When Dad Says He Wants Pickled Fish, You Drop Everything (and Grab a Fishing Rod)
It was the second day of the 2024 May Day holiday, and I was still half-asleep on the couch, enjoying the rare chance to laze around. Then my dad burst in, holding a crinkly bag of sour cabbage he’d picked up at the local morning market. “I want pickled fish for lunch,” he said, like it was the most obvious request in the world. “Go catch a grass carp from our family pond. It’ll be easy, right?”
Easy? Sure, on paper. Our family’s pond is stocked with grass carp, so how hard could it be to hook one? I dragged myself off the couch, grabbed my fishing gear, and headed out. Little did I know, this quick “easy” errand would turn into a two-hour battle of wills with a very stubborn fish.
My Setup: The Good, the Bad, and the DIY Hack That Saved the Day
First, the Fishing Basics (No Cutting Corners Here!)
Before I even stepped near the water, I made sure I had all the right gear lined up. Here’s exactly what I used that day, down to the smallest detail:
- Time: 9 AM to 11 AM, April 30, 2024
- Fishing Spot: Lao Wei Fishing Pond (our family’s go-to, but don’t let the “family pond” label fool you—it’s full of tricky fish)
- Weather: Bright, sunny (which I thought was a win… turns out, not so much)
- Temperature: 51.8°F to 73.4°F (11°C to 23°C) – big temperature swing, which I later learned messed with the fish’s mood
- Fishing Method: 5.4m Taiwan-style fishing rod (my go-to for pond fishing)
- Line Setup: 1.5 main line, 0.8 leader line, size 4 gold sleeve hook (strong enough for big fish, but sensitive enough to feel bites)
- Bait: Lao Gui “One Bait, One Basket of Fish” (a classic budget bait that never lets me down… most days)
My Wild DIY Fishing Seat Hack (Don’t Judge Me)
Now, let’s talk about my biggest win of the day: the DIY fishing seat. I’ve always used a clunky fishing chair that takes forever to set up and pack away. My coworker swears by his fancy fishing toolbox seat that lets him pack up in 5 minutes flat, but I’m not dropping cash on a new seat just for one trip.
Then I remembered: I had a random car washer sitting in my garage, collecting dust. It had a sturdy frame and a flat top—why not turn it into a seat? I hopped on Pinduoduo and ordered a 3-piece adapter kit, crossed my fingers, and assembled it when it arrived. And guess what? It fit perfectly! It’s not the prettiest setup, but it works, and that’s all that matters when you’re trying to catch fish for your dad’s lunch.
The Fishing Battle: Waiting, Waiting, and Then… Chaos
Big Balls of Bait = My Secret Weapon (Sort Of)
Since I was targeting big grass carp, I skipped the tiny, delicate bait balls I usually use. Instead, I rolled huge clumps of bait onto my hook. Why? Two reasons:
First, big bait lets big fish know there’s a substantial meal waiting—smaller fish like minnows can’t drag it away in one bite. Second, it’s way easier to cast in windy conditions. Let me tell you, that wind was blowing like crazy that morning, and those big bait balls flew straight to my target spot without tangling. Win-win, right?
The Long, Torturous Wait (I Almost Gave Up)
Here’s the thing about spring fishing: even if you have a stocked pond, big temperature swings throw everything off. The sun was out, but the water was still chilly from the night before, and the fish were nowhere to be found. For the first hour, all I caught were tiny minnows—annoying little guys that kept stealing my bait before the big fish could even smell it.
I checked my watch: it was already 10 AM. If I didn’t catch a grass carp soon, we’d never have time to clean it, cook it, and make dad’s pickled fish for lunch. I started packing up my gear, grumbling to myself about wasted time and ungrateful fish. I was 2 minutes from walking away when it happened.
The Moment the Grass Carp Decided to Show Up (And Fight Me)
I threw one last clump of bait into the water, just to be thorough. I was already reaching for my rod to reel it in when suddenly, the line started screaming—like, full-on zipping through the rod guides. At first, I thought it was another minnow, but no—this was something big. My rod bent into a perfect “U” shape, and I nearly fell off my DIY seat in shock.
Turns out, the grass carp wasn’t at the bottom of the pond (where I’d been fishing all morning). It was hanging out near the surface, soaking up the sun. I guess my big bait ball looked too good to pass up.
What followed was a 10-minute battle that tested every muscle in my arms. The carp kept darting toward the middle of the pond, trying to break free. I was using my Fishing Home War Whale II 1.5 main line, which is super strong, but I still held my breath every time it pulled. I had to lean back, adjust my grip, and slowly reel it in whenever it paused—no sudden moves, or I’d lose it.
Soft rods are a game-changer here, by the way. They absorb the fish’s sudden tugs and keep the line from snapping. I’ve used stiff rods before, and they make fighting big fish feel like trying to pull a truck out of mud. This soft rod let me take the carp’s hits without panicking.
When I finally pulled that carp onto the shore, I let out a yell that probably scared every other fish in the pond. It was a big one—perfect for dad’s pickled fish. I checked my watch: 10:50 AM. Cutting it close, but we’d make it work.
The Aftermath: Fish, Food, and Lessons Learned
I hauled the carp back home, and dad got to work cleaning and cooking it. By 1 PM, we were sitting at the table, eating hot, sour, perfectly pickled fish. Dad took one bite, nodded, and said, “Told you it’d be easy.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him about the hour of waiting, the minnow invasion, or the 10-minute battle. Some secrets are worth keeping.
As for me, I learned a few things that day that I’m definitely taking to my next fishing trip:
- Don’t assume fish are at the bottom, especially when temperatures swing. If you’re not getting bites, try fishing near the surface!
- Big bait balls are non-negotiable for big fish and windy days. I’ll never go back to tiny bait for pond carp again.
- DIY hacks are your friend. That repurposed car washer seat saved me so much time packing up, and I didn’t have to spend a dime on a new seat.
- Patience is everything. I almost gave up, and if I had, we’d have eaten instant noodles for lunch instead of that amazing pickled fish.
If you’ve ever had to drop everything to fulfill a family member’s random food craving, you know exactly how I felt. And if you’re a fellow angler dealing with spring temperature swings, trust me—keep at it. The big catch is always worth the wait. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to stock up on sour cabbage. Dad already mentioned he wants pickled fish again next weekend.
