Beginning of Summer Feels Like Mid-Winter? My Freezing Fishing Adventure
When I picked my title for this trip, I wasn’t being dramatic—this “Beginning of Summer” day hit me with so much cold wind and drizzle, I swore I was back ice-fishing in January! Let me set the scene: I crashed at midnight half-expecting to sleep in, but my inner fishing alarm clock went off at 4:30 AM sharp. Why? Because I’d found a spot the day before that left me craving more, even if the weather was threatening to turn me into a popsicle.
I grabbed a thin tee and a fuzzy fleece jacket, hesitated for half a second about grabbing my waterproof shell, and thought, “Nah, it’s summer now, right? How cold could it be?” Spoiler: I was so, so wrong. By the end of the day, I was shivering so hard I could barely hold my rod. But hey, let’s start from the beginning—first, the drive to the spot.
The roads were dead quiet as I rolled out, my chest buzzing with excitement. The only bummer? Thick clouds blocked the sunrise over the East Coast, so everything stayed dim and gloomy. I pulled up to the spot, and let me tell you—this place deserved a proper introduction, since I totally forgot to snap a full pic the day before.
My Go-To Fishing Spot: The Old Sluice
What Makes the Old Sluice a Hidden Gem (and a Frustrating Challenge)
Local anglers know this spot well, but since it’s right next to a super old water sluice, I just call it “The Old Sluice.” I skipped taking photos here yesterday, so I made sure to capture the whole view this time—check it out below!
Let’s break down why this spot is worth braving freezing rain for, and why it can also leave you staring at an empty hook for hours:
Pros of the Old Sluice
- Huge, deep water: No tiny shallow ponds here—this river is wide and has serious depth, so bigger fish love hiding out here.
- Clean, easy access: The bank is concrete, and the slope down to the water is covered in soft grass. No muddy boots or tripping over roots here—total win for staying (somewhat) clean.
- Insane fish variety: The sluice opens up to the Huangpu River just a few hundred meters away, so you never know what’s going to swim into your line. I’ve seen everything from carp to catfish to random weirdos I can’t even name.
Cons of the Old Sluice
- Constant sluice openings: The operators open that sluice all the time, and when they do? The current gets so strong it’s like a river-sized washing machine. Any fish you were targeting gets swept away, and new fish move in—so you’re basically starting from zero every time the gate creaks open.
- No overnight nests allowed: Since I can only fish here for a few hours at a time, I can’t set up an overnight nest to gather fish. Sometimes that means I end up with almost nothing, even after waiting for hours. Bummer, right?
I came here a bunch last year, and it was either nothing but crabs stealing my bait or total “air force” (aka zero fish caught). But this trip? I finally figured out a trick to get bites—more on that later!
My Fishing Setup for the Chilly Day
Based on my luck (or lack thereof) the day before, I stuck with a setup that’s worked for me in deep, fast-moving water:
- Rod: Zhulu Leisure 4.5m (perfect for casting far without getting tired)
- Line combo: 1.0 main line + 0.8 leader line—strong enough for big fish, but thin enough not to scare skittish ones
- Float: Yiwei carbon float, 1.95g weight (great for detecting tiny bites even in choppy water)
- Hook: Size 4 sleeve hook—small enough for baitfish, but sturdy enough for bigger catches
- Water depth: I was fishing in about 3 meters of water, which is deep enough to reach the big guys hiding at the bottom
I started off by tossing a handful of rice wine-soaked rice to make a nest, then began casting repeatedly to draw fish in. While I waited, I set up my fish net, already daydreaming about a huge haul. But then… nothing. I cast over and over, and that float didn’t move an inch.
An hour went by, and I was starting to think I’d be going home empty-handed again. Then, out of nowhere, the float dipped down two inches. I rolled my eyes, thinking it was just another crab stealing my bait—so I lifted the rod without even paying attention. But wait—there was weight on the line! A real fish! I pulled it up, and it was a solid-sized crucian carp—way bigger than the tiny baby ones I’ve been catching in small rivers all spring. I almost screamed from excitement!
Freezing My Butt Off (and a Failed Lure Experiment)
Four hours later, I’d caught four fish total—three small ones and that big carp. Not a mind-blowing haul, but way better than nothing. The problem? The weather was getting worse by the minute. The rain kept switching from drizzle to downpour, and the wind wouldn’t quit—one minute it was a bitter north wind, the next it was a sharp west wind. My shoes were soaked through, my pants were dripping, and my fleece jacket was so damp it might as well have been a sponge. My hands and feet were ice cold, and I kept shivering so hard I could barely focus on the float.
It was exactly like fishing in December. I tried to stay focused, but every time a gust of wind hit me, I’d zone out and start thinking about how warm my couch was. Finally, I stood up to walk around—anything to get my blood flowing again. That’s when I saw it: tons of topmouth culters chasing small fish on the surface, making those little splashes (you know, the ones that make every angler’s eyes light up).
I had my lure rod in the car, so I ran to grab it. I figured if I couldn’t catch anything with regular bait, maybe I could land a culter with a lure. I used a 7g lead head hook with a soft plastic bait, and every time I saw a splash, I’d run over and cast. You know what? Moving around and casting the lure actually kept me warm—no more shivering! But… I didn’t catch a single thing. Yeah, my lure skills are basically at a toddler level, so I didn’t feel too bad about it. I just went back to my original spot, freezing but determined to wait out another bite.
A Post-Fishing Surprise (and a Float Mystery)
By the time I dragged myself home, I was soaked, cold, and slightly proud of my four fish. Then, I walked in the door and saw a package waiting for me—my April prize from the fishing platform! It’s a Yiwei nano float, model N-10, and it’s huge—63cm long! I guess it’s supposed to hold about 6g of weight, but I can’t find any official specs online. If any of you out there know the exact weight capacity of this float, please leave a comment and let me know!
I’m planning to use it for topwater fishing for topmouth culters on May 9th—wish me luck! I’m going to “bless” it (fisherman’s luck, you know?) and hope it helps me land a big one.
Final Thoughts (and a Lesson Learned)
Even though I spent most of the day freezing my toes off, I’m actually happy with how this trip went. Four fish might not sound like much, but knowing there are big fish in the Old Sluice makes it worth coming back. Maybe the cold weather slowed the bites down, or maybe my skills still need work—but either way, I know the spot has potential. I’ll be back, that’s for sure.
One major lesson I learned? Never skip grabbing an extra layer, even if you think it’s “summer.” I was so stupid to leave my waterproof jacket at home—next time, I’m packing a whole bag of warm clothes, even if the forecast says it’s 20 degrees. Trust me, sitting in freezing rain for four hours is not fun.
If you’re in the area and looking for a new spot, give the Old Sluice a try—just be prepared for the sluice to open and mess up your whole day. And if you’ve ever had a fishing trip where the weather was way worse than expected? Drop a comment and tell me your horror story—I need to know I’m not alone!
