Weekend Fishing Trip: Chasing Big Catches at Xinliu River in Taicang
Okay, let’s be real—my recent fishing trips have been straight-up garbage. Like, the kind where you spend 3 hours sitting in the sun, only to reel in a handful of tiny minnows and way too many crabs. I was so sick of it that I almost hung up my rod for good… until I saw my fishing group blowing up with photos of guys hauling in monster catches at Xinliu River’s east bank. We’re talking catfish, silver carp, bream—even mullet, pufferfish, and black bass! Total “holy cow” stuff. So when the weekend rolled around, I grabbed my 5.7m rod, packed a snack, and dragged my 10-year-old son along (sorry, wife—you needed a break from his chaos, right?).
Why I Ditched the Small Streams for Xinliu River
Let’s break down why I made the switch from my usual tiny local stream to Xinliu River:
- My old spot was a “minnow and crab buffet” with zero big fish. I was tired of wasting bait.
- The group photos showed guys catching 1kg+ bream and 5kg+ catfish—total dream catches for a casual angler like me.
- Xinliu River is a proper river, not a trickle—so there’s gotta be bigger fish, right?
Bringing My Chaos Child (aka My Son)
Now, my son is in that “I don’t listen to anyone” phase. He’s up at 6am screaming, he leaves mud footprints on the couch, and he’s been driving my wife to the brink of a meltdown. So I thought, “Hey, let’s take him fishing—he loves messing with worms, and it’ll give my wife 8 hours of peace.” But wait… I made a huge mistake: I let him sit on the riverbank edge. Like, the part that drops straight into 2m-deep water. When I sent my wife a photo later, she texted back with all caps: “ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL HIM?! PUT HIM IN A LIFE JACKET NOW.” Oops. Note to self: Buy a kids’ life jacket before the next trip. Parenting win? Not really. But at least he was happy (for now).
The Chaos of the Day: Wind, Current, and One Epic Angler
We got to the river at 7am, and immediately I thought, “What did I get myself into?” The wind was howling, the water was rushing (total current chaos), and the only time it slowed down was for 30 whole minutes. In that window, I managed to reel in a tiny silver perch. That’s it. Meanwhile, the guy next to me? Total legend. He was fishing in 1cm of current like it was nothing—reeling in bream after bream for 2 hours straight. Nine fish total, ranging from 300g to 1kg. I was staring like a total newbie, so I walked over to ask his secret.
The Pro’s Secret: Fishing Off the Bottom
His trick? Simple (but I never would’ve thought of it):
- Fish 5-6cm off the bottom. The bream were hanging out just above the mud, so that’s where the action was.
- When the current pulled his float downstream, he just walked with it. No fancy gear—just follow the float. Duh.
My son was losing his mind watching this guy. “Dad, why can’t you do that?!” he yelled. Thanks, kid. Real encouraging.
My Sad Catch (and Why I’m Still Hooked)
Let’s be honest—my day was garbage compared to the pro next to me. I caught:
- 1 tiny silver perch (like, palm-sized)
- 1 tiny bream (even smaller)
- 1 tiny carp that fell off the hook mid-reel. Ugh.
My son was so mad he crossed his arms and refused to help me rebait. “This is boring,” he said. But hey—fishing isn’t just about catching fish, right? (Okay, maybe it is for him.) But I was still hyped because I saw what Xinliu River can offer. The pro next to me proved it, and the photos from my group? Those weren’t lies. Check out these catches from other anglers the past two days:
Why I’m Not Giving Up (Even After This Fail)
Yeah, today sucked. But here’s the thing: I learned stuff. I know to fish off the bottom next time. I know to walk with the float when the current’s bad. And I know I need a life jacket for my son (duh). Most of all, I know Xinliu River has the big catches I’ve been craving. I just need to get better. Or maybe bring that pro guy with me as a guide. (Kidding… mostly.)
Final Thoughts (and a Plea for Tips)
So that’s my weekend fishing trip: chaotic, a little embarrassing, but totally motivating. My wife is still mad about the life jacket thing (I ordered one as soon as I got home), my son is already asking when we’re going back, and I’m already researching “how to fish in current for bream.” If you’ve fished Xinliu River’s east bank, hit me up with tips! What bait works best? Do you use a specific hook size? How do you handle the wind? I need all the help I can get. Next time, I’m not leaving without a “big catch” (and a life jacket for my son). Fingers crossed…
