Fishing Necklace: A Wearable Survival Kit You Can Trust

When you think of survival fishing gear, you probably picture hooks and line stuffed in a pouch or Altoids tin. But what if your fishing kit could hang right around your neck? A fishing necklace makes that possible—turning your everyday necklace into a discreet, always-there survival tool.

Whether built from paracord with hidden gear, or Grim’s flat Dog Tag Fishing Tools, a fishing necklace gives you a compact and reliable way to catch food that never leaves your body.

Necklace Materials: Picking the Right Cord for the Job

The necklace itself isn’t just about holding dog tags or capsules — it can be part of your survival plan. Different materials give you different strengths, weaknesses, and bonus uses. Choosing wisely can mean carrying extra hidden cordage or ensuring your kit won’t fail when you need it.

Ball Chain

• Uses: Common with dog tags, lightweight, and easy to find.

• Advantages: Cheap, discreet, looks normal, and can break away under pressure (a safety feature).

• Disadvantages: Weak compared to cordage, not useful for survival tasks once broken.

Paracord

• Uses: Survival favorite, holds weight, and its inner strands can be pulled out for line or lashing.

• Advantages: Strong, versatile, available in endless colors, and works for fishing line, shelter building, or repairs.

• Disadvantages: Bulkier than other options, and if it frays, it can look ragged with constant wear.

Kevlar Cord

• Uses: Ultra-strong cordage, often used for cutting tasks or high-stress line.

• Advantages: Thin yet extremely tough, abrasion resistant, and can slice through softer materials if needed.

• Disadvantages: Expensive, harder to tie securely, and not as comfortable to wear against the skin.

Leather Cord

• Uses: Classic look, durable strap material, and good for a more natural aesthetic.

• Advantages: Comfortable, discreet, and strong enough for everyday wear.

• Disadvantages: Doesn’t offer survival cordage unless cut apart, weaker when wet, and harder to replace in the field.

Jute Twine

• Uses: Traditional fiber cord, doubles as tinder in a survival situation.

• Advantages: Lightweight, natural, flammable (great for fire starting), and blends well with rustic kits.

• Disadvantages: Weak compared to modern cordage, frays easily, and wears down with sweat and moisture.

Stainless Steel Cable (Coated or Bare)

• Uses: Nearly unbreakable necklace base, can be used for snare wire or high-strength repairs.

• Advantages: Very strong, resistant to corrosion, and excellent for urban or wilderness survival.

• Disadvantages: Heavier, less comfortable to wear, and requires tools to cut or adjust.

Waxed Cotton Cord

• Uses: Common in jewelry, lightweight survival option.

• Advantages: Comfortable, water-resistant, and easy to knot securely.

• Disadvantages: Not as durable as synthetic cords, and offers little survival use beyond tying small items.

DIY Layering Trick

You don’t have to pick just one material. One of the smartest tricks for survival necklaces is wrapping your primary necklace material (like paracord) with a secondary wrap of emergency-use cordage.

• Wrap jute twine around paracord to carry instant tinder.

• Wrap fishing line around leather or ball chain for a hidden supply of line.

• Wrap Kevlar thread around paracord for emergency cutting or high-strength backup.

• Use micro-braid cord as an outer wrap to add even more layers of deployable survival line.

👉 Pro Tip: Wrapping makes the necklace bulkier, but it turns every inch into usable gear. Even a foot of necklace cord can hide yards of fishing line or tinder.

🎣 Why Wear a Fishing Necklace?

• Always With You – Unlike tins or pouches, you won’t forget it.

• Hands-Free Carry – No extra pocket space required.

• Discreet – Looks like a necklace, but functions as a fishing survival kit.

For preppers, campers, and adventurers, a fishing necklace is the ultimate backup food source.

⚡ Core Elements of a Fishing Necklace

Hooks: The Core of the Necklace Kit

No fishing setup works without hooks, and a necklace kit has to keep them small, flat, and safe to carry. Hooks are hard to improvise well, so having reliable ones built in makes all the difference.

• Recommended Gear: Grim’s Fishing Dog Tag Tool with multiple reusable hooks cut into a flat tag.

• DIY Options: Safety pins bent into hook shapes.

• Natural Options: Thorns or sharpened bone hooks.

• Pro Tip: Carry more small hooks than large ones—tiny fish are far easier to catch consistently.

Line: Hidden but Essential

Hooks without line are useless. Since this is a necklace kit, line needs to be hidden in plain sight. Wrapping it flat or storing it in a capsule keeps the kit discreet and tangle-free.

• Recommended Gear: Fishing line wrapped flat on a Dog Tag Tool.

• DIY Options: Dental floss tied directly to the necklace cord.

• Natural Options: Plant fiber cordage from yucca, nettle, or bark strips.

• Pro Tip: Aim for at least 25 feet of strong line—enough to handline or set a simple trotline.

Adding a Neck Knife for Utility

A fishing necklace is powerful on its own, but pairing it with a neck knife makes it a complete system. You’ll need a cutting edge for bait prep, trimming line, or even cleaning fish. With a knife hanging beside your fishing dog tags, you’ve got both precision and versatility at your fingertips. When size isn't so much an issue and utility matters most, add your necklace fishing kit to a neck knife, and keep it all held together with a ranger band, or Bandit gear holder.

• Recommended Gear: A slim neck knife or compact fixed blade that can be carried safely in a sheath. You want something lightweight, secure, and with holes in the sheath to keep it securely attached (since it's around your neck)  Pair it with your necklace fishing kit for all-in-one readiness.

• DIY Options: A ranger band (cut inner tube) or Bandit to keep your gear snug, and add extra versatility. 

🧰 How to Build a Fishing Necklace

1. Start with the Base – Paracord necklace or chain.

2. Add Dog Tag Tools – Fishing hooks, lure tools, or line cards.

3. Include Capsules – Carry weights, bait, or extra line.

4. Balance Function & Comfort – Keep the necklace lightweight enough for all-day wear.

Different Size Options for Survival Fishing Kits

Fishing kits don’t need to be big or complicated to put food on the line. You can scale them to fit your carry style, from a full pouch with everything you need down to a wallet kit that disappears in your pocket. Here are some popular sizes and why they work:

• Pouch Fishing Kit – A full-sized setup with line, hooks, sinkers, lures, and extras. Great for bugout bags, long trips, or keeping in the truck. ↗
• Altoids Tin Fishing Kit – A time-tested survival hack. Compact, sturdy, and customizable with hooks, line, swivels, and even a few small lures. ↗
  
• Small Fishing Kit – Palm-sized containers that can hold line, hooks, bobbers, and bait. Enough to get you started without weighing you down. ↗
• Micro Fishing Kit – Ultra-compact tools like Grim PAKs or micro hooks and line wrapped tight on a spool card. Disappears into a pocket until you need it. ↗
• Necklace Fishing Kit – Wearable tools like Grim Workshop’s Dog Tag Fishing Card let you carry hooks, line, and small rigs around your neck for instant access. ↗
• Keychain Fishing Kit – A tiny capsule loaded with hooks and line, or a micro hand caster clipped to your keys. Light, simple, and always with you. ↗
• Wallet Fishing Kit – Flatpack gear like Grim Survival Fishing Cards slide into your wallet. Dozens of hooks, lures, and even small saws in the space of a single credit card. ↗
  

 

Grim Tip Cards Waterproof Pocket Guides

Grim Tip Cards go hand-in-hand with fishing. Each waterproof, credit card sized guide is packed with quick, practical info on knots, rig setups, bait choices, and fishing techniques. Slip one into your wallet or kit and you’ll have the knowledge to turn line and hook into dinner. Imagine pulling out a card that not only survives the rain but also teaches you the knot you need to land a fish—it’s like having a pocket-sized fishing buddy.

🏕 Final Thoughts

A fishing necklace isn’t meant to replace a full survival fishing kit—it’s meant to ensure you’re never without the basics. With hooks, line, and weights always on your person, you’ll always have a way to catch food, even if you lose your pack.

With tools like Dog Tag Fishing Tools and paracord necklace setups, your fishing necklace can be discreet, practical, and potentially life-saving.