3 Hours of Fishing Break in a Busy Day: Small Catch but Big Joy
Ever had one of those days where you’re swamped with work, but a tiny window of free time pops up? And you just can’t resist grabbing your fishing gear? That’s exactly what happened to me on March 28, 2024, in Suzhou. The sun was shining bright, temperatures ranged from 7°C to 22°C—perfect weather for a quick fishing trip. Let me tell you all about this unexpected, three-hour adventure that turned out to be way more fun than I thought it would be!
How the Fishing Trip Came Together
I started my day by knocking out all my morning tasks. After lunch, I took a short nap to recharge. Around 2:30 PM, my phone buzzed—it was a fishing buddy asking, “How’s the bite today?” Oh right! I’d mentioned in our fishing group chat the day before that I planned to fish during the day. But work had kept me busy in the morning, so I hadn’t made it out yet. Now that he’d asked, I couldn’t back out. I thought, “I have to go check the fish activity today—no excuses!”
So, I grabbed my gear and headed out. By 3 PM, I was at the Machun River fishing spot. The drive over was quick, and I was already imagining the first bite. Little did I know, the day would be full of small surprises (and a few challenges).
My Fishing Setup for the Day
Let me break down what I used today—because the right gear makes all the difference, especially when the conditions are tricky:
- Rod: 4.5m Zhulu (a reliable go-to for me)
- Line: 1.0 main line + 0.6 leader line
- Hooks: Size 5 Gold Sleeve hooks (great for small to medium fish)
- Float: 1.8g weight (needed something steady for the current)
- Bait: Tongsha Xin (all-purpose fishy scent) + Tongsha Xiang (all-purpose sweet scent) + Fishing Home shrimp powder; I also used Xibu Feng’s rice wine for bait
- Depth: 2.1m (I measured this carefully before casting)
- Float Adjustment: Set to 3, fishing at 4-6 eyes. Why so high? Because there was a noticeable current today. Adjusting the float higher helped keep it stable in the moving water.
Oh, and since there was a current, I switched from using pulled bait to rubbed bait. Rubbed bait is heavier, so it stays in place better—perfect for fighting the flow. Even though it means I can’t cast as quickly as with pulled bait, it’s worth it to keep the bait where the fish are.
The Fishing Action (or Lack Thereof… at First)
I cast my line and waited. For the first 10 minutes, nothing. Then, around 10 minutes in, my float suddenly moved—an interface bite! I knew right away it was a white fish (bai tiao). Sure enough, I reeled in a nice, plump one. That was my first catch of the day, and it felt great.
But then… nothing. I waited another 30 minutes, and the next bite was another white fish. Where were the crucian carp I was hoping for? I started to wonder if the current was washing my bait away too quickly. The water was moving faster than I expected, so my rubbed bait was helping, but maybe not enough. I decided to be patient—fishing is all about waiting, right?
By 5 PM, I’d only caught a few small fish, including a tiny wheat ear fish. I was starting to think the day would be a bust. But just when I was about to give up, my float did something different: it gently bobbed up. I grabbed my rod and reeled in… a crucian carp! It was small—about the size of a bream—but it was my target fish. I was so excited, I almost dropped it!
The Late Afternoon Surprise
As the clock hit 5:30 PM, I realized it was probably the start of the evening feeding window. I kept casting, waiting 2+ minutes each time. Then, my float suddenly dropped two eyes! I reacted quickly, lifting the rod to set the hook. This time, I felt a solid pull. I reeled in slowly, and there it was—a decent-sized crucian carp! It wasn’t huge, but it was exactly what I’d been waiting for. The struggle to get it in was worth every second.
By 6 PM, I’d been fishing for three hours. My arms were a little tired, but I was still having fun. Just as I was packing up, my float moved again—up, then down a little more than an eye. I thought, “Could this be another crucian carp?” I cast my line, and sure enough, I reeled in a beautiful, golden crucian carp. What a perfect way to end the day!
Final Thoughts on the Day
So, how many fish did I catch? Let’s count: a few white fish, a wheat ear, and three crucian carp (one small, one decent, one golden beauty). It’s not a huge haul, but honestly, the number doesn’t matter. What matters is the time I spent outdoors, the fresh air, and the thrill of each bite.
Even though the current made things tough, and I had to wait longer than usual, the day was a success. Sometimes, fishing isn’t about catching a ton of fish—it’s about enjoying the moment. I left the river with a smile on my face, already looking forward to my next trip. Who knows? Maybe next time, I’ll hit the jackpot. But for today, this small catch was more than enough.
If you ever get a chance to sneak in a few hours of fishing in a busy day, take it. You won’t regret the peace and quiet, and you might even come home with a story (and a few fish) to tell.
