Big Fish King | Fishy Version VS Air Force Base: My Rainy Holiday Fishing Adventure

Ugh, the National Day holiday is over—let’s not pretend that’s not a brutal truth, okay? Overall, it felt like 5 out of 7 days were just… rain, rain, RAIN. The weather totally crapped out on me, which was super frustrating. But hey, thank goodness for Fishing Home to keep me from losing my mind during those boring rainy days! I woke up, clocked in (yes, even on pseudo-vacation), checked the weather, and—wait a second—it actually looked good! Last night, I’d “studied the stars” (aka checked every weather app 10 times) and decided today was the day to hit Jianguang Reservoir. No time like the present, right? Let’s go!

The Road to (Maybe) Fish: Early Mornings and Foggy Skies

First things first: I had to feed the kiddo and get him all set for the day. Then, mandatory COVID test—queue, wait, swab, done. All prep checked off the list. Hopped on my four-wheeled “beast” (okay, it’s just a beat-up old car, but it’s mine) and headed south. The streetlights were still glowing when I left—too early for most people, but perfect for a fisherman. The distant high-rises were half-hidden in smog, which actually looked kind of cool? When you’re hyped to fish, everything seems better, am I right?

Welcome to My “Air Force Base”: Jianguang Reservoir’s Reputation

Rolled up to Jianguang Reservoir—my “Air Force Base” (because let’s be real, half the time I catch nothing but air). Only one other car was there, so probably not many anglers around. This place has gotten worse and worse for fishing lately—loads of tiny fish, so most people don’t bother coming anymore. Fine by me! Less crowd means more peace and quiet. I rummaged through the trunk, grabbed my gear, and hauled it down the hill to the water’s edge. Oh, and heads up: all the rain had washed out a big chunk of the dirt road. Now there are huge potholes on both sides—super dangerous. If you’re fishing anywhere, always watch your step!

Setting Up Shop: Bait, Depth, and Windy Woes

Got to the water and saw a handful of other anglers scattered around. Haven’t been here in a while, so I asked one guy how deep the water was. “Inside’s shallower than outside,” he said. Cool, I’ll set up outside then—at least there’s a meter of depth here. Found a spot where the current looked a little slower, plopped down my chair, and got to work on the bait. Big Fish King (Fishy Version)—my current obsession—single-handedly opened the package! There was a breeze with some waves, so it was a little chilly, but my heart was racing to catch something. Let’s do this!

Float Trouble: Waves, Current, and Sneaky Shrimp

Waves make it hard to read the float, so I cranked up the float height a bit. Snip-snip with the scissors… oops, ended up with 6 eyes (float markers). Eh, that’ll do. Cast out and—yikes—this spot is tricky. There’s a slight current, the float drifts (drifts! So annoying), and the waves are messing with the reading. But hey, no pain no gain, right? Old rule: tiny whitebait always show up first. These little guys don’t even deserve a spot in my net—just toss ’em in a bucket to play while I wait for the “big boys.”

The First Bite: A Surprise Board Carp (Finally!)

Just as I was muttering about the float, it took a strong downward dip—snapped the rod back! Whoa, that had some weight to it. A few tugs later, and I reeled in a board carp! Are you kidding me? This guy’s a VIP in these waters—look at that shiny, healthy scales! Total mood booster. Let’s go, let’s keep this streak going! I cast and reeled, cast and reeled—suddenly the spot was buzzing with action. This time of day is prime feeding time, so I better hurry before the midday lull hits.

Big Fish King Wins Round 1: A Monster Silver Carp!

Ha! Another bite—this time a huge silver carp! That thing’s size was impressive—pale, shiny scales, cold to the touch, and solid muscle. The fight felt amazing! Turns out the Big Fish King bait is no joke. In this “Air Force Base,” it actually got these big guys to bite—definitely a win. And get this: I used it straight out of the package—no extra rice wine or anything. That’s some serious performance. Today, Big Fish King (Fishy Version) VS Air Force Base—Big Fish King crushed it!

Small Fish Takeover: Shrimp, Minnows, and Endless Drifting

Then the tiny guys showed up—all of them. The float action was… well, let’s just say it’s hard to describe. As soon as the bait hit the water, the float started drifting—all the way from 6 eyes to nothing. The current’s part of it, but I know the shrimp are back there too. Every time I’m here, I catch shrimp—they’re like the uninvited guests who won’t leave. Even a big corn kernel gets pushed a meter away by them. Come on out, little guys—let’s see you!

Lunchtime Retreat: Fish Count, Trash Pickup, and Catch-and-Release

Kept casting until lunchtime. Most of the catch was tiny—whitebait, silver carp fingerlings, the usual. Other anglers kept asking, “Did you get any carp?” So you know carp are rare here. Catching a decent-sized one is a win. Let’s check the haul: probably a pound or so, 50-something fish—mostly tiny. I just bought a scale yesterday, so next time I can weigh it properly.

Time to eat and head out! Before leaving, I picked up all the trash nearby—no littering, right? Good habits matter, and we all need to keep fishing spots clean. Oh, and all the fish? Released them. I was in a hurry and flipped the bucket into the water—forgot to take a pic, oops. But trust me, I never take fish home—they just cause drama (wife = not happy with fish guts in the fridge). Next time I’ll remember the release photo, promise!

Wrap-Up: A Half-Day Therapy Session for Dads

There you have it—my first post-holiday day was all about fishing. Only half a day, but totally worth it. Any dad with a kid knows holidays are way more tiring than work, right? This was my little “me time” to reset. As the weather gets colder, the fishing here will get worse. When the hand rod isn’t cutting it anymore, I’ll bring out the sliding float rod for some fun. I’ll post a full step-by-step guide then—follow me so you don’t miss it! It’s freezing by the water, so I’m outta here. Catch you later!