Summary: spelling and punctuation
[[Image:FishHand.jpg|630px|thumb|left|A fish in the hand is worth two in the net. Photo by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/[http://www.flickr.com/photos/widnr/6544906773/ flickr]/CC]]
Don't you hate it when you're stuck in the middle of the wilderness and have to scrounge up dinner with just your bare hands? Me too. It happens to the best of us. Luckily, one of the easiest sources of protein is fish and even in most desolate streams you can find some trout. Here is a rough guide on how to snatch one from the water, because bears shouldn't get to have all the fun.
''This how-to was written by Caleb Garling, a writer who feels most at home when he isn't.''
==The Spot==
How do you see a trout in the water, bouncing around and darting under rocks? When the current is rushing past, these little guys have dark backs that blend in. First, scan the banks. Wading into the river alerts the fish to your presence, so hang back for a bit. Trout like to hang with protection over their heads (bird cover) so you should start by looking for tails and snouts near undercut banks and overhanging branches. Once you get a lead on one, mentally mark your spot very carefully. Trout tend to hang in the same area unless disturbed by something (you), so give yourself time to stalk over.
==The Approach==
How do you get close enough to get within striking range?
Remember this simple rule of thumb: if you can see the trout, he can see you, as physics dictates that light flows both ways. So keep a super low profile. Also, you'll have to approach from downstream. Because they're fighting a current to stay in one spot, trout spend 95 percent of their time facing upstream. Their side-mounted eyes means that they can see behind themselves a bit, but for the most part, they're going to be focusing on the insects being swept downstream at them.
Once inside 30 feet, any motions in the fish's field of vision will likely send it scurrying to a deeper part of the river. So get low ? crawl if you can ? and step quietly. Footsteps reverberate underwater more than we realize. Once you're close enough to the spot you marked, harness your inner mountain lion and stalk to the river ? so slowly and so carefully. Your fish should still be hanging in your spot if you've approached the right way.
==The Grab==
How do you actually nab it without it swimming off?
This obviously take a lot of practice, and even more patience. You'll have to fine-tune depending on exactly your situation ? is the fish hanging behind a rock, under a log, in an open pool? Ever so slowly, slide your hand into the water behind the fish. Do not try to just snatch the trout from above. You'll miss, as water refracts light in a way to make the fish look like its in one spot when it's actually a little farther away (that, and trout are really quick).
Once you've slid your hand in the water, and the fish isn't spooked, let your fingers sit a while. You'll have to suck up the frigid temperatures. But eventually that trout is going to ease around and settle somewhere close to your hand.
Now you have one shot. The grab has to be fast ? obviously ? and to ensure he doesn't slide through your hands, be ready to close your index finger and thumb tightly around the tail. Since the end is much taller than the middle, it'll serve as a kind of barb as the trout tries to dart away.
==The Release==
How do you let the fishie go so it's not hurt?
If, by chance, you're doing this for fun and are not in fact in a desolate wilderness ? and you've just pulled off one of the greatest feats your buddies have ever seen ? you'll want to set the trout free the right way. The fish will have gone through a bit of trauma and will need help getting oxygen. (Imagine if a fish just yanked you under water while you were eating a sandwich.) So gently rock them forward and backward in the current to get the water moving through the gills. It shouldn't take too long but after a few massages in the current, that fish should zip out of your hands and back to the river bottom to think things over. He probably won't hang on that bank again for a while.
[[Category:Survival]]
[[Category:Aquatic Activities]]
Don't you hate it when you're stuck in the middle of the wilderness and have to scrounge up dinner with just your bare hands? Me too. It happens to the best of us. Luckily, one of the easiest sources of protein is fish and even in most desolate streams you can find some trout. Here is a rough guide on how to snatch one from the water, because bears shouldn't get to have all the fun.
''This how-to was written by Caleb Garling, a writer who feels most at home when he isn't.''
==The Spot==
How do you see a trout in the water, bouncing around and darting under rocks? When the current is rushing past, these little guys have dark backs that blend in. First, scan the banks. Wading into the river alerts the fish to your presence, so hang back for a bit. Trout like to hang with protection over their heads (bird cover) so you should start by looking for tails and snouts near undercut banks and overhanging branches. Once you get a lead on one, mentally mark your spot very carefully. Trout tend to hang in the same area unless disturbed by something (you), so give yourself time to stalk over.
==The Approach==
How do you get close enough to get within striking range?
Remember this simple rule of thumb: if you can see the trout, he can see you, as physics dictates that light flows both ways. So keep a super low profile. Also, you'll have to approach from downstream. Because they're fighting a current to stay in one spot, trout spend 95 percent of their time facing upstream. Their side-mounted eyes means that they can see behind themselves a bit, but for the most part, they're going to be focusing on the insects being swept downstream at them.
Once inside 30 feet, any motions in the fish's field of vision will likely send it scurrying to a deeper part of the river. So get low ? crawl if you can ? and step quietly. Footsteps reverberate underwater more than we realize. Once you're close enough to the spot you marked, harness your inner mountain lion and stalk to the river ? so slowly and so carefully. Your fish should still be hanging in your spot if you've approached the right way.
==The Grab==
How do you actually nab it without it swimming off?
This obviously take a lot of practice, and even more patience. You'll have to fine-tune depending on exactly your situation ? is the fish hanging behind a rock, under a log, in an open pool? Ever so slowly, slide your hand into the water behind the fish. Do not try to just snatch the trout from above. You'll miss, as water refracts light in a way to make the fish look like its in one spot when it's actually a little farther away (that, and trout are really quick).
Once you've slid your hand in the water, and the fish isn't spooked, let your fingers sit a while. You'll have to suck up the frigid temperatures. But eventually that trout is going to ease around and settle somewhere close to your hand.
Now you have one shot. The grab has to be fast ? obviously ? and to ensure he doesn't slide through your hands, be ready to close your index finger and thumb tightly around the tail. Since the end is much taller than the middle, it'll serve as a kind of barb as the trout tries to dart away.
==The Release==
How do you let the fishie go so it's not hurt?
If, by chance, you're doing this for fun and are not in fact in a desolate wilderness ? and you've just pulled off one of the greatest feats your buddies have ever seen ? you'll want to set the trout free the right way. The fish will have gone through a bit of trauma and will need help getting oxygen. (Imagine if a fish just yanked you under water while you were eating a sandwich.) So gently rock them forward and backward in the current to get the water moving through the gills. It shouldn't take too long but after a few massages in the current, that fish should zip out of your hands and back to the river bottom to think things over. He probably won't hang on that bank again for a while.
[[Category:Survival]]
[[Category:Aquatic Activities]]
Source: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/howtowiki/~3/cdxPNb4_NqU/Catch_a_Fish_With_Your_Bare_Hands
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