Introduction: Hand Line Fishing Rig

About: Retired--doing important stuff in my garage.

A 20-ounce plastic beverage bottle can be easily turned into a fish catcher. Add 6 pound test fishing line, recycled washers, a small piece of wood, an old shoe strings, a rubber band, a fish hook, bait and a lake and you can have a fish diner tonight.




















Step 1:

First remove the cap and drink the cooling beverage. Then put two holes across from the other on the top edge of the cap. Thread the old shoelace through the holes and knot on the inside of the cap. This will be a lanyard. Screw the cap back on.

Step 2:

Then tie fishing line in the middle of the bottle with an overhand knot and wind on about thirty feet of line or about sixty turns around the bottle..

Step 3:

Next find something that will float. A scrap piece of wood about a half inch square and about an inch and a half long will work or you can use a piece of packing foam about the same size. Then drill a hole through the center large enough to allow the line to easily slip through it. Slide the float onto the line. Use a highlighter to color the float to make it easier to be seen in the water.

Step 4:

A foot from the end of the line tie on a salvaged 3/8 inch flat washer and do the same six inches from the end of the line. These washers are used to sink the hook and if the washers are shiny they will also attract fish. Then tie on the hook. A small size 8 bait holder hook works best. Tie on a cut piece of rubber band between the float and the bottle. This will be your float stop. Just slide the rubber knot up or down the line so you can fish at any depth. For bait you can use whole kernel corn, cheese or bread or dig worms in your yard.

Step 5:

To cast the line, let about one foot of line hang below the bottle. Hold the bottle with your hand on top with the lanyard over your wrist and the cap end pointed toward you. Stop the line at the bottom of the bottle with your index finger. With your arm at your side cast the line as if you are throwing an underhand softball pitch. When your hand is a little above parallel to the water, release the line. With practice you will be able to cast thirty feet. Watch the float and when it goes under water pull it tight to set the hook--rewind the line to reel in a big one.


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