March 17 Fishing Trip: Why Did the Fish Disappear in the Small Park?
March 17, light rain, 3-level northeast wind, temperature 5-9°C—super small temperature difference! Theoretically, this should be a rare good day for fishing, right? Even though the fishing index app said it wasn’t high, I just had to test it out myself. After all, what’s a fishing fanatic to do when the weather looks “perfect” on paper?
Back to My Old Fishing Spot in the Small Park
I drove to the small park before lunch to prepare the bait and set up the nests first, planning to come back around 4 PM to fish. As soon as I walked into the park, the post-rain scenery hit me—greener plants, fresher air, like a natural oxygen bar! I took a deep breath and felt instantly refreshed; even if I didn’t catch anything later, the environment alone was worth the trip.
Bait Prep: Store-Bought Lure + Homemade Wine Rice
Today’s nest bait was a mix of a commercial lure I bought from the Fishing Man platform and my own homemade wine rice—equal parts powder lure and wine rice, plus some water mixed well. When I squeezed it in my hand, it should be like a “loose cannon” (easy to disperse in water to attract fish). I’ve used this combo before, and it usually works okay, so I stuck with it.
Nest Spot Selection: Reed Edges, Deep & Shallow
I chose my old nest spots—all near the reeds, but with different depths: the deepest was about 1.5 meters, the shallowest around 80-90 cm. Since I had to wait over 4 hours between setting up the nests and fishing, I was worried too little bait would let the fish slip away. So I used more bait than usual—half a badminton shuttlecock cup full for each nest! That should keep the fish around, right? Or so I thought.
Cleaning Up: No Litter Left Behind!
I set up four nests total, then spent a few minutes picking up the trash around the fishing spots. Let’s be real—fishing is fun, but leaving trash is just rude. A clean spot makes me feel better when I fish later, and it’s good for the environment too. Win-win!
Afternoon Fishing: Waiting, Waiting… and More Waiting
After setting up everything, I went home for lunch and then to work. I even asked my boss for an hour off to leave early, so I got back to the park around 4:15 PM. Grabbed my fishing rod, set up the line, hooked a worm, and started with the first nest.
The afternoon was super calm—no wind at all, the water surface was like a mirror, so I could see the float clearly. But… no bites. Switched to the second nest—still nothing. Third, fourth—nada. Was I gonna go home empty-handed again? I refused to give up, so I started lifting and teasing the bait around the nests (a trick to attract curious fish). Suddenly, the float popped up! A bite! I lifted the rod quickly—yes! A small crucian carp flew onto the bank. Finally, not a total loss!
Another Catch: A Nice Big Crucian Carp!
Changed the worm and tried again, this time teasing around another nest for a while. Then—another float movement! It slowly rose up, so I lifted the rod fast. Wow, this one was bigger—definitely a “small board crucian” (a slightly larger crucian carp). Its scales were shiny and perfect, so pretty!
Wrap-Up: Why Was the Fish Activity So Slow?
By 5 PM, I had to go to the supermarket to buy veggies for dinner, so I packed up. Two fish—better than nothing, but way less than usual. Let me think about why:
- First, the nests were set up too early! 4 hours is way too long—maybe the fish ate all the bait and left before I got there. Next time, I’ll set up the nests only 1-2 hours before fishing.
- Second, the cold rain and temperature drop matter! A few days ago, the fish were in shallow water (only 50-60 cm), but today they were in deeper spots (1.5 meters). The sudden cold must have made them move to warmer deep water. So if you’re fishing these days, go for deeper spots—don’t waste time on shallow ones!
Post-Fishing: Grocery Run & Dinner Plans
After packing up, I headed to the Datonghua Supermarket. Bought some water spinach, eggs, and a pig’s trotter soup base—gonna make a nice warm dinner to recover from the cold afternoon. By the time I got home and cooked, it was already 7 PM. Tired but happy, even with just two fish.
A Quick Tip for Fellow Anglers
If you’re fishing in early spring, especially after cold rain or a temperature drop, remember: fish love deep water now! Don’t stick to the shallow spots you used last week—they’ve probably moved down. Also, don’t set up nests too early; keep the bait fresh for when you’re actually fishing. Hope this helps someone catch more fish next time! See you on the next trip.
