DIY Fishing Hooks: 7 Simple Steps to Get You Started

Food is the most important thing to have in any wilderness situation. You can survive for several weeks without food but your mental and physical health will suffer every time you don’t eat.

Many people include trapping and hunting gear in their Survival Kits, but these activities are not easy and require skill and luck.

If you live near a large body of water then fishing is a better choice. With a bit of knowledge, it’s easy to catch fish. It is also easier to make improvised gear for fishing from man-made and natural materials.

This list contains 10 designs of improvised hooks that will guarantee you a catch over the campfire.

1. Soda Can Tab Hook

My favorite design from this list. The tabs from soda cans make great hooks because they’re made of a metal that has been rolled, stamped and is very rigid.

The abundance of trash around the globe means you only need to search for a few minutes before you come across an old, crumpled soda or beer can.

You’re good to go as long as the tab is intact. Follow these steps:

1. The tab can be removed from the can by removing it without damaging the tab or injuring the tab. You can usually pry the tab off easily at its attachment point.

2. Use nippers or a chisel to remove one of the sides of the large opening on the tab. The rounded portion will be in uppercase letter J.

3. You can either file or trim the end to create a sharp point.

4. File off burrs and other sharp edges at the opposite end to the tab. This will prevent your line from fraying or cutting.

5. The tab will now be attached to the hook.

6. Cast your line after you have rigged the hook.

2. Safety Pin Hook

Another tried-and-true method to add to a preppers toolbox. Safety pins are easily transformed into fishing hooks because of their durability, springiness, and design. They are strong enough to catch decent-sized fish.

This method has a lot of advantages. It requires no special tools, other than a small, sturdy object to help bend the pin.

Grab a safety-pin and do this:

1. The pin should be opened.

2. The free end should protrude at a 45-degree angle.

3. Use your fingertips or a tool that is smooth to gently bend the pin’s free end into a hook-shaped shape.

4. Use the loop on the other end of your hook to attach the new hook.

5. As normal, bait and cast.

3. Sewing Needle

The base metal object for making hooks is a sewing needle. You’ll need to work harder to thread your sewing line than with safety pins.

I have found that larger needles with generously sized eyes are the best. Grab the needle by its sharp edge (hopefully not) and do the following.

1. Gently bend the needle in a hook-shaped shape using your fingertips or a small, round, sturdy tool.
2. Be careful not to damage the tip or bend it when you shape the hook.
3. Use an eyelet to attach the line.
4. Bait-and-cast

Sewing needles can be used to create a hook with multiple points. You will need some extra cordage and adhesive.

It may or not be required depending on the type of fish you are pursuing, but knowing you can accomplish this is a good thing.

4. Wood Hook

You can make an excellent fishing hook out of wood. Wood has historically been used to make all types of fishing hooks. You can also do this.

Below are the two main methods of making wooden hooks.

Method 1.

1. Look for a short, sturdy stick that is about three inches in length.
2. Take this stick and cut off 1 inch.
3. Peel the bark off of the short piece that you have broken off and sharpen the point.
4. Peel off the outer bark of the larger remaining piece.
5. You can either drill a hole in one end or carve notch on both sides of an end. It will be used for attaching your line.
6. The hook should be angled upwards.
7. Attach your new hook to the line.
8. Bait-and-cast

Methode 2

1. Look for a two- to three-inch long branching stick.
2. Cut the branching fork to a size suitable for hooks.
3. This forked piece can be sharpened into a pointed shape.
4. You can drill a hole in the end or make a notch in one side, as described in the method of tying the line.
5. The tie on is normally done.
6. Cast, bait, and then hope for the best.

5. Wood Gorge

You don’t need hooks to catch fish. All sorts of materials can be used.

The ancient design of gorges, also known as gorgehooks can catch fish even today. It’s important to match the size of your gorge hook with the fish type you are catching.

Smaller fish will not even try to catch it if the gorge size is excessive. If the gorge is too small, larger fish will not be captured. It is very easy to create a wide range of sizes. Follow these steps:

First step Choose a stick or branch which can be cut to the right size. Depending on the size fish that you are trying to catch, the stick thickness should range from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. A larger stick is needed for bigger fish.

Step 2 Remove all the bark from your stick.

Step 3 Slightly sharpen the ends of both sticks to a tapering, pronounced point.

Step 4 Carve or sand the groove all around. Here is where your fishing line will be attached.

Step 5 Attach the hook to your line parallel to the line while in the water.

The hooks are designed to lodge in the fish’s throat after the lure and gorge have been swallowed.

After swallowing the gorge, apply tension to make it rotate. This will cause the fish’s throat to become stuck, and you can reel the fish in.

6. Thorn Hook

If you begin with a naturally formed hook, it may not take much effort to create a good fishing hook.

Clean as many of the thorns from a sturdy, live branch. It is easy and quick to do, and the fish you catch will be proportional to the strength and size of the thorns.

Follow these steps:

1. Cut a small length from a thorny limb.
2. To allow for the tying, remove as many of the thorns necessary. Leave the strongest and most visible thorn to act as the hook.
3. Around the opposite branch, drill or whittle a groove. This is where you will tie your line.
4. Cast the lure after tying.

Many thorny plants are tough, flexible and make excellent fish hooks. However, they do not last long.

You can find many more in the same place if you spend a bit of time.

If you are in an area with a lot of thorny plants, the ones that have large thorns can be very effective for large fish.

7. Bone Hook

The use of bone for fishing hooks is a classic and has been around for centuries. You can use bones that you have found from dead animals or leftovers after a hunt to create some beautiful hooks.

Raw, uncooked bone is stronger than cooked. You can try the following:

1. Find a bone similar to the forked branches of a branch.
2. Break off a limb or trim it to a length suitable for making a hook.
3. The point of the fork can be sharpened by carving the end. You can increase the effectiveness of the fork by adding a notch to the surface behind the tip.
4. You can now either drill or notch the end of your long leg that will serve as the attachment point.
5. As normal, tie your line.
6. Be patient and bait, then cast!

Bone is a durable material that can be worked with a minimum of tools.

Spending more time to create a better bone hook will pay dividends in terms of landing fish with greater reliability.

You can also use bone hooks for the same purpose. Refer back to the section on making one out of wood.