The 6 Best Survival Fishing Kits For Any Scenario

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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton

The 6 Best Survival Fishing Kits For Any Scenario

Fishing is one of my all-time favorite hobbies. It’s fun and relaxing, a great way to commune with nature and one of my favorite ways to get delicious wild fish for dinner.

Key Takeaways:

1. 1. Survival Necessity: A good survival fishing kit is essential for providing fresh food in emergencies, especially when food supplies are limited or spoiled. Fishing is reliable and can be passive, making it highly effective in survival scenarios.
   2. Essential Components: The best survival fishing kits include key items such as hooks, lines, lures, and sinkers. Kits that offer versatility with various hook sizes, line strengths, and lures for different fish species are more effective in diverse environments.
   3. Quality & Durability: High-quality gear ensures reliability in survival situations. Kits should be stored in watertight packaging to protect against rust and degradation. Choosing durable, proven materials enhances long-term viability.
   4. Affordability: While some kits may be expensive due to marketing, effective survival fishing kits don’t need to cost more than $30-$40. The value comes from functionality and practicality, not from flashy extras.
   5. Customization Potential: Building a DIY survival fishing kit allows for personal customization, ensuring it fits specific needs and is equipped with durable, high-quality gear. DIY kits are often the best for experienced anglers.
   6. Best Kits on the Market: Kits like the Vigilant Trails Survival Fishing Kit Stage 3, Stanford Outdoor Supply B.O.S.S. Fishing Kit, and Uncle Flint’s Survival Fishing Kit stand out for their balance of essentials, durability, and extras such as passive fishing gear.

But in a survival situation, fishing is also one of the best ways to provide much-needed calories and energy. A good survival fishing kit can be a lifesaver, whether in an actual SHTF scenario or just lost on a hike.

I’ve compiled this list of the best survival fishing kits for any scenario. It includes compact, bug-out bag options and bigger and more thorough kits. I’ve also included tips on choosing a kit, what to look for in a good one, and even how to make your own DIY survival fishing kit.

Why You Need A Survival Fishing Kit

Plenty of essential survival gear items exist, but a good survival fishing kit is one of the most often overlooked.

Even the most well-prepared people can only pack so much extra food. Food is heavy, bulky, and prone to spoiling. If you’re going to be truly prepared, you need a reliable way to provide fresh food for as long as you have to.

That’s where a survival fishing kit comes in. Fishing is one of the easiest and most reliable methods of catching your dinner. Almost anywhere you find yourself will have some lake, river, or stream nearby, and nearly all support fish. That means a survival fishing kit will be helpful in most (if not all) survival situations.

Fishing can also be passive, freeing your time for other essential tasks. Though trapping and hunting are options, catching fish has the highest chance of success.

Any solid survival kit should at least include some fishing gear, but having the right gear is just as important as having any.

What Should Be In An Emergency Fishing Kit?

If you’re going to catch fish, you need the right gear. Plenty of survival fishing kits boast several pieces or include weird gadgets, but the best ones share a few things. An essential survival fishing kit will be helpful if it provides value, versatility, quality/durability, and enough of the right items.

Essential Fishing Supplies

There are plenty of bonus items that can be useful, but every emergency fishing kit includes a valuable amount of all of these items:

• Hooks (at least 10, no matter the size of the kit)
• Line (I consider 50 feet to be the absolute minimum)
• Lures/Bait (At least five options)
• Sinkers (minimum of 10)

Then there are bonus items. These might not be found in a compact survival fishing kit, but they provide extra utility when you can afford the space and weight. Some of these include:

• Bobbers or floats
• Swivels
• Multi-tools
• Hand reels
• Automatic reels
• Self-snagging rigs (check local regulations before using)
• Gill-net (rarely legal, so use only in survival situations!)
• Collapsible fishing rod
• Survival knife

The value of these bonus items depends on your space or weight requirements. Collapsible fishing poles or gill nets are too heavy for backpacking but might be great additions to your vehicle’s survival kit.

Versatility

Versatility is arguably the most essential part of any survival fishing kit. You never know where you’ll end up or what fish will be available, so your kit needs to work for every fish species and location.

Suitable kits will have an assortment of supplies for many different species. Multiple hook sizes, line weights, lures and baits, and sinkers are essential.

The hooks must range from small #8 panfish to at least #2 hooks for bigger fish. There should also be a few baitholders and circle hooks (because they set themselves).

Various line tests are ideal, with some 10-15 pound lines for smaller fish like yellow perch and something heavier for bigger fish like pike or bass. I like kits with monofilament for wary fish and some heavy braided lines for passive fishing.

Lures and bait selection vary greatly from species to species, so the best kits offer a choice of different colors and styles. Small rubber jigs are a must, and small spoons will catch almost anything. If the kit comes with bait (like salmon eggs or fake worms), then all the better.

A Split shot is the most helpful option for sinkers, but a good kit should include at least a couple of bullet or egg sinkers for passive bottom fishing rigs.

Quality/Durability

Having the right gear means nothing if it breaks when you use it. The best survival fishing kits use quality materials from reputable manufacturers and take steps to ensure they don’t degrade in your bug-out bag.

Your kit needs to be in a watertight package at the absolute minimum. Even a small amount of moisture will rust hooks and degrade the fishing line. Heavy plastic works best, but some metal tins can be great, too. Desiccant packets are a great bonus, as they help eliminate any moisture that might get in.

Then there’s the quality of the gear itself. This can be hard to assess, but if the kit lists manufacturers, you can bet they’re good ones. Stainless steel hooks are less prone to rust; the braided line is more durable than monofilament, and metal lures last longer than rubber ones.

That doesn’t mean that less durable options aren’t helpful or that everything needs to be bomb-proof. But the more durable your gear is, the better it will serve you in a survival situation.

Value

I’ve looked at many survival fishing kits that try to mark their prices based on stats like the number of pieces, special equipment, and even social media marketing hype. But hype doesn’t catch fish, and the best kits don’t need to be expensive.

The best-value kits are well-thought-out and include only things that you’ll use. Small instruction booklets also provide much extra value because even experienced anglers might not know survival fishing tactics.

With all that said, a good survival fishing kit shouldn’t cost more than 30 or 40 dollars. If you’re spending more than that, it’s safe to say you’re paying too much.

The Best Survival Fishing Kits For Every Situation

Without further ado, here are the best survival fishing kits. Every kit on this list is worth the money, but I’ve organized them by their best use to help you decide which one you need.

Best Overall: Vigilant Trails Survival Fishing Kit Stage 3

If I had to pick one do-it-all survival fishing kit, the Vigilant Trails Stage 3 would be my pick. It has just enough of the essential items to catch fish and a couple of bonus pieces for passive fishing. Here are the specs:

• MSRP: $31.88
• Essential Contents: 8 hooks of various sizes (plus 2 jighead hooks), nine soft plastic lures, 10 sinkers (two 1/2 ounce bank sinkers and eight BB split shot), 50 feet of 20-pound monofilament line, 2 coated wire leaders, 1 clip-on bobber, 3 soft bait corn kernels
• Bonus Fishing Gear: Hand reel, self-snag hook, yo-yo automatic reel with line
• Tools/Extras: Small lock-back knife, hook remover, small line-cutter, high-vis paracord, first-aid kit, instruction booklet

Why It’s The Best Survival Fishing Kit

Overall, this kit is the best because it balances just enough essential contents, packability, and a few bonus features for passive fishing.

There are enough hooks in different sizes to catch fish (with backups), and the provided line works for just about anything. The lure selection is phenomenal, with giant worms in various colors, a few grubs for panfish, and jighead hooks for versatility. It’s all quality gear, too, and the watertight package will keep it that way.

I also love that it includes a detailed instruction booklet. There’s a page for tying knots and basic fishing rigs, as well as a page for tactics. It even gives you tips on catching fish in every season, time of day, and water body. These tips could ensure your fishing rig is ideal for your situation.

Best Feature

The best feature of this kit is its emphasis on passive fishing. The self-snag rig will set the hook on a fish, ensuring you land every fish that bites. And the automatic yo-yo reel can pull even medium-sized fish to the bank. You can set and forget it, but you still guarantee you’ll catch dinner.

Potential Drawbacks

The only drawback to this kit is that it includes some items you might already carry. You’ll likely already have a knife, and a paracord should be in every bug-out bag. These add a little weight and bulk that might be unnecessary for some people.

If it’s your main survival kit, these extra pieces are helpful and add to the kit’s versatility.

Most Thorough: Stanford Outdoor Supply B.O.S.S Fishing Kit

When weight and bulk aren’t an issue, the BOSS kit is hands-down the most thorough option on the market. It has tons of gear (127 pieces, to be exact), but none is fluff. Everything in this kit is genuinely helpful, and the amount of backup gear is excellent for a longer-term SHTF scenario.

Here are the specs:

• MSRP: $34.99
• Weight: .61 lbs
• Essential Contents: 30 baitholder hooks, 4 jig heads, 25 sinkers, 100 yards of 8-pound fishing line, 20 feet of 50-pound line, 10 soft plastic lures, 5 salmon eggs, 2 foam floats
• Bonus Fishing Gear: yo-yo automatic fishing reel, 20 swivels, 1 stringer
• Tools/Extras: multi-tool, slingshot band, slingshot ammo, zip ties, snare wire, razor blade, survival instruction booklet

Why It Made The List

There are plenty of survival kits out there that are loaded with stuff you’ll never use. But this comprehensive kit only has solid, multi-use survival supplies and plenty of them. It has more hooks, lines, and lures than any other kit on the list, so if you need a TEOTWAWKI survival fishing kit, this is the one for you.

Best Feature

There’s no one “best feature” on this kit. Its best feature is ample backup gear and multi-use tools for any scenario. And it’s not just a fishing kit; it even has some trapping and hunting gear for more food-gathering options.

Potential Drawbacks

Though this kit is comprehensive, it includes stuff that some people might not have the skills to use. If you prefer simplicity, the other kits on this list will save you some weight and space.

Best Ultralight: Uncle Flint’s Survival Fishing Kit

I don’t know who Uncle Flint is, but I do know that he makes a great fishing kit. Uncle Flint’s Survival Fishing Kit is the best regarding what you get for space and weight. It’s a small kit with big value and has everything you need to catch freshwater fish. Here are the specs:

• MSRP: $29.99
• Weight: 5.6 oz
• Essential Contents: 18 assorted hooks (plus two treble hooks), 3 floating head lures, 50 feet of 20-pound fishing line, 50 feet of 40-pound line, 4 wire leaders, 6 soft plastic grubs, 10 sinkers, 2 bobbers
• Bonus Fishing Gear: 8 assorted swivels, a spinner, a spoon, a fly lure
• Tools/Extras: knot tying instruction booklet, razor blade, 4 safety pins, aluminum foil

Why It Made The List

This is the best light fishing kit at 5.6 oz with 63 pieces of gear. Kits in this weight class rarely have as many hooks or fishing lines as this one, and treble hooks and a wide variety of lures make this kit super versatile. It’s designed for freshwater fishing, but the line and leaders are heavy enough for saltwater if you add some heavier weights.

The gear is also very high-quality, so you know it won’t disappoint you in the field.

Best Feature

Including a spoon lure (the most versatile fishing lure known to man) sets this kit apart from almost every other kit I’ve looked at. It’s a very active, highly productive lure and gives you an extra option when passive fishing isn’t working.

Potential Drawbacks

This kit doesn’t include a hand reel, so you must find or make one to keep your line organized. The tin isn’t perfectly watertight either, which could lead to durability issues depending on how and where it’s stored.

Best Ultralight Runner-Up: Best Glide ASE Survival Fishing Kit (Standard)

I had to add the Best Glide ASE kit to the list because the “best ultralight” kit was a close call. This kit is my runner-up because it’s light on hooks, sinkers, and lures, but it’s still a tremendous ultralight kit.

• MSRP: $21.95
• Weight: 4.1 oz
• Essential Contents: 9 assorted hooks (plus two treble hooks), 3 jigs, 50 feet of 12-pound fishing line, 8 weights, 4 wire leaders, 1 bobber, a tube of salmon eggs or crappie nibbles
• Bonus Fishing Gear: 25 feet of 30-pound pre-rigged “ready line”, 2 flies, 1 spoon
• Tools/Extras: 1 derma-safe utility knife, fishing instruction booklet

Why It Made The List

Though Uncle Flint barely beat Best Glide ASE for my favorite ultralight kit, this kit still deserves a spot on this list. It’s so small it could fit in a coat pocket, but it provides excellent versatility for catching freshwater fish. With the option of using flies, jigs, spoons, and even salmon eggs for bait, you have many options to up your odds of catching fish.

It’s also thoughtfully designed by survival specialists and is put together with high-quality gear.

Best Feature

The 30-pound “ready line” is hands-down the best feature in this kit. It’s 25 feet of line pre-rigged with a hook, bobber, and sinker, so all you need to do is add bait, and you’re ready to fish. This is amazing for beginners or quickly catching fish without setting up a rig.

Potential Drawbacks

I want more hooks, sinkers, and soft plastics because this kit leaves little room for error. It’s a simple and small kit, so it shouldn’t be expected to provide weeks of food, but even a few more backup items would go a long way.

Honorable Mention: Rule The Wasteland Deluxe Survival Fishing Kit

The Rule The Wasteland survival fishing kit doesn’t exactly fit into my categories, but I like this kit and think it deserves a spot on the list. It didn’t quite win any category because, though it has a lot of gear, it lacks true versatility. If you know what you’re doing, though, or you know it’s perfect for your area, this kit is of great value.

• MSRP: $32.95
• Essential Contents: 10 large hooks, 25 small hooks, 3 treble hooks, 1 jig head, 30 yards of 30-pound fishing line, 50 yards of 15-pound line, 8 grub lures, 1 minnow lure, 3 bobbers, 6 split shot sinkers, 3 egg sinkers, 3 wire leaders
• Bonus Fishing Gear: 1 fly lure, 12 bobber stoppers, 3 swivels
• Tools/Extras: 2 razor blades, 1 multi-tool

Why It Made The List

The Rule The Wasteland Deluxe Kit is excellent for anglers who already know what they’re doing. It has a ton of gear for its size, and the variety should catch many different fish species.

Best Feature

Most survival fishing kits skimp on hooks, but this one has plenty in every size imaginable. You’ll have enough hooks for weeks of fishing if you can gather your live bait (like worms or grasshoppers).

Another great feature is its locking screw for extra waterproofing. That’s unusual in a tin kit but adds a lot to durability.

Potential Drawbacks

The lack of an instruction booklet makes this kit less usable for people who don’t already have angling skills. It also doesn’t have enough lures to match its hook count, so you’ll need to be able to gather bait to take advantage of it entirely.

The Best Survival Fishing Kit: Build Your DIY Kit

There are many great canned kits, but the best kit will always be one you build yourself. You can match the contents to your needs and ensure perfect size and weight. You can also buy the highest-quality gear for extra dependability.

This requires some angling knowledge to perfect, but here’s a quick rundown of what I put in my survival fishing kit.

Build Your Kit: Packaging Options

The best fishing kits have durable, waterproof packaging, so I prefer plastic. It doesn’t degrade like metal, and getting a good seal is easier. Some of my favorite options include:

• A 4-6 inch length of 1″ PVC pipe, with endcaps
• Heavy-duty quart-sized freezer Ziploc
• Pelican Marine Series waterproof phone pouch (truly watertight and floating)

You can explore options to fit your needs for durability, waterproofing, and size, but these three are great starting points.

Survival Fishing Essentials

My survival fishing kit is of the SHTF variety, so I like to load it up with hooks, lures, and split shots. If your kit is for backpacking and you want it to be lighter, you can omit a few. Here’s roughly what I put in my kit:

• 30 hooks (5 #8 baitholders, 5 #4 baitholders, 5 #8 egg hooks, 5 #4 circle hooks, 5 #2 circle or octopus hooks, 5 #4 treble hooks)
• 5 1/8 oz jig heads
• 15-20 assorted split shots (a good variation from size B to size 5)
• 3-5 1/2 oz egg sinkers
• 100 yards of 30-pound braided fishing line (more durable than mono)
• 50 yards of 10-pound monofilament line (for leaders)
• 5-10 2-inch curly tail grubs (assorted colors)
• 5 Senko worm lures
• 1 small pack of salmon eggs (I like Atlas Mike Sac Attack)
• 2 spoons (1/8 oz Kastmasters)
• 3 foam or cork bobbers (foam and cork can’t break like plastic)
• 4 20-pound wire leaders

Storage/Organization Options

There are tons of creative ways to store your gear. The critical thing to consider when deciding how to organize your gear in your kit is how easy it will be to use and put away.

Regarding fishing lines, I like to wrap them around a small plastic sewing bobbin and secure them with tape. To save space, you could also wrap it around one of your cork bobbers.

If I use a plastic bag for my kit, I’ll put anything sharp in a small pill bottle. That keeps the hooks from piercing the plastic bag. This includes my spoons, hooks, and any other lures.

Hooks and sinkers can both go in their own small plastic jewelry bags. If you like to be super organized, you can secure your hooks into a small piece of cardboard and then place that in a small plastic bag.

Bait and lures can also be stored in small plastic jewelry bags. I like to remove them from their original packaging to save space.

Optional Upgrades

The above contents cover the essentials, but there are a few things you can add to make your kit extremely effective. These add weight and bulk, so you must decide if they’re worth it. But some of my favorites are:

• Yo-yo automatic reel
• Fishing pole (the Emmrod Packer pack rod is an incredible compact option)
• Ultralight spinning reel
• Hand reel (the Ka-bar backpacker is a tremendous pre-made option)
• Slingshot caster (works best with heavier weights)
• Speedhook spring-loaded fish trap
• Knives, multi-tools, or extra cordage

The Emmrod pack rod is one of the most valuable pieces of extra gear because the coil spring lets you cast far with a tiny rod. It’s expensive and relatively heavy, so a small slingshot is another excellent way to cast farther.

Then passive options like the yo-yo reel or speed hook military fishing kit add versatility and free up your time. In an SHTF scenario, options that allow you to set and forget for a while can be huge time-savers.

Finally, there are knives, multi-tools, and extra cordage. I don’t put these with my fishing gear because they’re already in my survival kit, but you should add them if you haven’t already done so. Utility knives or razor blades are ultralight and compact, and these tiny multi-tools are solid and light options.

Of all the optional add-ons, I think an automatic yo-yo reel is probably the most useful. But it all depends on your needs, so think about where you’ll keep the kit and when you might need it before going all out.

Final Thoughts

Fishing is probably the best way to provide food in a survival situation. That’s why everyone needs a survival fishing kit, and none of the kits on this list will disappoint you.

If browsing for a survival fishing kit or building your own, you should know exactly what to look for. Good luck and tight lines!

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