Morning Fishing Vibes: Sun, Small Carp, and a Lot of Lessons
Hey fellow anglers! I’m Dongzi, and let me tell you, coming out of my “winter hibernation” to hit the fishing spots early has been a struggle. I’m still not used to dragging myself out of bed before the sun’s fully up, and after a few days of fishing, I’m beat—like, textbook “three days fishing, two days drying nets” level beat. I’ve been trying to shake things up with new fishing methods too, like using lures for platform fishing or wild garlic-based bait recipes. Spoiler alert: after watching endless YouTube tutorials and testing them out? Total flop. Nada, zilch, not even a nibble. My hyped-up excitement crashed faster than a badly cast line. So now I’m back to the basics: good old earthworms and commercial bait. Safe? Yeah. Boring? Maybe. But at least I know I’ll get some bites!
Prepping for the Day (And Running Late, As Usual)
I rolled up to the fishing spot, and guess what? Everyone was already set up and ready to go. Of course I was late—by the time I got there, the sun was high in the sky, and I was already sweating through my thick jacket (which I definitely should’ve left in the car). No time to waste, though: I grabbed my gear, extended my rod, adjusted my float, and mixed my bait, all in one smooth (okay, slightly rushed) motion.
I’ve been using a new line set from a fishing platform lately, and let me sing its praises. It’s so comfortable to use—great water cutting, super low visibility underwater, and it just feels reliable. I haven’t switched to anything else since I started using it; it’s become my go-to. For my rod, I went with my trusty 4.5-meter Shenji rod. To set up my nest, I mixed red worm pellets and rice wine-soaked rice. Since it was windy, precise casting was out of the question, so scattering the mix as a loose feed made more sense than trying to hit a tiny target spot.
My bait combo was Big Fish King’s fishy-smell bait plus some homemade meat meal pellets. The goal? Slow, steady misting in the water to keep the fish hanging around longer. Oh, and pro tip: I covered the bait with a damp cloth to keep it from drying out under the sun. Small move, but it keeps the bait in good shape way longer, so I don’t have to re-mix every 20 minutes. With everything sorted, I was finally ready to cast!
The Fishing Frenzy (And the Annoying Grass)
First cast? Straight into the grass. Ugh. The waterweed coverage has gotten way thicker lately—just a few days ago, I barely snagged anything, but today it was like the grass was actively trying to steal my hook. I just laughed it off and dropped the tangled grass into my net, making a mental note to count how much I’d haul in by the end of the day.
After the grass incident, my float started bobbing up and down, with some small, sharp tugs. Normally, crucian carp don’t bite like that, but I knew something was on the line. I lifted my rod, and… it was a goby! Cute little guy, but not what I was after. Still, it was a bite, so I’ll take it.
Then came the tiny crucian carp takeover! One after another, I was reeling in little “milk crucian” carp—small, feisty, and biting nonstop. It was fun at first, hooking one every minute or so, but I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. Where were the big boys? Just when I was starting to mope and think I’d go home with nothing but a bucket of tiny fish, my float gave a sharp, strong tug. I yanked the rod up, and yes! A nice-sized crucian carp, maybe two pounds, was on the line. That satisfying weight in my hand? Instantly perked me up. Finally, the action I was waiting for!
Not long after, I hooked another one just like it, and when I pulled it out, it looked at me like it was super mad I’d interrupted its morning snack. That look just made me grin—nothing feels better than outsmarting a fish, right? But the grass didn’t let up, and eventually, my line got wrapped around itself so many times, I could barely move the rod. No panic, though—I’ve dealt with this a hundred times. I just took off the float first, and suddenly untangling the line was way easier than trying to fight through the float’s bulk.
Wrapping Up the Day (And the Lessons I Learned)
By 10 a.m., it was getting way too hot, and most of the other anglers were packing up. The fish bites had slowed to a trickle, too—just the occasional lazy nibble. I decided to call it a day, pulled up my fish net, and let all the small carp go back into the water. Conservation first, right? Plus, leaving the little ones to grow means bigger, better catches next time. I also took a minute to pick up any trash around my spot—can’t leave the place messier than I found it.
As I was loading my gear back into the car, I started thinking about all the little things that went right (and wrong) today. I figured I’d share them with you guys, in case you run into the same issues:
- Grass-covered spots hack: When fishing in weedy areas with a platform rod, try to lower your hook straight down at a right angle. If you still snag grass, don’t yank hard—you’ll just break your line or lose your hook. Instead, adjust your angle, pull gently at first, and gradually add pressure to work the grass free.
- Tangled lines fix: If your main line gets wrapped around your rod or float, don’t try to untangle it while the float’s still on. Take the float off first, and suddenly the line will be way easier to straighten out. Trust me, this saves so much time and frustration.
- Keep bait fresh longer: On hot days, cover your bait with a damp cloth. It blocks the direct sun, so your bait stays moist and in good condition way longer. No more wasting half your bait because it dried out too fast!
- Release small fish: It’s tempting to keep every little bite, but letting small carp go helps keep the fish population healthy. Plus, your friends and family will be way more excited about a few big fish than a bucket of tiny ones anyway.
Until Next Time, Anglers!
At the end of the day, even if I didn’t haul in a trophy fish, I had fun. The sun was warm, the small carp kept me busy, and I learned a few new tricks (or remembered old ones I’d forgotten). That’s the best part of fishing, right? It’s not just about the catch—it’s about the morning air, the quiet, and the little victories along the way. I’ll be back out there soon, probably still running late, still fighting with grass, but still loving every minute of it. Let me know if you try any of these tips, and tell me about your best (or worst) morning fishing stories in the comments!
