My First Fishing Trip of the Year: Conquering Daguantang Reservoir

Man, it’s been ages since I last went fishing! This year’s first outing? I dragged my wife along to Daguantang Reservoir-and let me tell you, it was a wild ride from start to finish. No regrets, though… well, maybe just a tiny one about almost losing my rod. Let’s dive in!

Why Daguantang Reservoir? The Lowdown on the Spot

First off, the ticket price: 100 beans (that’s what we call RMB yuan, casual-like) flat rate-no matter what time you show up. The owner’s a total legend, too. If you roll up late, he’ll let you stay extra for night fishing without nickel-and-diming you. Dude actually cares about not screwing over anglers-total vibe check, right? The only rule? No catching silver carp or bighead carp. Everything else? Fair game. Perfect for someone who just wants to cast and see what bites.

My Gear Setup (No Fancy Stuff, Just What Works)

Everyone at the reservoir was rocking 3+2 line setups with 7.2-meter full-length rods, so I didn’t dare go smaller. You don’t wanna be the guy with the flimsy line when a monster hits, trust me. My main rod was that 7.2m beast for carp and grass carp, but I also brought a 4.5m backup-you never know when you need a change of pace.

The Afternoon Slump: Corn, No Bites, and Envy of the Neighbor

We got there at 1 PM, and holy hell it was scorching. I dragged my feet until 1:40 to even set up-heat exhaustion realness. I went with corn for both bait and chum (since that’s what everyone else was doing). Spent the entire afternoon casting, reeling, casting, reeling… and zip. Nada. Zero bites.

Meanwhile, the guy next to me? Using live worms. He pulled in like 3 pounds of silver bellies (that’s what we call small silver fish, super tasty) and a 1-pound big plate carp (giant crucian carp, basically). Dude left at 5 PM with a full bag, and I was over here staring at a empty bucket. Ouch. Talk about a reality check.

Desperation Mode: Switching to the 4.5m Rod for Small Game

Come on, I couldn’t go home empty-handed. My wife was there, for crying out loud-airing it (going home with no fish) would make me the laughingstock of the family. So I grabbed my 4.5m rod, mixed up 2 ounces of soft bait (pull bait, the kind that clumps on the hook), and tied on a tiny barbless hook. Target: silver bellies. The little guys that nibble like crazy but are way too small for the big rod.

Oh my god, that was the best decision all day. They went nuts for it! I was reeling in one after another-nonstop action. In an hour and a half, I had 3 pounds of those little guys. Enough for a feast, and my hands were killing me from reeling so much. Worth it, though-at least I wasn’t going home with nothing.

Night Fishing: The Big One That Got Away (and the One That Didn’t)

As the sun went down, I swapped in a glow-in-the-dark bobber. We were starving, so I hit up the owner for two meals-40 beans total, cheap and filling. Then I settled back in, determined to land a “real” fish (you know, not just tiny silver bellies).

The First Near-Miss: A Black Bobber That Got Away

At 7 PM, boom-my bobber sank two inches (blacked out two eyes, as we say). I jerked the rod too early, missed. But I felt a tug-must’ve hooked it on the side. No idea how big it was, but my heart was racing.

The 6.8-Pound Golden Carp: Wife’s Shoutout Pays Off

Five minutes later, another bite. The bobber slowly sank. I was shoveling rice into my mouth, and my wife yells, “It’s moving! It’s moving!” I told her to let it eat a bit more-don’t jerk too soon. It bobbed a little, then sank all the way (three eyes blacked out). I hauled back, and bam-fish on!

The sound of the line cutting through the water? *Chef’s kiss*. That’s the best noise in fishing. I fought it for 7-8 minutes, no need for a safety rope (I thought it was small, ha!). When I reeled it in? Dude, it was huge! Weighed in at 6.8 pounds later-golden body, red tail, so fat it looked like it never missed a meal. Total tank of a carp. My wife was screaming, I was grinning like an idiot. That’s the stuff memories are made of.

The One That Got Away: Almost Lost My Rod!

I was on cloud nine, so I stayed. Threw a few spoonfuls of corn to rebait the spot. At 8 PM, another black bobber. I jerked, and nothing-then 3-5 seconds later, it bolted for the deep water. I dropped the rod, grabbed the safety rope… but nope. The 15-meter elastic rope ran out, and the line snapped. Almost lost my 7.2m rod! Total heart attack moment. My hands were shaking after that.

Wrapping Up: Mosquitoes, Cold, and a Promise for October

After that near-disaster, my wife was complaining about mosquitoes (she didn’t wear a jacket) and being cold. I was tired too-adrenaline crash hits hard. So we packed up, loaded the fish (the 6.8-pounder and the 3 pounds of silver bellies) into the cooler, and headed home.

Daguantang Reservoir? Still the same badass spot it always was. That reservoir’s massive, been filling up for years-so many big fish hiding in there. I’m already planning my next trip: National Day (October 1st holiday) weekend. Gonna bring better safety rope, maybe a bigger hook, and definitely make my wife wear bug spray. Can’t wait to see what else is swimming down there.

Oh, and if you’re thinking about going? Pro tips:

• Go early if you hate heat (afternoon was brutal)
• Bring a 4.5m rod for small fish if the big ones aren’t biting
• Don’t skip the glow bobber for night fishing
• Listen to your wife when she yells about bites-she might just save your catch

Anyway, that’s my first fishing trip of the year. Not perfect, but full of laughs, near-disasters, and a giant carp. Who’s down to join me for the next one? Hit me up in the comments-let’s plan the National Day grind!