Introduction: The Morning Plan to Redeem My Previous Empty-handed Trip
It was a regular workday morning—I wrapped up a few tasks at the office, and as lunchtime approached, I realized I had no plans for the afternoon. Suddenly, a thought popped into my head: why not head back to that river where I’d gotten skunked last time? I was determined to turn the tables this time—no more empty buckets! So, I decided to sneak in a quick pre-fishing prep: hitting the spot with some bait before lunch. After all, if I was hungry for lunch, the fish must be out looking for food too, right? Okay, okay, that’s just my random guess—don’t take it as fishing gospel, fellow anglers!
Step 1: Pre-Fishing Baiting – Did I Do It Right?
Choosing the Bait and Baiting Method
I grabbed a bag of Dayu Wang’s rice wine bait from my trunk—this stuff’s supposed to be good for luring crucian carp, which was my target for the day. I scooped half a cup into my large bait dropper; since the dropper was big, half a cup felt like enough. No need to overdo it, right? Or maybe I should’ve used more? Who knows—trial and error is part of fishing, I guess.
Why I Used a Bait Dropper Instead of Hand-Throwing
I used my 7.2-meter rod to lower the bait dropper into the water, and I didn’t cast it too far. Later, I planned to use a 4.5-meter rod for fishing, so placing the bait close made sense. Here’s my logic: using a bait dropper lets you target the exact spot, so the fish can gather in one place instead of scattering. That should boost the bite rate, right? Wait, is that actually true? I’m not a pro—this is just my personal take. If any experienced anglers are reading this, feel free to correct me!
Step 2: Rushing Home for Lunch and Waiting for the Bait to “Activate”
After baiting up, I hopped in my car and zoomed home for lunch. I planned to be back around 1 PM to start fishing—would the bait have lured the fish by then? I crossed my fingers and tried not to overthink it. Sometimes you just have to show up and see what happens.
Step 3: Afternoon Fishing Setup – All Ready to Go!
I ate lunch like a man on a mission—shoveled a few bites, grabbed my gear, and raced back to the spot. When I got there, I mixed my bait (a combo of all-purpose bait, Wuliangyou, and a pinch of that same rice wine bait) and got my rod ready. Everything was set—I was pumped to cast that first line!
My Fishing Gear for the Day
Let me break down my setup for anyone curious:
- Rod: 4.5-meter lightweight rod (perfect for crucian carp)
- Line set: 1.5 main line + 1.0 leader line (not too heavy, not too light)
- Float: 2.1g weight (good for stable reading in calm water)
- Hook: Size 5 Jinxiu hook (small enough for crucian carp mouths)
And check out my bait—when I pulled it onto the hook, it looked perfect! Fluffy, just the right size… I thought, “Today’s gonna be a good day!” Boy, was I wrong.
Step 4: The Frustrating Wait – No Bites, Not Even a Tug!
First Hour: Nothing But Still Water
I started casting at a steady pace—one cast every few minutes, keeping the rhythm going to attract fish. But after an hour? Nada. Not a single ripple, not a flicker of the float, not even a tiny fish jumping. What was going on? Did the bait not work? Was the spot bad? I stared at the water, confused and a little annoyed.
Second Hour: Sun, Sweat, and Still No Bites
Time dragged on. The sun beat down, so bright that it sometimes made it hard to see the float. It felt like summer again—hot, sticky, and relentless. But I kept casting, stubborn as ever. “Any second now,” I told myself. “Just one bite—even a top float would be better than nothing!” But two hours passed… still nothing. I was starting to feel silly sitting there.
I’m Not Alone: My Neighbors Are Also Skunked
Then I noticed two guys fishing to my left. I called over, “Hey, when did you get here?” Turns out they’d arrived earlier than me—and they hadn’t gotten a single bite either! That made me feel a little less alone, but also more confused. Was the whole river devoid of fish? Or was the weird weather (warm one minute, cool the next) making them refuse to eat?
Final Blow: Sudden Current Ruins Everything
Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, the water started flowing fast out of nowhere. My float couldn’t stay upright—it just drifted downstream. I tried adjusting it, but it was useless. The current was too strong. Then I saw my left neighbors packing up their gear, shaking their heads. I sighed—today was just not my day. I reluctantly started putting my stuff away too, already planning my next trip to get revenge.
Closing Thoughts: Even Bad Fishing Days Are Good Days
So, there you have it—another skunked trip. I went in determined to catch a bounty, but the fish totally outsmarted me. Was it the bait? The timing? The weather? I still don’t know. But here’s the thing: even when you don’t catch anything, fishing is still a way to get outside, clear your head, and escape the daily grind. Plus, it gives you stories to laugh about later (like this one!).
To all my fellow anglers out there: have you ever had a day where the fish just refuse to play? What do you do to stay positive? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your tricks (and your horror stories too!). And if you’re targeting crucian carp, what bait or setup do you swear by? Maybe I’ll try it next time and finally turn my luck around!
