Post-Recovery Fishing Comeback: Why I Chose Weihe River in Xinxiang
Let’s be real—after recovering from that nasty bug (you know the one), I hadn’t had a proper fishing trip in ages. Living in Xinxiang, winter fishing options are slim pickings. The only feasible spots are Weihe River and Gongqu Canal, but Gongqu’s a pain to get to—it’s way too far from my place. Weihe? Just a 5-minute electric bike ride. No brainer, right? Weihe it was.
Now, Weihe got a big dredging job last summer, which changed the water flow a lot, especially upstream of the rubber dam near Muye Lake. The current there is weird—one minute it’s flowing left, the next right, then it just stops. The whole Muye Lake area does this! If any fishing gurus out there know why, hit me up in the comments. Downstream of the rubber dam, though? The current’s steady—no back-and-forth nonsense. That’s where the fish love to hang out, since they swim upstream against the current and gather below the dam.
Upstream near the dam, the backflow isn’t too bad, but go further up and that current swing gets crazy. Downstream? The current’s super fast, but it’s a fish magnet—they pile up here because it’s easier to stay put against the flow.
My Go-To Setup for Fast Current Fishing
Most anglers fish on the platform above the dam—they break out long rods (7.2m or longer), heavy lead to keep bait on the bottom, and seven-star floats. Not my vibe, though. I prefer the area below the platform—grab a folding chair, set up a rod holder (cranked high, obviously), and use the tight rod tip technique. Here’s my exact gear:
- Rod: 4.8m spinning rod (perfect length for the spot)
- Main line: 0.8mm (strong enough for the current, not too heavy)
- Leader line: 0.4mm (light enough to not scare small fish)
- Hook: Size 2 sleeve hook (tiny, ideal for red worms)
- Bait: Live red worms (fish go crazy for these in winter)
The Fishing Session: Double Takes and Small Milk Crucian Carp Galore
First cast in, and bam—double take! Two small milk crucian carp on the hook at once. That’s a sign of good luck, right? I knew the trip was gonna be fun.
Throughout the day, I kept getting double takes here and there. All the fish were small milk crucian carp—no big ones, but hey, in winter, any bite is a win. Who needs a trophy fish when you’re having this much fun? The tight rod tip technique worked like a charm—every little twitch meant a bite, and I didn’t miss many.
Practice Catch and Release: Let the Fish Grow
When I was done, I released all the fish back into Weihe. They’re too small to keep—let ’em grow bigger so we can catch ’em again later. Catch and release isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for future fishing trips too. Win-win!
Final Thoughts: Winter Fishing Joy in Xinxiang
It’s been ages since I posted a fishing story, so this one’s long overdue. Just wanted to let you know I’m still out there, chasing those winter bites. To all my fellow anglers in Xinxiang—stay warm, keep casting, and may your rods be bent with big crucian carp soon. And if you’re ever at Weihe’s rubber dam, swing by the platform below—I’ll be the guy with the 4.8m rod and a big smile. Tight lines, everyone!
