Best survival fishing kit: small, sealed and legal where you use it
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Quick answer
A survival fishing kit is a small sealed pack of line, hooks, weights, floats and lures for catching food when other supplies run short. Best Glide ASE makes three sizes. The flat Compact kit is about 3 by 4 inches with 50 feet of 12 lb line. The Standard kit adds a fishing manual, a folding razor knife and a pre-rigged ready line. Survival use does not exempt you from the rules: FWS says you need a fishing license, and EPA says states issue advisories on fish from local waters.
Three Best Glide kits compared
| Spec | Compact (FG1250) | Basic (FG1179) | Standard (FG1141) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container | Heavy-duty zip bag, about 3 x 4 x 0.25 in | Hinged-lid plastic box | Hinged-lid plastic box |
| Line | 50 ft, 12 lb | 50 ft, 12 lb | 50 ft 12 lb plus 25 ft 30 lb ready line |
| Hooks | 2 each of #4, #6, #8 | 2 each of #4, #6, #8 | Treble hooks plus 3 each of #4 and #6 |
| Lures | Jigs, one fly, salmon eggs or crappie nibbles | Jigs, one fly, salmon eggs or crappie nibbles | Jigs, spoon, two flies, bait |
| Extras | Desiccant | Desiccant | Manual, stickers, folding razor knife, desiccant |
Best Glide says all three meet Alaska and Canada over-flight requirements and notes minor substitutions sometimes occur. It also warns the weights may contain lead.
Which size fits your kit
- Compact: Best Glide calls it much flatter than the Basic, made for thin survival kits and tins.
- Basic: the same core items in a small hinged box that fits a pocket or kit.
- Standard: the largest of the three. Best Glide adds a short manual on rigging and knots, a ready-made line with bobber, sinker and hook, and a folding razor knife.
- Refills: Best Glide's Extra Gear supply adds floats, lures, hooks and weights, but no line, and Best Glide says it is not a stand-alone survival kit.
What a pocket kit can and cannot do
A kit with 50 feet of line and a handful of hooks is a backup for catching a few fish, not a replacement for stored food. Plan your main emergency food separately; see our MRE and bug out bag list guides.
- Keep it dry: each kit includes a desiccant packet; check it and the line when you rotate your kit.
- Practice first: the Standard kit's manual covers knots and setup. Learn them at home, where it is easy to retie.
- Tend your line: stay with the line you are fishing. If you are considering set lines, nets or traps, check your state's rules first; the kits here are hook-and-line gear.
Licenses and the law
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service puts it plainly: first, you will need a fishing license. It says licenses can be bought online, by phone or at stores in most states, and that every state has slightly different rules, so look up your state's requirements.
License fees also fund state fish and wildlife agencies, according to FWS. Keep a license with your kit if you fish while camping or traveling.
Eating what you catch
- Local advisories: EPA says states, territories and Tribes issue advisories to protect people from potentially contaminated fish and shellfish caught in local waters. Check the advisory for the water you fish.
- Who should be most careful: EPA and FDA issued joint advice on eating fish for people who are or might become pregnant, people who are breastfeeding, and children.
- Contaminants: EPA notes that some fish may contain chemicals, bacteria or viruses that affect how much and how often to eat them.
- Lead weights: Best Glide warns its weights may contain lead; wash your hands after handling them.
What to look for when you buy
Flattest: Best Glide ASE Compact Survival Fishing Kit
Best for: Thin survival tins and minimal kits
Best Glide lists a flat 3 x 4 in pack with 50 ft of 12 lb line, two each of #4, #6 and #8 hooks, jigs, a fly, split shot, a bobber, a wire leader and a desiccant.
Watch out: No manual or knife; practice knots before you need them.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Pocket box: Best Glide ASE Basic Survival Fishing Kit
Best for: A sturdier box for a pack or vehicle kit
Best Glide lists the same core line, hooks and lures in a hinged-lid plastic container with a desiccant packet.
Watch out: Thicker than the Compact, so check it fits your kit.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Most complete: Best Glide ASE Standard Survival Fishing Kit
Best for: Larger kits and anyone new to fishing
Best Glide lists the largest of its three kits, with a fishing manual, a folding razor knife, 50 ft of 12 lb line, a 25 ft 30 lb ready line, treble hooks, a spoon and two flies.
Watch out: The knife blade means checked bags only when flying.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Questions people ask
- What should be in a survival fishing kit?
- Line, hooks in several sizes, split shot, a float and a few lures, kept dry; Best Glide's kits add a desiccant packet.
- Do I need a fishing license to use a survival fishing kit?
- FWS says you will need a fishing license, with rules set by each state.
- Is it safe to eat fish I catch?
- Check your state's advisory first; EPA says states, territories and Tribes issue advisories on fish from local waters.
- Which Best Glide kit is the smallest?
- The Compact, about 3 x 4 x 0.25 inches, which Best Glide calls much flatter than its Basic kit.
Sources
- Compact Survival Fishing Kit, Best Glide ASE
- Emergency Survival Fishing Kit, Basic Version, Best Glide ASE
- Standard Emergency Survival Fishing Kit, Best Glide ASE
- Extra Gear Fishing Supply, Best Glide ASE
- Purchase a Fishing License, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Choose Fish and Shellfish Wisely, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- What can I bring? Knives, Transportation Security Administration