3 Days of Fishing During My 7-Day National Day Holiday: A Brutally Honest (and Slightly Frustrating) Diary

Let’s cut to the chase: I had a 7-day National Day holiday, and 3 of those days were dedicated to fishing. Why? Because the pandemic put the kibosh on my plans to visit family in Chongqing. No road trips, no family dinners—just me, my fishing rod, and a whole lot of patience (or lack thereof). I’ll be real: I didn’t catch a ton, but man, did I have stories. Let’s dive in—no fancy jargon, just the unfiltered truth about my two fishing trips (yes, I’m lumping 3 days into two main outings because, let’s be honest, the second day was a “revenge” trip after the first one flopped).

Day 1: The “Let’s Just See What Happens” Trip (Spoiler: It Was a Struggle)

First things first: same old bay, same old spots, same old trick—wine rice for bait, earthworms for the hook. I’m not one to mess with a setup that’s worked before… until it doesn’t, apparently. The sky was gray, threatening rain, and the temperature had dropped a few degrees from the day before. Already, I could feel the fish being less than thrilled to bite.

The Early Win (and the Quick Loss)

First cast, and boom—bluegill! Okay, not the biggest catch, but it’s a start. The bite was fast, which got my hopes up. Then… disaster. A black float (that’s a big bite, for non-fishermen) turned into a snag. 0.6 line? Total garbage. It snapped after a few tugs, and I was left retying hooks, adding weight, and re-adjusting my float. Fun times, right? I was already muttering to myself by this point.

Temperature Killed the Vibe (Literally)

That temperature drop? It hit the fish hard. I hopped between my three spots, teasing the water with my bait, and nothing. Nada. Zilch. I thought I’d be going home empty-handed until—finally—a real bite. A tiny, pretty crucian carp (that’s a type of freshwater fish, for those curious) took the bait. Relief washed over me… until I realized that was the only real action for an hour.

Construction Chaos and the Midday Save

Oh, and let’s not forget the construction across the bay—bulldozers, rolling rocks, the works. It’s like they wanted to ruin my day. The noise was brutal, and I swear the fish were hiding just to avoid it. But hey, when the workers took their lunch break? Magic happened. A small flurry of bites—little crucian carp, darting in and out. I even got one to jump out of the water (fisherman’s flex, am I right?).

Those crucian carp were actually pretty—silver, sleek, perfect little fighters. But by the end of the day, my line was a tangled mess. I tried to fix it, got frustrated, and just yanking it free (don’t judge—we’ve all been there). The final haul? A handful of small fish. Total bummer. I left thinking, “Tomorrow, I’m coming back to get my revenge.”

Day 2: The “Revenge Fishing” Trip (Spoiler: It Was Better… Barely)

Next day, I was back. I kept the one spot that had given me the most fish the day before, but added a few new ones. Why? Because I was wondering: were the crucian carp just gone (fished out by other anglers), or was I fishing in the wrong spots? The temperature was still cool, but I’d heard that deeper water (around 2 meters) might be better for fish trying to stay warm.

Unexpected Guests (and Unwanted Pests)

First, I saw a guy using “grain and wheat” bait for carp—totally normal for this time of year. But then I noticed someone trying to catch big fish with a net? Good luck, buddy—this weather isn’t for that. Then, in the deeper water? A “old man fish” (that’s what we call a small catfish sometimes) showed up. Wait, aren’t you supposed to be hiding in rocks when it’s cool? Rude.

Then came the pests: tiny sunfish (they’re cute, but annoying) stealing my bait, and a school of whitebait (minnows) robbing my hooks before the big fish could get to them. I spent 10 minutes just watching them dart around, stealing my worms. Ugh.

The “I’m Going Home Empty-Handed” Panic (and the Save)

By 2:30 PM, I’d caught nothing. Zilch. Nada. I was already mentally planning my “I failed” speech to my friends. Then—boom—a crucian carp! A nice, golden one, too. My heart stopped racing. Okay, now I could breathe. And guess what? When one crucian carp comes, more follow. I picked up a few more, one after another. It was like the fish finally decided to show up.

The Wild Card: A Catfish!

Then, the unthinkable: a catfish! In the wild, during this time of year? Rare. I had no idea what was on the line at first—my float just sat there, heavy. When I reeled it in? A tiny catfish, clamped onto my hook. And then, another sunfish—this one had swallowed the hook so deep, I had to do a “fish surgery” (gently, I promise) to get it out. Let’s just say that sunfish won’t be forgetting that day anytime soon.

The Final Twist: Crabs Took Over My Bait!

Oh, and my friend’s “overnight grain and wheat bait”? Total fail. When I checked the spot, it was swarming with crabs. One even came up with a corn kernel still in its claw. Classic—crabs always ruin the good bait.

By the end of the day, I had a handful of fish—nothing to brag about, but enough to not be embarrassed. I packed up, already cold from the wind, and thought: “Next time, I’m waiting until the temperature stays below 10°C. No more chasing fish in cool weather for me.”

Final Thoughts (No, Not a “Lesson Learned”—Just Real Talk)

Look, fishing isn’t always about catching a ton. Sometimes it’s about the quiet, the frustration, the little wins, and the stupid stories you’ll tell your friends later. I didn’t catch a trophy fish, but I did catch a catfish (weird), tangled my line (twice), and watched a guy swim in the cold (crazy). Was it perfect? No. Was it worth it? Yeah, kind of. I mean, what else was I gonna do during the holiday? Stare at a wall? Nah. I’ll be back—once the weather cools down, once I’ve restocked my line, once I’ve forgotten how frustrating that first day was. Until then, I’m sticking to my desk, daydreaming about the next time I can cast a line into that bay.