i just got this cool fishing net/camo net/hammock/whateverelseyoucanthinkof.  i now carry that with me in the woods, and if i could find a place where large enough fish were swimming, i would set that up, because it takes the least amout of energy with the most returns.  my next choice would be a spear f*g**t, as described on another post, or set lines with hooks

buger wrote on Dec 31^st, 2006 at 6:32pm:

                                                                                               
     Buger,                                                                              
         I think I would go with a bone gorge. Although I've never actually tried one, it is probably
the closest thing to a modern fishhook. I've done just a little bit of work with bone and I think it
would be a bit stronger than wood, especially if made very small. Although I am certainly no expert
at fishing, there appear to be a lot more small fish out there than there are large fish. The last couple
of times I was out, we kept getting a lot of nibbles but couldn't actually hook anything until we went
to a much smaller hook. Small fish may not be impressive, but they taste just as good!             
         You might want to try ordinary chicken or turkey bones as raw material for small hooks.
                                                                                                                                         .......Dan

I voted for net, but as always I miss other.
I would, in a desperate situation more likely make a wooden trap for the bigger fish, just block of the stream with as many branches as you can spare from firewood.
That makes the left-over stream so much narrower that a much smaller net can fish more efficient.
And further would I than be near the stream, time from other jobs permitting, that I might even be able to grab that big fish getting blocked in by the trap.

And for 'net' do not think a neat fine meshed one like you would carry on a fishing expedition, because unless you go out to 'surfive' you are caught with what you happen to have with you, so think Tshirt with a few extra slashes, or cotton 'dress' shirt.

Willeke

Taiki wrote on Jan 1^st, 2007 at 8:17pm:

  Stones aranged in a spiral 1 full turn plus a little more  ... fish swims in and keeps circling ....think fish snare equivalent

Willeke wrote on Jan 1^st, 2007 at 12:06pm:
                                                                                            
                                                                                                  
     Willeke,                                                                   
         I  would think that YOU, of all people, would be able to use your skill at making knots to make a very
effective and really PRETTY net, even in the middle of a jungle, with nothing more than your bare hands! 
                                                                                                                                         .......Dan    

I voted for a long spear because it is the most efficient.  In a survival situation Spears are the most practicle. You can sit at the edge of a river or lake with a torch at night and get enough fish for dinner and more to be smoked for later. Unlike a net or a trap it gets your food now not tomorrow. The problem with gorges is you would need line. If you have none and cant make it the gorges are useles and unless you have a ready made net it is not practicle to make one in the wild. For bow fishing you would not only have to make a bow but also arrows. These are makable but a quiky bow and quiky arrows may not be very accurate unless you put good time into them. Hand fishing may work great but you would get wet and in some survival situations that could mean death if you dont get dry quick and also it would take more energy than sitting with a spear or a line.
EDIT:I forgot to adress poison. It is very affective. For the best results a dam should be built to slow the flow of the water. The problem with this is... well I cant think of any major problems but finding a plant like mullien or pokeberry could be hard durring the fall and winter although walnut bark or the walnut huskes could be found durring that time. You might also get wet.
It all depends on the resorces, time, and skills you have.
Here are two spears I have made. One is a leister and the other is a survival style spear which has cracked at one of the points. Along with those there is dogbane fishing line, a composit hook attached to a tapering leader of dogbane, a halubet style hook, a failed attempted at an all bone hook, and two slate sinkers.

about gorges they used to sell metal ones for gar