pacman

My book is not set in the Amazon, it’s a fictive world actually, but it’s inspired from the amazon forest. You gave me a perfect insight on how fishing goes with all the details that I wanted ; I couldn’t get a more perfect and detailed answer! Thanks very much!

As for which way I’m gonna go, I’m going to use these palm weevil larvaes. They will plant them on the thin end of a stick and suspend it on the surface. More gross, more fun for the reading.  I’m limited to the spear because this tribe has benefited from so many stolen ropes that I don’t want readers to think they have them to inifinity! And I also keep in mind the spider web & bones thing! I think I’ll put it in a later tome when developping an “intelligent” character.

This is how my scene looks like for now (translated to English just now, there might be mistakes) :

 

He also admired the beauty of the waters on which they were floating : brown, murky, and calm. It was the first time he participated at a fishing activity. A last lapping, and the boat stopped in the center of the water body.

-        We will fish here! announced Tassilo. In this river, you have to know the spots rich in fish, because the visibility is weak. This is where I always catch the most! It’s all about experience.

While Tassilo was teaching him, Balli was examinating the tools : palm weevil larvaes, a second stick – thiner –, a basket in a cylinder shape, and a spear with numerous spikes, linked to a rope.

-        What are all these things for? he asked.

-        First, we’ll use these larvaes to entice as many fish as we can. Pick them up softly, and put them at the end of this stick, he explained while designating the objets.

-        I can do it?

-        Sure.

From the tip of his fingers, Balli grabbed a maggot with aversion. It was twisting in all senses, like it would beg help to its counterparts in captivity.

-        Aïe! he screamed when he got bitten.

He threw it in the water. « Splash! » It was no longer a bait, but free food for the aquatic vertebrates.

-        Like this! shouted Tassilo while showing him.

With the goal of teaching him the right way to do it, he caught another larvae from its back, and inserted the end of the rod above its head, to then, with a quick movement, remove its “skull” guts! Dead, it was now easy easier to manipulate. Subsequently, the stick became a kebab of maggots that he suspended above the water to bait.

-        Hold it! he ordered his son. Just wait for the fish to come. It shouldn’t be too long, so observe the waters over there. As soon as you see moving, you tell!

 

[…] – (action unrelated to the fishing)

 

Balli remained unsure and scared, while Tassilo returned his attention on the water surface. He grabbed his spear again. « Splash! » Suddenly, the waters began to move.

-        Got it! he yelled, ready to harpoon it.

With a brutal, swift and accurate throw, he hit right where he wanted. The spear planted into an animated thing. The rope that connected the bark to the spear prevented the fish from escaping too far. Tassilo only had to pull on the rope, until he could get his weapon back. At its extremity, a pacu – fish with silver scales and an orange stomach – wiggled its head and fins to demonstrate agony. Formerly living in the water, it concluded its journey in the wicker basket of captured fish. 

sebastien

Unfortunately, I can't put it at night for further scene reasons. As for bread, that's an interesting alternative I didn't think about! Or even another insect that floats. The thing is it's being a primitive tribe, so I'm limited in their tools and bait.  

As for the spear, I based myself on this video :

at 2:55