It may be winter, but it’s never too early to think about getting your boat in the water or pulling on your waders for a day of fishing. And for those anglers who need something to lessen the hassle of managing lines, retrieving hooks and processing fish, Gerber has heeded your calls.

Gerber is out with a brand new line of fishing-specific tools. The tools are optimized for freshwater fishing and each tool is designed to be easy and comfortable to use while in or on the water. For those of you who hit the open ocean for your fish, don’t worry. Gerber says salt water products are in the works.

Some of tools that caught my eye:

  • The Linedriver
    • This line management tool gives the user several tools in a slick design that clips onto a belt or waistband. Features include a spinning hook vise, eyelet clearing spike, hook threader, scissor snips and split shot crimper.

  • The Magniplier
    • For those who hate fiddling with needle nose pliers to pull out hooks, this is for you. The Magniplier allows your hand to mimic a trigger grip during use and an offset design allows you to see down the mouth of that bass you’re trying to shake loose without having to peer over your wrist. The tool has exchangeable jaw tips and carbide cutters and comes with a nylon sheath and lanyard coil.

  • The Processor
    • The processor gives the user everything they need to prepare their catch for dinner. The Processor has a gut hook, scaler, cutting shears, a dedicated fin clipper and a knife edge on the bottom of one of the shear jaws. The tool can also be taken apart for easy cleaning.

  • The Controller
    • For those who prefer a traditional fillet knife for processing the fish, the Controller has you covered. The full tang knife comes in 6, 8 and 10-inch blade lengths and has an and ergonomic handle for a solid grip no matter how messy the task. A 9Cr steel gives you good edge retention. The sheath is vented and designed to be easily rinsed out. An included sharpener keeps your knife ready for any catch.

  • The Gutsy
    • The Gutsy is a compact, one-piece tool that combines a scaler, gut hook, scooper and bottle opener. The tool takes up very little space in your tackle box or pack and may even be ideal for those who want to add a fishing-specific tool to a compact survival kit.

 

Check out the full line of new equipment at gerberfishing.com

There are alternatives for catching fish other than sitting for hours with a fishing pole in hand. In a bug out situation, multi-tasking will be of the essence and your attention will be on other chores besides catching fish. With that said, check out some hacks for survival fishing.

Set hooks consist of a line (the inside of 550 cord works sufficiently), hook, sinker and bait. Tying the line off to a branch hanging above water needs to be adjusted according to its depth. Ensure that the line is strong enough to hold fish until your return, but is flexible enough to give fish play.

You can attach baits to the hook, such as worms, fish, etc. This method is great for most bottom-feeding fish, like catfish. One hook typically yields more than one fish. They tend to the same work as traps and snares.

Trot lines are another method to catch fish without manning a pole. They’re akin to set hooks, but are generally comprised of a long line (top line) with short lines positioned evenly along the long line with a hook attached to each short line.

Hooks on trot lines are baited identical to those on set hooks; the main difference is they’ll have 20-to-25 hooks on short lines that cover a wider area. The ends of the long line are connected to a sturdy tree or other tie-off point at each side of the body of water where the fishing is being done.

Using a boat optimizes this method of survival fishing because allows you to “run” and re-bait the hooks without the need of pulling the line from the water. If you don’t have boat, attaching one end of the long line to a weighted item — such as brick or stone — and throwing the long line into the water will do. Note that this technique is more successful with shorter trot lines since you can conveniently pull it in from the anchor point when checking it.

Fish traps can be constructed by using metal wire and natural materials. This technique is like a basket with a bait or attractant in the center and a narrowed down opening that enables fish to get inside the trap, but not escape out easily.

A host of variables are available here with fish traps, as they go from basic to high-tech in their build. If you want more fish, this method is preferred over set hooks or trot lines. They’re a better alternative if you’re in a bug in or stationery location and expect to remain there for a longer period of time due to its lack of maneuverability.

Natural poisons is a technique used strictly in a survival situation. Natural poisons are done in shallow areas of water to kill a large number of small fish in a brief period of time.

The following natural poisons are toxic to fish, but typically harmless to humans: nut husks from young walnuts; lime (can be made by burning seashells and crushing them up); and a variety of plants (this requires research based on the region you live in).