Is the Ka-Bar Backpacker Kaster Hand Line Worth It? - Trying to Catch a Fish with a Hand Line

Get You Own PaleoHikerMD Patches HERE!: www.etsy.com/shop/PaleoHikerM... In the past few years I've gotten way more into fishing, and I often want to wet a line while out on the trail. Sure, I have a collapsable Spinning Rod I can carry which you have seen here on the channel, but I've been looking for a more convenient and light weight option for the trail, or in emergencies. The Ka-Bar Kaster caught my eye...see what I did there.....caught my...
Anyway, let's take a look at this product, and see if I can catch something!
#handline #handlinefishing #kabar
Gear Used in This Video:
Ka-Bar Caster: amzn.to/2RUACxJ
Thermarest Z-Seat: amzn.to/31y1Gq5
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[@arctodussimus6198]

A bad day fishing is still better than a good day working! I have the KaBar Kaster and yes, it works great! 👍🏻

[@leighrate]

I've added a 550 cord loop to mine. If you catch anything decent sized, it might pull the caster out of your hand. I have a strong suspicion that it will be most effective from a boat.

[@bowmaster619letschug6]

While I have never used an actual hand Caster or hobo caster I have spun fishing line onto Square sticks, round sticks, pencils, and of course water bottles and I have caught numerous fish doing some. Personally I've gotten to the point where I almost prefer hand casting over fishing with an actual fishing pole. So it is of course possible it's just a matter of actually getting out there and practicing it. Plus it's lots of fun

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

PVC tubing with end caps works great .

[@Setsuzo17]

Anyone remember the pocket fisherman in the 70's? Thanks for the video!

[@Mr3wheeling]

I've still got my pocket fisherman.

[@clarknikolai9739]

you probably dont care but if you are stoned like me atm you can watch pretty much all the latest series on Instaflixxer. Been streaming with my brother for the last couple of weeks xD

[@cedricjaiden9020]

@Clark Nikolai Definitely, I've been using Instaflixxer for since december myself :)

[@donoberloh]

My grandfather created and patented the original Pocket fisherman. My grandkids build and sell the only authorized, and upgraded Trouser Trout Pocket fishing kit. The 2.0 version provides enough tackle, two casting tubes and two different lines for two people to fish at the same time. Casts 45 to 5o feet. It’s on Etsy under Prepping 4 Everyone. The Trouser Trout 2.0 Pocket Fishing Kit. Under $19 and free shipping"

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Wrist strip might be of value. I can easily see someone throwing the whole thing in the water trying to cast.

[@bikinglikebecker]

Wiiii

[@dwwo81]

I recommend adding trout magnets to your kit. Great little jigs and bluegill can't swallow them. I've caught catfish bass bluegill trout and a few other species on them.

[@donalddicorcia2433]

I got rid of the bulky plastic clip and use a ranger band on the spool.

[@Palmetto705]

Good times thanks

[@agaig9812]

Sold!!!! I'm getting one of those. Thanks for the demo!

[@DiggingBuddy]

Hope your break is going well. Catching up on some older content, thanks for all of this great stuff

[@peterv1318]

That's an awesome product! I've had ka bar products in the past, mainly knives, and they've NEVER disappointed me. I currently have the ka bar bayonet knife from Ontario Knife and Tool company and I absolutely love it. I had no idea ka bar made this. This will definitely make its way to my survival/camping/hiking gear. Thank you for the review, it's much appreciated.

[@benjaminvanlandingham5568]

Great vid...know you enjoyed that day hiking/fishing

[@southernretailreviews]

Very cool video. I may have to get one of these. Thanks for the video and showing how to cast.

[@StabyMcStabnhimer]

this is perfect, had to add it to my amazon list right off the bat

[@davidsawmandave8731]

Boom That's what I need. Ohana other channels teach you how to make one. But just makes it easy. Thanks for sharing.

[@vvogt4252]

Great Video Brother! haven't seen the Ka-Bar Caster. Great review, you sold me. gonna purchase one.

[@jamesrevell6475]

D*mn! Wish I never watched this video because now I have to get one. Great review.

[@henrygarza8018]

First time watching your video it's pretty cool always wondered about that kind of stuff

[@kennybigmac81]

Really nice house, love the wood work

[@Butterflys3436]

Thank you

[@ezk9026]

I will be buying 2 now, thanks.

[@titanpreparedness]

Thats pretty cool. Like you said i figured it would be gimmicky but hey you caught something so it works

[@dellampman7629]

Cool. Never saw one of them before.

[@WanderingWiley]

Fun video, nice caster

[@bushcraftjoe1]

Looks worth trying out

[@richardweilandt3315]

That would be very useful in a survival pack, hiking pack, backpack, or in the glove box.

[@garethturner]

Really enjoyed this review. Love to see how big of a fish your able to haul in with this product.

[@whisper-thattruth-shss6026]

Not very big unless the main line was strong as there is no rod to play the fish out on. Better packing yer 4 piece rod fit for purpose

[@theoneandonlycarlton]

Don't believe that crap man! My 12 year old son caught a 35 pound channel cat with a hand line with 10 pound test line, so if you know what you're doing you can catch some big fish 👍

[@trailtrashoutdoors8173]

New subscribers here from Trail Trash Outdoors!! Much love-TTO

[@ec135j]

I plan to pick up one if these for hikes with the scout troop.

[@barrykelly2722]

Oh lawd! You snagged Moby!

[@ozarkhiker23]

I've been wondering about that tool, seen one other video about it and not a bad price, might have to try it out as well. Really enjoy the video and keep up the good work.

[@geektarded]

“OHH!…he gone” 😁

[@jamesedwards1588]

Thanks

[@anyname2640]

Yes I am glad you took a more real world approach than scientific if that makes any sense to you....In other word...just go fishing!!!. Great video!

[@TheHuntForSupper]

Excellent video. Just bought one on Amazon just in case S.H.T.F. Be Well!

[@seehongkongsea]

We’ve fished like this for decades in Asia, nothing new here 🤣. We use a cheap kite handle that costs around 30 cents CND, but cool video anyway!

[@LGSkywalker82]

Thanksnfor reviewing this. I made a hobo reel from Corporals Corner's diy video and enjoyed it but "reeling" in the line was a chore with how much winding I had to do but hand after every cast. Will have to check this out!

[@TNBushcrafter]

You could strip the line in like flyfishing instead of "reeling".

[@LGSkywalker82]

@@TNBushcrafter brilliant idea, thank you!!

[@donoberloh]

You have to some this by hand too. Unless you diy winding reel

[@fredflintstone1547]

jigs, plugs, flies and bait hooks are your best bet when handlining. other lures aren't easy to work without the speedy retrieval of a reel. .

[@elderhiker7787]

I too have the KaBar Kaster and you should see the looks I get when I use it here in Pennsylvania. I'm not normally a fisherman, but its fun to know you can if you need to put a fish in the pan. And, you don't need to spend a ton of money for a rod, reel, and tackle. And, it packs away nicely and doesn't take up much room in the pack. Its a nice piece of kit, for sure.

[@suecollins3246]

I totally hear you! All this shit about the right and wrong way to fish - ohmigosh - you can't use worms for trout fishing, it's just _not done_ ! Sorry, when I fish I want food and I'm not fussy about how I catch it!

[@henrygarza8018]

❤ I bought it it is fun

[@alexwbanks70]

You think this would work for trout in the Sierra Nevada? Thinking about taking a pole when I hike the JMT next year.

[@Jayhhardy]

Nice video.

[@peterkinberger9741]

Second bluegill is good for a survival fish sammich !

[@benshanealroberts4140]

can the fish take off with the spool? will it come off?

[@thegobblerproject2363]

Do you have to stop the line with your thumb when casting so it doesn’t bird nest ?

[@TNBushcrafter]

Another light and packable option is a yo yo auto reel. If you are just looking for a way to get some dinner. Have to watch the laws on yo yo's in your state, though. I do keep the kabar hobo reel in my pack that I keep in the truck for the emergency that I need to hit the woods on the way home.

[@TNBushcrafter]

@BC Bob yeah, the emergency to stop and camp, fungi foraging, hunting and/or fishing. Also pondering throwing a couple dock demons in there with my collapsible. The last 20 minutes of my ride home is my 100 acres bordered by around 10k acres of US Corp of engineers land. My idea of an emergency, needing time to clear my head in nature. 😁

[@TheHuntForSupper]

What I'd the biggest fish that you've caught with the Ka-bar hobo rod?

[@byronmartens4018]

If you are trout fishing the fish swim away and hide if they see you., especially in a small stream. The best fishing I had was stringing a three foot salmon egg leader tied to nylon string and attached the string to a branch of a pine tree extending out and over the water. The bait lightly bound in the rushing water, used yellow salmon eggs. . I backed away out of sight of the fish ,five minutes later the branch is tugging downward and the first trout is on and huge. Caught two big ones for dinner. This was on utah and nevada border campground around 3500 feet in elevation. There were fly fisherman with fancy gear just previously going through just scaring everything away. The water too clear and too narrow to flyfish in daylight.

[@brycealthoff8092]

I have seen serious fly fisherman literally army crawl in range of the stream and cast that way.

[@phyllismulkey3778]

i like it

[@itznoxy7193]

Did this come with anything in it or did you have to add all that yourself?

[@evanf1443]

I like the clip for holding the line but this is the sort of thing I’d personally rather make myself.

[@donoberloh]

Try Prepping 4 everyone on Etsy, 2 hand lines and enough tackle for two, all in one small kit. With more tackle, first aid, scalpel, than any other kit has. Easily casts 45-50 feet each time. Lighter and less bulky than this one, hand down. Less than $20.00

[@AquaTech225]

The line holder could of definitely been a reelable reel. Of some kind easily instead of hand wound. That being said Ild still like to get one

[@crowbrocaw]

Sir, just slap a reel on a stick. There ya go 😝

[@MDM1992]

Too big and bulky for me personally, i bought 2 yoyitos instead and they are great, larger diameter so each turn pulls in more line and thinner so more portable, the little case they come in easily fits a load of different sized weights for drop shotting and i have about 30 various sized j and circle hooks as well as 2 large wet flies and 3 yoto bite indicator floats which fit perfectly into the finger holes too. Yoyitos aren't cheap but i liked it so much i bought a second one in case i lost my first one somehow. They are so pocketable i actually carry one everywhere with me which isn't something i can see myself doing with a bigger hobo hand line like this kabar/daggerfish style which i'd only take with a backpack. I also have a roll of brass snare wire in my yoyito cases, enough for at least 3 or 4 snares and it pairs great with a catapult and a bag of ammo with an extra band set or two for a really compact hunting/fishing survival kit to feed yourself, can set a few snares to check after fishing if you fail to catch, or can set the yoyito up unattended with circle hooks to a tree branch and walk around looking for duck, pigeon etc with the catapult, then come back to check the hand line and snares after, it's a really good set up honestly, won't replace a rod, reel and a rifle of course but really isn't as far behind as you'd expect and definitely fun to use, and very satisfying when it all comes together and you've hooked a nice trout, snared a decent sized rabbit and shot a good duck all at the same time. The fish aren't always biting so i like to have other options for game too, if i'm not trying to save weight and bulk though i would always leave the catapult and 10mm leads at home and take a spring piston air rifle with a tin of ammo instead, much more accurate, more range, and just a better and more efficient way to bag some small game in my opinion.

[@darrenanderson2031]

I started on fire pits and followed a rabbit hole that ended in a grownup Taylor lautner teaching me how to fish.

[@bikinglikebecker]

You might want to try using a boat, or fishing off a pier.... here is a novel idea, how about attaching a rod & feeding line through some small attached rings? 8D, Just Kidding!

[@bigbadlouroma]

new sub, on amazon they say 8lb line what size hooks are good with this? I'm a total noob when it comes to any fishing.

[@ranger3676]

Large hooks catch the large fish small hooks catch any fish

[@bigbadlouroma]

Thanks tyvek05, thats the first thing I'm getting.

[@MarcMcGill]

Do you know what the difference is between this and the limited edition one? I can't tell.

[@timothyhaskell8262]

I have read that there is nothing different. The ka-bar website doesn't advise one.

[@JamesJReid]

put some freeze dried corn in your bait bag

[@karelkopfrkingl7697]

Do you break the line often because there’s no drag like on a reel?

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

Pretty sure you could palm both round ends and apply some tension as the thing spins

[@johnmelucci7932]

That is a very cool way to catch a fish. One thing, how much does it cost?

[@bigriceburner]

It's on Amazon. About 15 plus change.

[@billypoe3703]

So, if it floats you could carry the Henry Survival rifle; it floats also. Another product, Catch .22, carries up 50 rounds of .22LR ammo. Sadly, this product does not float.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Anyone know the difference between the original version and the limited version?

[@memepin6289]

James Stoney if you’re referring to the offering on amazon, I think that’s just a mistake and there is no actual limited version

[@muddyh2o2init44]

Dude, stop moving the line. Let the fish take it. If you cut a long branch with a Y at the top and lay the line inside the Y. You can set the hook just like a pole.

[@Mrwillyface69]

Good thinking I’m going to get one of these and that’s a brilliant idea to set the hook mate.

[@Mrwillyface69]

I now own the kabar kaster 😀

[@Jayhhardy]

Just watched as I made a hobo reel last night and wanted to see how to use it, lol. Can't wait now.

[@MarcMcGill]

how big of a fish do you think that can bring in?

[@raptorman6589]

I caught a 30 pound turtle with mine. It just depends on the line and knowing what to do.

[@MarcMcGill]

@@raptorman6589 Nice!! I'll have to get one and to try it out

[@TheAcidheat]

try exotac x line

[@reynaldodiaz4261]

Price?

[@rogerkomula8057]

If you go far enough out, you can catch fish on anything.

[@anthonymorelli67]

Lol,,,,,,👍👍👍

[@johnlhigh]

Its cool and not hard to use. Until you catch something of decent size. Then? Not so much. Cool Video...

[@AwakeLazarus]

I just got one, the first thing I did was put a cord on it, bad Wii flashbacks.

[@PaleoHikerMD]

LOL

[@jrifter1281]

i like the video but my bait would have eaten them fish you caught.

[@donoberloh]

It’s not bad for a commercial toy, but it’s too bulky and too heavy. The line is exposed to the inside of your pack, and it’s design doesn’t allow for a smooth release of the line. The larger front surface edge mandates the line scrap against it every rotation, creating too much friction for long or accurate casting.

[@ShadeSlayer1911]

If this little thing is too bulky and heavy for you, then I wonder what you consider to be perfect size in this category.

[@haughtable]

Kids in Honduras keep the whole rig in a plastic bottle and know how to cast by twirling overhead. That rig costs more than they earn in a week.

[@whisper-thattruth-shss6026]

For anyone interested how to actually fish- DON'T walk right up to the edge fully standing and cast. Learn some fieldcraft. Big fish are not stupid

[@AUCTIONCAT2011]

Good video but the thing is a joke. The head is threaded and the whole top with your line could go flying off.

[@donoberloh]

So true, the head also creates too much friction on the line when casting. Look at the Trouser Trout 2.0 Pocket Fisherman, on Etsy, under Prepping4 everyone. Smaller, lighter, medical grade tubes and Water proof of course. This has separate and removable internal and external casting/tackle tubes so two people can fish at the same time. 60 feet of Monofilament and 60 feet of braided line. 20 sinkers, 10 hooks, 4 snap swivels, 4 ball swivels, 4 artificial soft baits, 3 jig eyes, 4 salmon eggs, a bobber, 6 ranger bands for casting tube line retention and 2nd layer of waterproofing. Add that to an adjustable paracord wrist lanyard, sterile scalpel blade, fabric Band-aid and Handi-wipe. Did I mention it has 2 separate hand-casting systems in one. Each one accurately casts 45-50 feet very little practice. At $ 18.99 with free shipping, it would be hard to put together as comprehensive a kit for two people with a pvc tube. IMHO of course.

[@fatraabbit1]

Cut yourself a long stick and use it as a cane pole.

[@shadowbanned1134]

More junk to buy, just use a PVC pipe and save a bundle of money and works just as good.

[@donoberloh]

PVC is good, then add cost of screw on rear cap, silicone frontend cap for encapsulating bobber and snap swivel on line ready to go. Add a paracord adjustable wrist lanyard, removable inner Tackle tube that has its own 60 ft of monofilament line. Two people can fish as the same time as the outer protector casting tube is used with the 60ft of braided fishing line. 20 random sinkers, 10 various hooks, 3 grub eyed hooks, 4 artificial baits, 4 colorful salmon eggs, 4 snap swivels, 4 line retaining ranger bands, 4 ball swivels, a plastic bobber. Through in a handiwipe, scalpel blade and camo colored fabric band-aid, all for only 18.99 and free shipping?

[@davemi3213]

There's gonna be a lot of cut fingers with this piece of crap

[@sagethyme7387]

ALL Necessary information about this Fishing Caster can be EASILY done in a Three minute video PaleoHiker, , , why waste additional Eight minutes "shooting the breeze" adding irrelevant information that is not helping anybody ? ? ?

[@PaleoHikerMD]

Because it’s my video :)

[@Paulstluke]

I sue a metal plumb chalk line for mine it’s an awesome hack.