My 2024 Fishing Routine: Chasing Bites Week After Week
Let me set the scene first—2024 has been all about fishing for me. I hit the water roughly once a week, no excuses. Rain, shine, or that weird in-between weather where you’re sweating and shivering at the same time? I’m there. And here’s the thing: I’m a total nerd about it. Every single trip gets logged in my notes app—fish caught, bait used, water depth, even a silly little post-trip analysis where I overthink why I missed that one bite that definitely was a monster bass (probably just a stick, but let a guy dream). I’ve got pages and pages of these logs, and honestly? I flip through them when I’m stuck in traffic just to relive the good days.
To give you a peek, here’s a snapshot of three random trips from my log—nothing too fancy, just the messy, real details of a guy who’s obsessed with chasing fish:
The Trip That Stole the Show: August’s Epic Morning on the Water
Out of all those weekly trips, one stands head and shoulders above the rest. It was mid-August, a day that started way too early but ended with me grinning like a fool all the way home. Let me break down every second of it—because if you’re a fellow angler, you know the little details are what make the story.
The Pre-Dawn Grind: Setting Up for Success
I’m not a morning person. Like, at all. But when you’re chasing active fish in the summer, you’ve got to beat the sun. So I dragged myself out of bed at 5 a.m., eyes crusty, coffee in hand, and drove 20 minutes to my go-to spot— a quiet little stretch of river that’s been good to me over the years.
First things first, the setup. I went with a tried-and-true combo for summertime bites:
- Bait: A mix of rice wine millet, all-purpose square nest bait, and wheat kernels to build a steady chum bed
- Rig: 5.4m rod with a 2.5g sinker, perfect for the 1.5 to 2m deep water here
- Lure: Equal parts all-purpose sweet and all-purpose savory bait from my go-to fishing store, mixed with a dash of binder to make it stick
I started with big lures to draw in fish, using a half-flying lead rig to fish about 20cm off the bottom. The idea? Lure in those aggressive predators that feed near the surface early in the morning. And man, did it work fast.
The Early Bites: Topwater Action & Surprises
About an hour in, my float suddenly darted sideways— a classic strike! I set the hook, and immediately felt that electric jolt through the rod. It was a white bass, maybe a half-pound, but let me tell you, fighting that little guy in the cool morning water felt like reeling in a trophy. I whooped a little too loud, probably scaring off half the river, but I didn’t care.
Not 10 minutes later, another strike—this one even harder. I pulled up a bigger white bass, almost a pound, and I was feeling pretty cocky. I thought, “Today’s gonna be nonstop action.” Famous last words.
For the next hour, nothing. Nada. Zilch. The sun was starting to peek over the trees, and I could feel the heat creeping in. Time to switch it up. I reeled in, adjusted my rig, and went straight to bottom fishing.
The Mid-Morning Shift: Panfish, a Turtle, and More Surprises
First cast to the bottom, and my float dipped immediately. I set the hook, and felt that familiar quick, zippy fight— a small crucian carp. Even though it was tiny, pulling it up through the 2m deep water was way more fun than it sounds. I caught a handful more of those little guys, each one making me grin like a kid on Christmas.
Then, something weird happened. My float started sliding horizontally across the water, slow and steady. I was confused—what kind of fish swims that slowly? I set the hook, and felt a heavy, sluggish pull. No sudden bursts, no wild runs. I thought, “This is a big one, I can feel it!” I carefully reeled it up, and when it broke the surface? It was a massive turtle. Like, bigger than my dinner plate massive. I stared at it for a second, then remembered I should probably take a photo— but before I could, it wiggled out of my grip and splashed back into the water. Oh well, live and learn.
The Grand Finale: The Trophy Carp That Made My Day
By 11 a.m., the sun was blazing down, and I was sweating through my shirt. I decided it was time to call it quits—just one more cast for a “goodbye” fish, then I’d pack up and head home. I was already folding up my fishing chair when I glanced at my float. It was slowly sinking, nice and steady, not a quick strike. I almost ignored it, but something told me to set the hook.
When I pulled up, my rod bent so far I thought it might snap. This was no small fish. I spent the next 5 minutes carefully reeling it in, letting it run when it pulled, reeling in when it slowed. My arms were burning, my heart was racing, and all I could think was “Don’t mess this up.” Finally, I pulled it up onto the bank— a huge common carp, easily 10 pounds or more. I stood there, staring at it, grinning like an idiot, and didn’t even notice the old guy standing behind me watching the whole thing.
He clapped me on the back and said, “That’s a beauty, son.” I looked at the carp, then at him, and thought, “Why not?” I handed it to him, and his face lit up like a Christmas tree. “My grandkid’s gonna love this,” he said, and walked off carrying that big fish like it was a gold medal.
The Aftermath: A Day I’ll Be Talking About All Year
I packed up my gear, sticky and tired, but on cloud nine. When I got home, I laid out my catch on the porch: those little crucian carp, the two white bass, and the memory of that massive carp and turtle. I kicked myself for not taking a group photo before releasing the turtle and giving away the carp, but hey, that’s part of the fun— the messy, unplanned moments that make fishing so great.
Why is this my favorite trip of 2024? Simple. In one morning, I caught four different species, fought a monster turtle, and ended the day by making a stranger’s whole week. I didn’t even keep the biggest catch, but that’s not what fishing’s about, right? It’s about the early mornings, the unexpected surprises, the feeling of the rod bending in your hands, and the stories you get to tell later.
And honestly? That’s the thing about fishing. You can log every trip, test every bait, and practice every technique, but the best days are always the ones that don’t go according to plan. The days where you catch a turtle instead of a fish, or give away your biggest catch to a random guy on the street. Those are the days that stick with you.
To all my fellow anglers out there: keep chasing those bites, even when it’s 100 degrees out. Keep waking up at 5 a.m. even when you’d rather sleep in. Because you never know when you’ll have a day that makes it all worth it. And if you do catch a massive turtle, for the love of fish, take a photo before you let it go. I’m still kicking myself over that one.
