October 14th: Back to Baima Lake for Another Fishing Adventure
When my buddy Lao Jia and I arrived at Baima Lake, the first thing we noticed was the water level. From the shore, it looked like the lake had receded about a meter, and once we started fishing, we realized it had dropped a few centimeters vertically too. Yep, boots were a must today. I opted for my “short waders”—the ones that go up to my thigh roots with straps that hook to my belt. They’re thin and light, perfect for the weather. Lao Jia? He brought his cotton waders, which are heavy and totally out of season. Guess he stuck to his tall rubber boots instead.
Choosing Spots & Setting Up the Scene
Lao Jia picked the same spot Lao Jiang fished at the day before, while I headed west to my old haunt from two days prior. The three photos above show parts of my baiting area—behind me was a thick patch of thorny bushes so dense even a snake couldn’t slither through. The path I took to check my nests back and forth was the water in the second photo, with rotting branches lying around. I had to move slow and steady—no rushing, no panicking.
Fishing’s a mix of sport, relaxation, and fun, right? Back in ancient China, it was a fancy pastime for officials, a quirky hobby for warriors, and a refined activity for scholars. But for guys like us? We’re not any of that—just here to chill and have a good time. Why hurry? Why stress? Take it easy, stay calm, and enjoy the moment.
Baiting Strategy: Less Bait, More Nests
From experience, this stretch of the lake has a moderate number of fish—neither too many nor too few. The bites are slow, not every nest draws fish, and some even go “dead” (no bites at all). So the best move is to use less bait but set up more nests. I started with 8 nests in my old spots from two days ago, added 2 more after 10 AM, and set up 4 new ones when I moved at noon. Total? 14 nests to cycle through all day.
But let me tell you—moving and setting up new nests in the afternoon was a mistake. The water was over a meter deep, so a badminton-style bait dropper would’ve worked from the surface. But Lao Jia forgot his, so I lent him mine. That left me with a bottom-dropper, and I only used two and a half spoonfuls of bait per nest. Even if I used more, each nest would only get 1-2 fish (sometimes 5-8 if I got lucky), but dead nests were still common. Why waste bait? Less is more, folks.
The Lake’s Vibe Today vs. Two Days Ago
This morning was way quieter than two days ago. No illegal fishing boats, no clanging metal noises, and the carp weren’t jumping like crazy. The sky was blue, the water was clear—total peace and quiet.
A few magpies were chirping up a storm, flying from tree to tree. I know they’re supposed to be “lucky birds,” but their calls are so annoying! “Chatter-chatter-chatter”—three identical, monotone notes with no rhythm or melody. Same old sound, no variation. Ugh.
The forecast said a level 3 northeast wind, but since I was facing south with thick bushes behind me, the wind didn’t reach me. There were waves far out on the lake, but they didn’t bother me one bit. The sun was stronger today, pushing the high temp to 24°C, and the weather’s been stable lately. I figured the fish would start biting earlier—no need to wait 80+ minutes.
And I was right! I set up my first nests at 7:36 AM, and by 8:11 AM, the fish were biting. I fished from east to west, one nest at a time, and each took a few minutes to land a fish. But hey, patience pays off—fish can’t resist temptation forever, even if the bites are slow. I dragged, lifted, and teased those fish until they took the bait.
Morning Catch: Smaller Fish, Steady Results
Today’s fish were smaller than two days ago. I caught some big crucian carp like before, but only a few—most were 1 to 1.5 liang (about 50-75 grams). But who cares? As long as I’m catching fish, size doesn’t matter. I kept the big ones and released the small ones—taking home the joy is what counts.
None of my 10 morning nests were empty! East of the poplar tree, the 6 nests each gave 2-3 fish. West of the tree, the 4 nests had more—some 3, some 4, and the westernmost one had 6! But those west nests had smaller fish—only one was 2 liang (100 grams), the rest were small crucians.
Why the small fish? Well, I fished here two days ago, and someone fished here yesterday (I saw cigarette butts and trash). The fish population doesn’t have time to replenish, plus there’s illegal fishing. By noon, when the authorities were probably off work, 7 small boats suddenly showed up to set nets. An old couple even set theirs near my spot—they came at noon instead of morning, like this area’s a blind spot for law enforcement.
Midday: A Surprise Streak & a Visit to Lao Jia
By 10 AM, the westernmost nest (which I’d set up over 3 hours earlier) gave me a streak—6 fish in a row, all over 1 liang, with the biggest around 2 liang. When I cycled back through the nests, each gave 1-2 more fish, all over 1 liang.
By noon, it was getting hot. The sun was beating down, and even with the wind blocked, I was sweating. I took off my jacket and vest, but still perspired. Since the area had nets, and they usually bang metal to scare fish into the nets, I decided to move. I set up 3 far nests (deep water) and 1 near nest (shallow) east of my original spot, then carried all my gear over. My fish bag already felt like 4-5 kilograms.
I ate lunch on a shaded path in the reeds, then went to check on Lao Jia. Dude was killing it! His bag was full of crucian carp, all over 1.5 liang. He’d added more nests to Lao Jiang’s old spot, and every nest was giving fish. His catch was about the same as mine (4-5 kg), but his fish were way bigger.
Lao Jia was sitting on a stool under a big willow. He quit smoking, so he just sat there with his hands folded over his knees, staring at the lake. He’d already eaten and was resting. When I arrived, he gave me his stool and sat on the tree root. We chatted about—what else? Fishing.
The old couple with the nets had drifted into the water hyacinth to rest and wait for fish to get caught. Their boat was parked right on one of Lao Jia’s nests, but he didn’t stop them. “Let ’em be,” he said. “They’re old, sneaking around like this to catch fish can’t be easy.”
Afternoon: A Slow Move & Final Catch
I got back to my new spot at 1:30 PM. After over an hour, the 4 new nests had no bites. To kill time, I checked my morning nests again to “pick up leftovers”—only caught one tiny fish. When I returned, the near shallow nest (1+ meter deep, surrounded by round-leaf grass) had bites! I caught 4 crucians there.
Lao Jia asked when I’d pack up. I said 3:30 PM—I was driving, and if I got home late, I’d lose my parking spot. Fixed spots are impossible to get, so I have to “guerrilla park.”
The 3 far deep nests? Two had no bites, one had a single bite—and it was the biggest crucian of the day, around 4-5 liang (200-250 grams). But when I lifted the rod, the section retracted and the fish got away. Standing in water, if it falls, it’s gone—if I’d been on land, I’d have kept it. Oh well, luck wasn’t on my side there.
My last fish was from the shallow near nest. Even though there were still bites, I packed up.
The second-to-last photo? That’s the only type of fish I caught today—all crucian carp.
Final Thoughts: A Good Day, Even with a Mistake
The afternoon catch was less than a kilogram—half the nests were dead. Moving and setting up new nests was definitely a mistake; I should’ve stayed and added bait to my old nests. But hey, you live and learn.
Lao Jia ended up with 6 kilograms, and I had the same. We packed up, took our trash with us, and headed out. Yeah, the move was a misstep, but overall? It was a great day—quiet, sunny, and we caught enough fish to feel satisfied. Fishing’s not just about the catch, after all—it’s about the time you spend outside, the chats with friends, and the little moments that make the day worth it.
