bone shards which are sharp on both ends. You need to tie the fishing line in the center of the gorge just like a toggle. Then, insert it into the bait, making it parallel to the fishing line. You will be able to create a “V” shape that will either hook into the fish’s intestines, or the hook can also turn perpendicular to the fishing line and hang up that way. To land a fish up to five pounds, it’s better to use a two-inch gorge.

Composite Hook

This style of gorge hook is the closest match to a modern fishing hook. It is made using a sturdy but thin shank of wood or bone, and a thorn or bone shard in creating the “V” shape and provide the point.

Damp thorns, woods, and bones are not sharp enough to pierce through scales and jaws of fish, therefore, the composite hook needs to be swallowed just like the other gorge hooks. So, if you’re looking into catching fish up to 10 pounds, it’s better to use a one-inch bard on a two-inch shank.

These are some of the primitive ways of making fishing hooks. Learning how to make a fishing hook the old fashioned way is essential because you’ll never know when you will be stranded on a desert island or be lost in the deep woods. Aside from that, learning this is also great for outdoor enthusiasts, and for those who just want to prepared in case SHTF.