That Wild River That Still Haunts My Dreams: My September Fishing Diary
Hey fellow anglers, welcome to my little corner of the web! Let me tell you—there’s this wild river I’ve been obsessed with for months now, and today (September 20th) I finally made it back. Life’s got a way of throwing curveballs, right? I couldn’t fish here for a few days, and honestly? It felt like something was missing. This river isn’t just water and fish—it’s got memories: the highs, the lows, even those two tiny stray cats that used to hang around my spot. Three months here, and I’m totally hooked (pun totally intended).
Seeing that river again after so long? Pure nostalgia. I didn’t waste any time—let’s get this party started, shall we? Grab my gear, set up shop, and let’s see what’s biting.
First Stop: The Golden Spot (And A Lucky Break)
As soon as I pulled up to my go-to spot? Guess what? The guy who was there was packing up! Perfect timing, right? I struck up a quick chat to ask about the day’s action:
“Oh, man, from 7 to 11 a.m.? The bite was on! Caught 7 or 8 nice crucian carp. But around noon? Dead. Nothin’ happening. So I’m callin’ it a day.”
Score! I told him I’d take over—time to get this show on the road.
Prepping The Bait: Gonna Give These Fish A Feast
First step? Bait the area. I tossed in a handful of Western Wind Musk Alcohol Rice (my go-to for luring in those big ones). Then, since I only had a little Wuliang You left, I mixed that up with some extra seasonings and small additives. Let it sit to marinate—fish love a good, smelly treat, am I right?
My Gear For The Day: Trusty Old Standbys
Here’s what I brought to the fight:
- Rod: My beloved 2.7-meter “little baby” (don’t judge the name—it’s loyal)
- Main Line: 2-pound test
- Leader Line: 1.2-pound test
- Hook: Size 4 sleeve hook
- Floater: Around 1.5 grams (maybe a touch light, but I roll with it)
Set up my fishing chair and rod holder, and boom—we’re in business.
The Bite Starts… But Wait—Why The Misses?
First cast? BAM—action! The floater twitched up and down, then drifted. I set the hook… nothing. Hmm. Tried again—same thing: twitch, drift, set, miss. WTF? Did the fish get smarter? I kept casting, and every time the same dance—action, but no hook-up. After a few misses, I decided to just watch instead of yanking. The floater was trembling, barely half a centimeter at times. Sometimes it moved a full centimeter, but I held off. Then it went still.
“Maybe I need a new bait mix,” I thought. I lifted the rod… and holy cow—a big fish! It fought hard, darting straight into the weeds. My tiny rod bent like a noodle— I had to keep tension to stop it from breaking free. But then? It got tangled in the weeds, and pop—gone. Ugh. Total bummer. That fish was a monster, too.
Wait, A Whole Hour? No Action At All?
After that big miss? Crickets. Nada. For an hour, not a single twitch. I started panicking—did I scare all the fish away? I grabbed my bait bucket and started “chumming” the spot again, casting fast and furious. Finally, the floater moved! This time, the fish played with me for 30 minutes—up, down, sideways. I was ready to give up. Then… black float (that’s the big one, anglers!). I set the hook—yes! But wait… a snout fish? Are you kidding me? Three hours, one fish. That’s gotta go in some fishing record book for bad luck.
Okay, deep breath. Let’s try again. Cast out—boom, action fast. The floater went up one centimeter, then slowly sank. I waited for it to drop 1-2 centimeters before setting—bingo! A nice crucian carp! I didn’t even let it splash—hauled it right out of the water before it could escape.
Finally, A Streak (Sort Of)
20 minutes later? The floater was being sneaky—sliding, breathing in and out (you know that tiny, playful movement fish make when they’re testing the bait). I waited for the perfect “sink”… and there it was! Another small crucian carp landed.
Couple more casts, same thing: tiny twitch, up, then sink—another small one. Nice, but nothing compared to that monster I lost earlier.
Chatting = Fish Sneak Attacks
Here’s a pro tip (or a warning): if you’re chatting with a fellow angler, keep one eye on your floater. I was yammering about my lost big fish, and next thing I know? The floater’s moving—again. I set the hook too late, missed it. Classic.
Time To Pack Up: No More Action
After about an hour of nothing but tiny twitches (no real bites), I called it a day. The sun was starting to dip, and I was tired of staring at a still floater. I took a quick pic of my catch—only a few, so no group shot with me (embarrassing, honestly).
What’s The Verdict? Weather Vs. Fish Mood
Today was weird. The weather was perfect—sunny, blue skies, clouds reflected in the water (it looked stunning, by the way). But the fish? Total party poopers. The bite was all over the place: hot, then cold, then almost nothing. I’m guessing the sudden coolness? Fish are sensitive to temperature changes, right? Gonna test that theory next time.
And let’s talk bait: Wuliang You is still my ride-or-die. Even when the fish are being jerks, it’s reliable. Can’t beat it.
Wrapping Up (And A Quick Rant)
Overall? The river was still as magical as ever—even if the fishing was a letdown. I’m already counting down the days till I’m back. Maybe next time, that monster fish will be waiting for me (and not in the weeds).
To all my fellow anglers: keep your lines tight, your baits fresh, and don’t let a few misses get you down. Oh, and if you see two tiny stray cats by the river? Say hi—they’re my lucky charm (even if they didn’t help today).
Until next time—happy fishing, and may your next catch be the one that makes your friends jealous! Catch you in the next post.
