From Coastal Fishing Plans to Urban Waterway Backup
Let me tell you about my wild fishing day—what a rollercoaster! Last night, I spent ages sweet-talking my partner into letting me drive to Diaokou for dog-tooth fish (and to test my new pole for mullet, since the weather’s cooling down fast). Her main excuse? My health—just three days out of the hospital with a sore throat. I begged: “It’s not a big deal! The drive’s only 30 minutes, I’ll come back if I’m tired!” Finally, she caved. But guess what? This morning, wind and rain hit like a punch to the gut. September’s weather really hasn’t finished messing with us, huh?
I checked the forecast—knew there’d be wind. But come on, I’m a fisherman! I’ve seen worse. So I packed my gear in the trunk last night… all for nothing. My partner’s “I told you so” look was unbearable. Plan B: hit the city’s ring waterway for traditional fishing.
Scouting the Ring Waterway: Finding a Wind-Friendly Spot
Today’s wind was west, but buildings messed with the direction downtown. When I got to the waterway, there were small waves. My usual spot? Facing north with my back to the south—holding the pole would’ve been torture, and the wind would’ve turned my line into a chaos machine, making it impossible to hit the grass holes. Nope, not doing that.
Luckily, this spot’s a backwater bay shaped like a giant “C”—three sides land, one side river. I walked north along the path and found a fishing platform facing east with my back to the west. Perfect—downwind! Plus, thick plants and nearby shops blocked some wind. This had to be the calmest spot in the whole waterway. Decision made: fish here.
Why I Ditched Old Spots for New (Risky) Ones
Old spots are popular for a reason, but they have flaws—tons of small fish and shrimp because they’re always baited. I even saw a small goby when I tested the hook there! So I decided to make two new spots. Wind made it hell, though: I’d barely poke a grass hole with my pole tip, and the wind would close it right back up.
New spots are risky, let’s be real. You don’t know what’s under the water—could be a “dead spot” with constant snags. Pro tip: Always test the hook first! It tells you so much about the bottom. I did that, and good thing—I avoided a total disaster.
The Nightmare of Fishing in Wind and Water Lilies
I baited the two spots and started fishing… and that’s when nature laughed in my face. The wind was so strong, I could barely hold the pole with both hands! My 2.8-meter main line danced like a crazy dragon. Hitting the grass hole? Needed skill and loads of patience—patience won, by the way.
Even if I got the hook in the hole, I couldn’t let go of the pole. Water lily leaves have curled edges—if the line touched them, it’d tangle in seconds. So I held the pole up, trying to keep the line off the leaves. But the wind swung the line nonstop! Gusts would yank my seven-star float onto the grass. The hole was tiny—no way to fix it. I’d have to lift the hook and try again. Over and over. I felt totally out of control, like the wind was running the show.
That One (Almost Escaped) Catch and a Fish Guard Fiasco
My confidence tanked fast. I started begging: “Just one fish! That’s all I want, then I’ll leave!” And guess what? The fishing gods (or the Dragon King) listened! I caught a fat, shiny crucian carp—beautiful, healthy. I was ready to unhook it and let it go… but it flipped hard and jumped back into the water! Rude, but I’ll take the win.
Packing up, I realized my fish guard was gone! I swear I left it on the platform when I grabbed bait. No one else was there, no animals… wind must’ve blown it into the water. I couldn’t leave it—wasteful and bad for the environment. I found a dry branch in the nearby woods and poked around the water under the platform. Most of it was water lilies, so the guard had to be in the open spots. Sure enough, I found it! Small win, but a win.
Final Thought: Lucky I Skipped the Coast
Later, I checked the weather app—seven-level winds! I’m so glad I didn’t go to the coast. That wind would’ve been way worse there. Today was messy, but hey—one catch, a funny story, and I didn’t lose my fish guard forever. Sometimes fishing’s not about the haul; it’s about surviving the chaos, right? If you’ve ever fought wind and water lilies for a single fish, drop a comment—I need to know I’m not alone!
