That Mountain, That Water, That Field, That Hill, That Bait, That Fish, That Man, That Night…..
Let’s be real—this title is *extra*. Like, who uses “that” this many times? But hey, it stuck with me, so here we are. I’m a guy who loves sneaking off for a solo fishing trip when life gives me a break. And this time? It wasn’t about the catch. It was about the vibe. The chaos. The weird, wonderful moments that make fishing feel like more than just sitting by water.
The Great Bait Battle: How I Tried to Make the Water Rise (Spoiler: It Didn’t)
First off, my secret weapon? Square rice cakes. Yep, you heard that right. I thought, “If I toss enough of these bad boys, the water might actually rise three feet.” Desperate times, desperate bait choices, okay?
Why Rice Cakes? Let’s Break It Down
- They’re cheap. No fancy pellets here—just good old-fashioned grains.
- They smell like… well, rice. But fish love that earthy vibe, right?
- Throwing them is *fun*. Like, who doesn’t want to pretend they’re a medieval knight hurling projectiles?
But wait—if square chunks feel too boring? Go full “heavenly maiden scattering flowers.” Yeah, I stole that line from a poem. Sue me. Toss ’em like confetti, and suddenly it’s not just bait—it’s “fish love.” Cheesy? Maybe. Effective? Let’s see.
When “Enough” Isn’t Enough: The Bait Overload
Let’s be honest—I didn’t stop. I kept tossing until my arm ached. Why? Because “to get fish on shore, you need to trade grain.” That’s an old saying, okay? And also? “To get fish in the net, you need to wear long johns.” Wait, long johns? Oh right—this was right before Frost’s Descent (a Chinese solar term, but trust me, it was cold). In two weeks, it’d be Start of Winter. So yeah, long johns were non-negotiable. Especially since I was night fishing. Brrr.
The Catch (Or Lack Thereof): When You Realize You’re Still a Noob
Let’s cut to the chase. No matter how hard I shook my rod? I was still catching *tiny* fish. Like, “are you even a fish?” tiny. No tricks, no magic—just me, a noob, and a bunch of minnow-sized creatures.
Climate Chaos: Mosquitoes in Late Autumn? WTF
Also? The weather this year was wild. Droughts, weird temps—even in late autumn, mosquitoes were out in force. They were like, “Hey, let’s bite this guy’s face off!” I swatted ’em so hard I probably killed a dozen. Serves ’em right. Mosquitoes are the worst.
When You’re Not Picky: Any Bite Is a Good Bite
Look, I didn’t care about “target fish.” If it bit, I reeled it in. Small fish? Fine. Tiny fish? Even better. I turned my fishing trip into a “chaos and fun” mode. And then? I realized I’d *invaded a baby fish nest*. Like, no “maybe”—definitely. Every cast pulled up a tiny guy. Did I toss more bait? You bet I did. Because “to catch different fish, you gotta fill their bellies first.” Duh.
The Most Bizarre Catch Ever: A Fish Eyeball
Wait for it. I pulled up a *fish eyeball*. Just… one eyeball. Poor little guy. Now it’s gonna swim around with one eye. Can it dodge predators? Escape netters? Find love? Who knows. But hey—being sentimental is a middle-aged guy’s superpower, right?
Sunset Magic: When Fishing Becomes Poetry
Then the sun started to set. And suddenly? Everything changed. The sky turned pink, the water glowed, and I forgot all about the tiny fish. It was like the universe hit “chill mode.”
Autumn Vibes That Hit Different
Let’s paint the picture:
- Sunset: Orange, pink, melting into the water.
- Water: Half green, half red—like someone spilled a paint bucket.
- Grass: Brown, dry, swaying in the wind.
- Reeds: White, fluffy, turning pink for a second.
I thought of all those old poems. “A slanting sun spreads over the water, half the river is green, half red.” Or “Birds returning to nests, wings flipping, dropping the sunset into the river.” Yeah, I’m a dork for poetry. Sue me again.
And then? The mountains were blue, the water was clear, the fields had rice waves, the hills were ready for harvest, I was (sort of) tough, and the night was… well, unforgettable. That’s the title in real life, folks.
The Actual Catch: Finally, Some Decent Fish!
Wait—after all that chaos? I caught a *decent* crucian carp. Silky body, shiny scales, strong fins, round eyes. Nice. Then? I was reeling in a tiny yellow catfish, and somehow? I hooked a little minnow too. “Buy one get one free!” I yelled. My friend (who was nearby) probably thought I was nuts. But hey—my “fishing skills” were on point. Sort of.
Night Fishing Struggles: Why I Packed Up Early
Late autumn night fishing? Total bust. Why? Two reasons:
- Fish density was low. The lake wasn’t exactly teeming with life.
- Seasons rule. Nature doesn’t care about my “great bait plan.”
Also? The humidity was *insane*. My clothes were soaked. So I packed up. Smartest move all night.
Friendship Win: The Best Part of the Trip
My buddy left me a nice mullet and a big crucian carp. That’s the good stuff. Better than any catch I could’ve gotten on my own. Shoutout to him.
Autumn’s Magic: Why This Trip Stuck With Me
Autumn has this vibe. A little sad, a little calm, a little wild. “The taste of the world is clear joy,” but no—for me, it’s “the taste of the world is autumn.” Cold, quiet, deep, but alive. When autumn ends, winter comes, and new vibes start. That’s life, right? Cycles. Messy, beautiful cycles.
So yeah—this trip wasn’t about fish. It was about the mountain, the water, the field, the hill, the bait, the tiny fish, the weird eyeball, the sunset, the mosquitoes, the long johns, and the friend who gave me fish. It was about living. And that’s the best catch of all.
Want to see the videos? Hit play—your phone might just feel like it’s in 6G. You’re welcome.
2024 October 22, by Zhou the Mountain Guy.
