DIY Pocket Fishing Kit in an Altoids Smalls Tin

A fishing rod and tackle box are nice, but you don’t always have the luxury of carrying them everywhere. That’s where a pocket fishing kit shines. Built into something as small as an Altoids Smalls tin, this kit disappears into your jeans coin pocket but still carries everything you need to handline a meal from a creek, pond, or lake.

This isn’t a replacement for a full setup, but it’s a stealthy, always-there backup that can turn an everyday walk into a fishing trip. Let’s build one step by step.

Why Carry a Pocket Fishing Kit?

Fishing is both practical and fun. Sometimes it’s about catching food, other times it’s about killing time. Either way, having a compact kit means you’re never stuck staring at a stream wishing you had brought gear.

• Food Security: Fish are packed with nutrients and protein—an essential food source in survival situations.

• Everyday Adventure: You’ll never miss an opportunity when you stumble across a promising creek or pond.

• Compact & Discreet: A tiny kit hides in your pocket but holds the tools for a serious catch.

• Hard to Replicate: Quality fishing line and hooks are tough to improvise in the wild—better to carry them.

👉 Tip: Think of this kit as a safety net. It won’t weigh you down, but when you need it, it’s priceless.

See the full gear list below

 

Step 1: Choose the Tin

Your container sets the limits of your kit. An Altoids Smalls tin is the sweet spot—slim enough for your coin pocket, but just large enough to carry the essentials.

• Recommended: Altoids Smalls tin (or similar mini mints tin).

• DIY Option: A small pillbox, metal chewing gum case, or mini waterproof container.

• Upgrade: Wrap the tin with duct tape or electrical tape—extra cordage that also waterproofs the seal.

👉 Tip: Avoid larger Altoids tins if your goal is true pocket carry. look for something around the size of an Altoids Smalls container.

Step 3: Pack Hooks

Hooks make the catch possible. Since space is limited, go small. Small fish are more common, and they’ll still feed you.

• Recommended Gear: Grim Dog Tag Fishing Hooks—flat, reusable, and perfectly sized to pair with the micro hand caster.

• Other Good Picks: Size 4, 6, and 8 Aberdeen or bait-keeper hooks.

• DIY Option: Safety pins or paper clips bent into hooks (better than nothing).

• Natural Option: Carved gorge hooks from bone or hardwood, though tricky to make in the field.

👉 Tip: Store hooks taped to a card or sealed inside a straw to keep them from poking through your tin.

Step 4: Add Fishing Line

Line is the backbone of your kit. Carry enough to cast, re-tie, and handle break-offs. Braided line is stronger for its size, while monofilament is easier to knot.

• Recommended Gear: SpiderWire Stealth-Braid (10–15 lb) or monofilament (8–12 lb).

• Compact Storage: Wrap 20–50 feet around your micro hand caster or a sewing bobbin.

• DIY Option: Dental floss or strong sewing thread for emergencies.

• Natural Option: Plant cordage (nettle or bark fibers), though not as reliable.

👉 Tip: Take up extra room in the tin with more line. You’ll never regret carrying more.

Step 5: Weights and Floats

These help control where your bait sits in the water. Without them, your hook often drifts where fish aren’t feeding.

• Recommended Gear: Small split shot sinkers and tiny clip-on bobbers (like Trout Magnet floats).

• DIY Option: Tie on a nut, washer, or pebble for weight. For floats, carve wood chips or use a cork slice.

• Natural Option: Earplugs or feathers can be lashed to line as makeshift bobbers.

👉 Tip: Keep a few sinkers and floats in a micro zip bag to stop them from rattling loose in the tin.

Step 6: Lures and Bait Substitutes

Sometimes natural bait isn’t available. Having a shiny or wiggly backup improves your odds.

• Recommended Gear: Tiny artificial lures or pieces from a Grim Lure Card (flat punch-out lures).

• DIY Option: Soda can tabs, foil strips, or paracord inner strands tied to hooks.

• Natural Option: Feathers, shells, or small carved wood plugs.

👉 Tip: You only need one or two compact lure options—natural bait will often do the rest.

Step 7: Live Bait

The most effective bait is usually the stuff wriggling around underfoot. Always plan to supplement your kit with natural finds.

• DIY Option: Dig up worms, grubs, or crickets.

• Natural Option: Small minnows scooped from shallows or crayfish tails.

• Pro Storage Trick: Carry a small straw-sealed capsule of bait attractant paste or dry bait pellets.

👉 Tip: A few minutes with a stick in the dirt is often better than any lure in your tin.

Step 8: Organize and Pack

The magic of the kit isn’t the gear—it’s the organization. Pack flat, minimize rattle, and make sure you can reach what you need quickly.

• Line and reel go in first.

• Hooks taped or sealed in straws.

• Weights and swivels in a baggie.

• Tiny lure card or foil piece for extras.

• A folded square of foil can line the bottom—useful for cooking your catch.

 

👉 Tip: Test-pack everything, shake the tin, and re-pack until it stays flat and quiet.

 

Hand line Fishing Setup

Perhaps we should do a full article about “hand line fishing” in the future…Because it is a worthwhile survival skill to learn. But in the interest of time and to keep this article from going far too long, you essentially use this Micro Fishing Reel like you would when you’re handline fishing reel. 

1. My preferred method of hand line fishing is to unspool 20+ feet of fishing line…
2. Dip it in the water to get it wet (I’ve found that it casts better this way)…
3. Twirl the line in a circular motion at your side (like a lasso). This helps build up some energy for longer casts…
4. Release/toss the line out in front of you.
5. Once you feel a fish bite, either pull backwards or up in the air to set the hook.
6. When the fish is hooked, pull the line and fish towards you. (manage your line as you're reeling it in so it doesn’t get tangled)

There’s really nothing like the feeling of fighting a fish to dry land with a hand line like this! It is a cool experience that makes you pay attention to every little twitch in the line and every turn that the fish makes as it’s coming towards you.

Bonus-Tip: If the water in front of you is not too deep…I highly recommend wading into the water to feel even more connected to this awesome style of fishing!

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.

 

Pocket Fishing Kit Gear List

 

So, you’re interested in handline fishing and building your own Pocket Fishing Kit? Below is a list of our preferred fishing gear to help you build your very own Pocket Fishing Kit!

• Micro Hand line Fishing Reel / Caster:
  The most important part of your Pocket Fishing Kit is this micro fishing reel. It is what holds your fishing line and it’s how you’ll manage everything while you’re fishing.
• Dog Tag Hooks:
  These hooks work very well with the dog tag caster mentioned above. These dog tag tools are the same size & will nest very easily together in a tin or on a dog tag fishing necklace.
• Tin to hold your kit:
  An Altoids "Smalls" tin works great for this kit.
• Fishing Line:
  SpiderWire Stealth-Braid is one of my favorites for these types of kits. Braided fishing line works great on these hand casters and the line can be used for other applications such as sewing. Monofilament fishing line works well too.
• Other items to consider:
  Basic bait-keeper and Aberdeen hooks (size 4, 6, and 8 work great for panfish). These Trout Magnet bobbers (these are my favorite bobbers since they can easily be taken on or off without cutting your line). Split Shot sinkers (these can easily be added or taken away from a fishing line to control the depth of your bait).
• Live bait:
  Dig up some worms and you’re ready to catch some fish!

Have fun with it…
Once you put your pocket fishing kit together, take it out & practice with it. Don’t just let it sit in your pocket. Some folks even like to build a couple of these kits...One to use/practice with and another to keep untouched for those "just in case" moments.

 

Buy Micro hand line fishing Caster

 

About The Author

Based in the Appalachian Mountains, Anthony is a commercial photographer and avid outdoorsman. Whether he's setting up a scene for a photograph or getting things ready to camp, Anthony feels most at home with mud on his boots and a warm campfire burning nearby. Learn more at AnthonyAwaken.com