Fire Chain & Fishing on the Pacific Northwest Coast

More fun with fire and fish on the coast. The fire chain is a exercise put forth by Iz Turley in his set of Hardwoodman Challenges but the idea is obviously much older. The object is to initially start a fire by friction using found materials, and use that fire to char natural materials without the use of a metal container. By drying and charring materials, the next fire can be started via sparks from percussion based methods (flint and steel), which could be very valuable in a long term situation.
This isn't an official entry, but I did have fun playing around with the basic concept. The set that I used to get the process rolling was the western red cedar set that I had made the day before and was featured in the previous video.
While birch trees do grow in the Pacific Northwest, I have never found any of them, but I have found birch bark washed up on the beach or more than one occasion. This was one of those days and it burned great despite being at sea for an unknown period of time.
Materials
Bow Drill Stage: Western red cedar hearth and spindle, stone bearing block, kelp bow drill cord.
Flint & Steel Stage: Western Red Cedar punk wood in bull kelp containers
Here are a few links to some other awesome fire chain videos from my friends at Bushcraft USA...
Nature Into Action
• Hardwoodsman Challenge...
Cockeyed Hunter
• Hardwoodsman Fire Chai...
• Hardwoodsman Fire Chai...
Atlas*
• Video

[@timroot7754]

First exposure to NW Primate. One of the best things I’ve seen in this era. Thanks for not saying a word. Remarkable.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks man! :)

[@TheWoodedBeardsman]

Nice work.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks TWB! 🙂

[@mikedang3613]

I've spotted a wild woodbeard on a NW primate video!

[@Woodsman_wildcamper]

Nice one Brian, using the shells for prepping the fish was great. They looked delicious and rounded off with a well deserved Twinings. Thanks for sharing, buddy, take care.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Andy! 🙂

[@shariris]

One of my favorite videos of yours. Thanks!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks shariris! 🙂

[@tycreps6407]

I've not wachted all your videos but I've seen several. This one is my favorite so far. You, like myself and many others in this community, carry skills and not gear. Knowledge is lightweight and packs easy.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Ty. This is one of my favorites too.

[@thomasgold-1000]

Phenomenal filming!! What a breathtaking part of the coastline... We all know your exceptional fire making skills but you seem to be a great fisherman too! 😃👍 Thank you very much for sharing this...

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Thomas! I love fishing as much as I love playing in the woods, so being able to combine the two is about as sweet as it gets for me. 🙂

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

This is excellent! The majority of the bushcrafting content from the US on YT is in the eastern woodlands, so it’s pine and birch based. Firecraft is very different in the Pacific Northwest, especially the coastal region. - A fellow coastal PNWesterner

[@PLPDX]

Inspiring,thank you for taking us along.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Frank! 🙂

[@Ddabig40mac]

Awesome use of resources. The Birch bark was a great find. The Blacktail Deer look like good eating, too.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Darryl! I definitely couldn't pass that up. While I appreciate the beauty of the deer as amazing creatures, I also can't help but think how delicious they look. 🙂

[@spraguewhissell1912]

As always, excellent demonstration!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 🙂

[@garyharmon1155]

Awesome, love your channel brother.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thank you Gary! 🙂

[@privatepuffer]

Another great one, bro! Amazing that the deer go into the ocean like that. Great scenery and excellent camera work. Oh, and the char materials in bull kelp...pure genius!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 🙂

[@privatepuffer]

Credit where credit is due my friend!

[@garyminick1050]

That's what I thought it was but wasn't sure it was bull kelp. I'm never been to the coast but I saw bull kelp on the " alone " program. Its pretty neat stuff and edible also , to the best of my memory .

[@rickmellor1076]

Awesome!! Thanks for another great video. 👍

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Rick! 🙂

[@bushcraftoregon]

Great vid; love the deer peering over the log.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Ken! 🙂

[@kylewilshusen9898]

Very nice video! I like how you used the shells to cut open the fish. And you caught one for me, too! 😂

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂 I sure did!

[@jacquiblanchard3131]

WOW! That was outstanding! Now you're a Deer Whisperer too?! LOL! That was lovely!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Jacqui! They liked me for some reason. They kept popping out of the bushes and startling me the whole time I was out there.

[@johnquerin5907]

Cool.I especially liked how you dressed your surf perch. I always enjoy your videos Primate.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks John! 🙂

[@johnearhart8811]

I have come to learn that i would expect no less. Awesome. Love the scenery

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks John! 🙂

[@FoodForestPermaculture]

How awesome is this . Fantastic . Well done thank you for being you . Howie and Missy

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Howie & Missy! 🙂

[@PJ_Grateful]

*Impressive fire chain!* Very good video! Thanks to your video's and tuturials i had a second ember by The bowdrill! *Mucho gracias* 👍😀👊 Cheers Bart

[@nwprimate6416]

Congratulations Bart! 👍 It's great to hear that you're playing with this stuff!

[@outdoo4scho1ar]

Absolutely incredible display of skills , thank you !

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks David. 🙂

[@AnthemBassMan]

Excellent video! Your tutorials over at Bushcraft USA are pure gold!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Matt! 🙂

[@bushcraftsurvivalslovenia5241]

This can be considered art. It is truly amazing and educational to watch. I was very impressed at how you made chared material. awesome ad thank you for showing and sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks again B&SS! 🙂

[@stephensgate1]

Love it as always. Well done. -Stephen, Ohio

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Stephen! 🙂

[@johnbryant_]

I think this is one of my favorite video of yours, especially with the deer. Great work and skills!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks John! 🙂

[@treerat6959]

I'm watching this a year later and tend to agree you put out great fire making video's but I like how you had the deer along the coast in this one.

[@mfavia620]

Very well done and I’m sure the fish were delicious. Thanks for sharing and ATB Mike

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Mike! Definitely delicious. 🙂

[@linklesstennessee2078]

Awesome video NWP you are definitely a wizard with 🔥 fire

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks LT! 🙂

[@Woodswalker1965]

I'm always impressed with your skills my friend.! Awesome👌 Wade

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Wade! 🙂

[@sawdust6968]

that was a beautifully made vid,well done sir.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks sawdust 69! 🙂

[@zoltanvonsomogyi7272]

This whole event was just beautiful! I envy this day if yours ☺

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Zoltan. Definitely a special day. 🙂

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

Vicarious participation! Thanks

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂

[@auroraborealisknives4019]

Excellent vid as usual ! BC looks like an awesome place

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks BTA! 🙂

[@romanludwig4431]

this is why i want to live in the northwest, its sooo pretty and i like the climate more there too

[@hermit6208]

Cool. And in case I forget, "Showoff!!" Thanks for sharing.

[@nwprimate6416]

😅👍

[@parecearabe]

You're livin' the dream NWP.

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂

[@thomtom5473]

Hello. Good video beautiful and interresting 👍

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Thom! 🙂

[@fire_x_friction8820]

Your a pretty smart guy there NW. Awesome vid.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Gary! 🙂

[@branni6538]

That's some stunning natural scenery you have there bud. It's been awhile since I was at the sea. I miss the waves, the sound they make and the scents. Every change of tide is a new treasure hunt. You should try pastuerising water in that kelp bulb.

[@nwprimate6416]

I need to get back there. Very cool idea on the kelp. 👍 :)

[@OutnBacker]

Finally got around to subscribing. Great stuff, as always, and very good editing. Oh, and I love "The Gael"

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy!

[@bringurney297]

great video! would like to know more about the fishing such as what bait you used

[@nwprimate6416]

Mussels, marine worms, small crabs, and just about any other little beach critter will work but that isn't legal on this stretch of beach, so I was using scented plastics

[@davidharvey5672]

Enjoyed it many thanks

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks David 🙂

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Great work as usual and quality camera work/ editing. I think you're the best out there at the moment 🖒

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Rick! 🙂

[@DonnaConrady]

Beautiful colors, excellent sound and a special treat of the deer :) You need to get yourself some clammin' boots . . . Thanks Primate! (would have been good to have some new potatoes and corn on the cob with that fish . . . ;)

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Donna! I definitely wouldn't have turned down the corn and potatoes out there. 🙂 There are a ton of clams and mussels out there, but sadly this area seems to be on a perpetual red tide warning. We used to eat them out there as kids, and my Dad did the same when he was a little boy, but now there's a year-round PSP warning. It makes me wonder if something has actually changed, or if they just put a warning in place and stopped testing.

[@DonnaConrady]

I hear ya . . . officials are continuously testing for red tide here because mussels, clams, urchins and blood worms are a huge part of our industry.

[@nwprimate6416]

Blood worms? Are they harvested for bait?

[@DonnaConrady]

Correct, for salt and freshwater fish and feed for the fish farms.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

Your use of kelp pods is very well thought out . Say hello to Lupo and thanks for your video .

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks again MT!

[@seanthomasdowd]

Fascinating

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Sean!

[@brentweigelt5365]

Awesome!!!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Brent! 🙂

[@KainusGulch]

cool use of the kelp.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks KG!

[@darrelllee7946]

Thanks for the video

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂👍

[@WayneTheSeine]

Awesome videography, gorgeous country (I assume Wa.) The kelp bulb container is pretty damn ingenious. Fantastic job....my man....fantastic indeed. Wondering if you do any fly fishing....steelhead etc.?

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Wayne! I have caught some steelhead over the years, but always with conventional tackle. I have only had about an hour of experience fumbling with a fly rod in a field, but I may try to learn it someday.

[@garyminick1050]

Still awesome my friend!

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Gary! 🙂

[@garyminick1050]

@@nwprimate6416 logic leads to incredible discovery.

[@Bushmanschool]

Great vid bro

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks buddy! 🙂

[@parecearabe]

Am I the only one who wants this guy to be my bushcraft instructor for two months in a forest?

[@nwprimate6416]

😆

[@apple11117]

Awesome video! I love this channel so much! Also just an idea, I think it will be cool for you to do a total Bushcraft episode similar this one but without any toolsa knife or something! So like making your pole as well as tea and stuff, just a suggestion! Also, how do you clean the inside of the fish? I understand not putting it in because the blood and gore, but after the skit in the belly do you just pills everything in the cavity out or is there more to it? Thanks!

[@branni6538]

Very beautiful location. Can those bull kelp hold water to drink? Have you tried boiling water in them slowly beside /above the fire?? Thanx. Ive not been to the ocean in quite some time. I miss it dearly and this video is a very soothing reminder. Thankyou.

[@nwprimate6416]

I've never tried boiling in them, but I think I remember seeing someone do that before on video.

[@SpookyPistolero]

Incredible

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks SpookyPistolero! 🙂

[@pacificbushcraftandfirecra6358]

Outstanding video NWP I was wondering if agate and quartz would throw sparks... It seems to be a lot more common around here than flint or chert...lol. I have a bowling ball sized hunk of obsidian that I am gonna start playing with, and looking forward to trying some flintknapping as well. Thanks for sharing the secrets! Cheers

[@duxdawg]

Triumph Screen Printing Yes, flints, cherts, chalcedonies, agates, jaspers, granites, some sandstons, quartzes, etc all work as the "Flint". Any sharp high quartz content piece of any rock can work.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks TSP! I'm still a novice when it comes to ID'ing and working with stone. My approach is still limited to the "smash & check" method where I look for rocks that seem hard, and see if they break into sharp pieces. I am looking forward to progressing from there, but at this point, I don't enough know enough to know what I don't know. 🙂

[@jaydavis0927]

Awesome video looks like where I live Oregon coast

[@joesoutdoorplaces]

What - a - day!

[@MrScreaney]

Your videos are always so clever and inspirational. I sort of missed the signature bow-drill music but the crashing waves were also pleasant to hear. I know what you mean about the rarity in finding paper birch trees. They are like nuggets of gold when you finally find them. In BC, they are usually in the lowlands near floodplains and swampy edges so I collect what I can, but sparingly. Thanks again for the amazing video experience.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Shaun. Its always great reading your comments. I've spotted some birches in odd places, but usually in suburban or rural settings. I don't think I've ever spotted any in the woods, so it seems odd that I've found the bark washed up more than once. It makes you wonder how far it traveled before hitting the shore.

[@leighrate]

OK, so with a knife, fishing rod & a bow you could live up there indefinitely, however running out of tea is definitely going to be an issue.

[@nwprimate6416]

😆 I think I would miss coffee and my mattress more than the tea.

[@hermit6208]

NW Primate , and a hot shower! Nothing like it.

[@nwprimate6416]

@Stefano Dawg Thanks buddy!

[@johncooper8839]

@Stefano Dawg Sand and gravel. Think lava minus the suds.

[@Arkie80]

Interesting stuff for sure. Whereabouts in the PNW are you? Washington or Oregon? It looks s lot the Puget sound area.

[@theoutdoorsfamily9139]

Inspiring ! I got some new stuff to try out. 👍

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂 Looking forward to seeing what works for you buddy.

[@20p65s]

Yeah, making char with the bull kelp was slick.

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks 20p65s! 🙂

[@davidb8872]

Beautiful, great shots ! what state are you in ? I thought I heard Washington banned beach fires ?

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks David. I'm in Washington. I know that there was a brief ban on beach fires a few summers ago due to extreme drought conditions, but that has long since passed.

[@CavemanTravels]

Hello Mr.Primate. May I ask of you the location/area this video was set in?

[@nwprimate6416]

This is Washington State. 🙂

[@paulfix9823]

Great video! where abouts did you film this if you dont mind me asking

[@nwprimate6416]

Washington State! 🙂

[@paulfix9823]

@@nwprimate6416 I thought so! I'm a Washington native!

[@vancouverislandbushcraft4879]

Very cool, what did you use for bait

[@nwprimate6416]

I was using little bits of scented plastic worms, but these fish will bite on a lot of natural baits too and are not picky. I have even caught them using weird items like paracord strips and cheetos. 😆 I think they just pick up anything that they see rolling around in the surf that could be food, and spit it out if it doesn't seem right. This means that they will often hook themselves with natural baits, but less natural items on the hook require that you pay more attention and set it quickly before they move on.

[@vancouverislandbushcraft4879]

Interesting to know thank you

[@tmmhinds]

You da man

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks TH! 🙂

[@EvansExplorations]

Was this for the hardwoodsman challenge or “just because”?

[@nwprimate6416]

I might jump into the challenges at some point, but this one was just for fun. 🙂

[@EvansExplorations]

NW Primate well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks Evan! 🙂

[@giveitawaynow4649]

I am from the NW where are you and and what are you using for bait

[@nwprimate6416]

Almost any crustacean will work...in this case I'm using GULP worms.

[@garyminick1050]

And all this time I thought I invented this coal extender !

[@nwprimate6416]

😅👍

[@tarasb.ukrainian1947]

👍👍👍

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂

[@samipeluso8643]

This may qualify you for Gandalf The White status.

[@nwprimate6416]

I'll take it!

[@samipeluso8643]

@@nwprimate6416 🤣

[@Banasuka]

🔥😃

[@ghostmover3]

Great video are you in Oregon or Washington I'm in Oregon

[@nwprimate6416]

Thanks stalking wolf! This is in Washington, but I have spent a lot of time on the beautiful Oregon coast too. Always great to hear from a fellow PNWer. 🙂

[@enopio_O]

Oh deer! Oh dear!

[@mrForestBeard]

Aaaawwwww :3

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂

[@mrForestBeard]

Btw, what the type of fish is it? Some Carp?

[@lastniceguy1]

Surf perch I believe

[@mrForestBeard]

oh, should be a Ditrema

[@nwprimate6416]

lastniceguy1 is correct... redtail surfperch. (Amphistichus rhodoterus)

[@Kiss__Kiss]

"Oh DEER!!!" That poor Fish, Getting exposed on KZbin... ( Yes, spelling was intentional lol )

[@nwprimate6416]

😆

[@NeybeeIsLive]

Yo man

[@Urdasein]

Awesome !

[@nwprimate6416]

🙂