Fish Spring Line

From WildernessWiki.org

A spring line is a device used for unattended fishing. Conventional fishing is a time-consuming process; in many situations, it is beneficial to be able to have the fishing done automatically while one works on other aspects of camp. Common ways of doing this are traps, weirs, and anchored lines. An additional technique is the spring line. This design has the additional benefits of readily setting the hook, and instantly alerting the fisher that something has moved the bait.

Construction is simple. A springy pole (such as one carved from a sapling, or even a live sapling itself) is anchored to the ground at a 45 to 90 degree angle next to a river bank or pond's edge. It is then bent so as to be under pressure, and anchored by a trigger mechanism carved from two pieces of wood. The fishing line then runs out from the trigger into the water. When a fish bites, the trigger will be dislodged and the pole will spring upright, setting the hook and alerting the fisher to the bite.

The photo below shows one design for spring pole fishing. Note that (unlike the drawing) the pole and/or line should be firmly anchored to a rock, tree, or root:

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