Get your Handline Fishing Field Manual
The complete guide to fishing without a rod— anytime, anywhere.
Handlining is an ancient fishing technique that uses no rod and no mechanical reel.
See how this simple fishing method is used today for backpack fishing, bushcraft, and ultralight fishing.
What's Inside:
Essential Skills
Everything you need to know to go handlining, no matter your previous experience with fishing.
Proven Techniques
Step-by-step methods for casting, reeling, and catching fish on a handline.
Photos, Videos, & More
Detailed images and links to how-to videos to make learning easy.
Shop Handline Kits
Why thousands of people love handline fishing:
Without weighing you down or taking up space, you can fish any body of water with ease.
With practice, you will find yourself landing bigger fish than you ever thought possible with such a simple setup!
Barnabas Giannolla
@hobo_handliner
You're not just fishing; you're completely connected to nature, feeling the living pulse of the world, one gentle tug at a time.
Forrest Grooten
I like handline fishing because it's an extremely fun, calming, and primitive fishing technique. Feeling that tap or slam on the line is the beginning of the fun, and landing the fish is the adrenaline rush!
Ryan Stone
Handlining has made going on a family fishing adventure an easy and enjoyable experience anywhere.
Dalton McCormick
Every strike feels like a monster, and it’s a ton of fun to pull in a fish by hand!
Zack Smith
Handlining has allowed me to always have my reel on me when mountain biking or adventuring and I LOVE IT.
Jessica Gibson
About Daggerfish
Founded by the son of a National Park Ranger, Daggerfish has been helping people discover the hobby of handline fishing since 2018.
Known for its handcrafted handline kits, educational videos, and exceptional customer service, Daggerfish is proud to offer this free guide to handline fishing to help the movement continue to grow.
Handline Fishing FAQs
How do you handline fish?
Handline fishing is a simple fishing technique that uses no rod and no mechanical reel. Simply wrap your line around a spool, bait your hook, and cast by hand.
DOwnload our free manual or explore the other resources on this site for step-by-step instructions on how to handline fish, including casting, reeling, and landing fish, as well as lots of tips for beginners.
Are handlines good for backpack fishing?
Yes! In fact, Daggerfish was founded to help make it easier to go fishingon a backpack trip.
Handlines are compact, lightweight, and durable — perfect for backpack fishing or long hikes where every ounce counts. That’s why many ultralight anglers and thru-hikers choose this method.
What is minimalist fishing?
Minimalist fishing is about catching fish with the least amount of gear possible. Handline fishing is the purest form of this approach — no rod, no reel, just line, hook, and skill.
What is bushcraft fishing?
Bushcraft fishing uses traditional methods to catch fish as part of wilderness survival skills. Handline fishing fits naturally here, making it a favorite among bushcrafters who practice self-reliance outdoors.
Are handlines good for outdoor survival fishing?
Yes. In a survival scenario, knowing how to catch food with minimal equipment is essential. Our manual covers the basics of outdoor survival fishing, giving you the confidence to use handline techniques in the wild.
Is the Field Manual really free?
Yep! We wrote the manual because we love this simple fishing method and want to help more people discover it. We hope you'll enjoy it, and that you'll come back to Daggerfish to purchase some of our high-quality, handcrafted tools for handline fishing.
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