My Most Thrilling Autumn Fishing Trip: Unforgettable Catches and Surprises

Okay, let’s cut to the chase—this wasn’t just another fishing day. It was the kind of trip that makes you text your fishing buddies at 2 a.m. going, “DUDE, YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT I CAUGHT.” I’m talking about that one autumn afternoon where everything went sideways (in the best way) and I ended up with a haul that still makes me grin when I think about it. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Pre-Trip Prep: Winning the “Home Approval” Battle First

First off—any seasoned angler knows the real win starts at home. My “home team lead” (aka my wife) gave the green light for an afternoon session, so I knew I had to play nice. Post-lunch, I did the dishes without being asked (score), then bolted to my tackle box. Let’s talk bait—this was my secret combo for autumn: a mix of “Big Plate Crucian” (1 part), “Soul Slayer All-Catch Bait” (1 part), “No. 2 Crucian” (1 part), and a dash of “No. 6 Crucian” for that extra umami. Why? Autumn means cooler water, so a grainy base with a tiny bit of fishy scent to call the fish in fast. Smart, right?

Now, the gear. The spot I was hitting? A drainage ditch from a local fish farm—last winter I fished here, froze my toes off, and only caught tiny “mahjong crucian” (you know, the ones smaller than your palm) that I released. This time? I wanted to see if those little guys grew up. But wait—the ditch had flooded! So my trusty fishing chair? Total pain to set up and pack. I swapped it for my old rod stand, grabbed my tackle box, and hit the road. Let’s go!

The Spot: Flooded, Familiar, and Full of Surprises

As soon as I pulled up, I thought, “Whoa—this place is unrecognizable!” Last winter, it was bare, frozen, and full of tiny fish. Now? Vegetation was growing like crazy, and the water was up at least 6 inches (that’s 60 cm for my metric friends) higher than before—even over the concrete path. The water depth where I set up? About 6 feet (2 meters) deep. Perfect.

Water was up to my ankles, but hey—cool, clean, and way better than sweating through my shirt. I set up my rod, adjusted the float, and started casting. Boring, right? Just me, the water, and a few clouds. Oh, and I was low-key panicking about dropping my phone in—no dry spot to set it down, so it was either in my pocket or on the wet concrete. Yikes.

First Catch: A Tiny Grass Carp That Made My Heart Race

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. I cast, reeled, cast, reeled—maybe 10 times? Then BAM. A full-on float dive (black float, for my fellow anglers). I set the hook so fast my wrist almost cramped. “OH MY GOD—THAT’S A FISH!” I yelled (to no one, but who cares). The fight was on—this little guy was strong! I’m used to tiny crucian, so this was a shock. Then I remembered: “WHERE’S MY NET?!”

Facepalm. I always carry a net, but today? It was in my chair bag, and I left the chair at home. Dumb. Dumb move. The line was tiny (0.8mm leader, 3# hook—way too small for this guy), so I couldn’t yank. I just let him pull, let him pull… until he tuckered out. Turned out to be a baby grass carp—maybe 1.2 lbs (1 kg) tops. Too small to keep, so I released him. No biggie, but that rush? *Chef’s kiss.*

Then Another Grass Carp… And Then The Unexpected Star: Bream!

Five minutes later? Same thing. Float down, set hook, another tiny grass carp. Even smaller—like, “aww, you’re cute” small. Released again. Then—wait a second. The water started bubbling. A lot. Oh no—baitfish (silver minnow) invasion! They were swarming my bait before it even hit the bottom. My float couldn’t even stand up straight. “Oh, you wanna play?” I thought. “I’m the silver minnow slayer in my crew—bring it on.”

I started casting fast, targeting the minnow zone. Then—BAM. Another float dive, but this time? The fight was different. Not the grass carp’s lazy pull—this was a sharp, fast run. A few seconds later, I reeled it in: a bream! About 1.1 lbs (0.5 kg). Last year? I never caught a bream here. Total surprise! And that fight? *Chef’s kiss again.*

Then it was nonstop. Bream after bream. But here’s the problem: I came for crucian, so my gear was tiny. 0.8mm leader, 3# hook—way too light for bream. In one hour, I lost FOUR fish. Why? I was in a hurry to pull them in instead of letting them burn energy. Dumb mistake number two. So I changed tactics: let ’em run until they’re tired, then pull ’em to the bank, grab a towel (thank god I had one in my box), and scoop ’em up. No more lost fish! Win.

The Battle: Big Fish, Broken Lines, and A First-Time Catch

By now, my arms were sore, but I was having too much fun to stop. Then—SNAP. My line broke. “WHAT THE HELL?!” I yelled. There was a big fish down there. I swapped my leader for a thicker one (1.2mm, thank god I brought spares), rebaited, and cast again. Ten minutes later? Float down, set hook—this one was bigger. I could see it: a silver carp (bighead carp, for the pros)! Maybe 2.2 lbs (1 kg) tops. I fought it for a minute, reeled it to the bank, unhooked it, and released it. No photo—too busy panicking. Oops.

Five minutes later? Another silver carp. Even smaller. Released again. Then the sky started getting dark—time to go. But wait! My float shot up THREE inches. I cast—BAM. Another fight. Five minutes later? A bigger grass carp. Still small, but bigger than the first two. Released. Then—last cast of the day (the “goodbye cast”)—float up, set hook, another bream. Perfect way to end.

The Haul: What I Took Home (And What I Let Go)

Let’s tally up: I released 6 baby grass carp, 2 silver carp. I broke 6 leaders, changed 5. Next time? Thicker leaders. And a net. For sure a net. What did I keep? About 6.6 lbs (3 kg) total: some silver minnows, 3 crucian (the tiny ones from last year—they grew up!), and 6 bream. Yum.

When I got home, my dad was waiting. He grabbed the fish, killed ’em, and said, “Next time, take me with you!” Deal. We marinated the bream, and cooked the minnows and crucian with their roe. Smelled like heaven. My wife even ate three bream fillets—high praise, since she’s not a big fish fan.

Final Thoughts: Why This Trip Was My Most Thrilling Ever

You know what made this trip so good? It wasn’t just the fish. It was the surprises: bream I never caught before, baby grass carp that put up a fight, the rain that came and went (kept it cool!), and even the broken lines and forgotten net. Fishing’s not about catching the biggest fish every time—it’s about the moments that make you laugh, the little wins, and the stories you get to tell. This trip? I’ll be telling it for years.

Oh, and one last thing: the fish here? Probably escaped from the nearby fish farm. Last year, no big fish. This year? Tons. But they’re in the Huai River now, so they don’t eat farm feed anymore. Tasted way better than store-bought. Trust me.

To all my fishing buddies out there: go try that autumn bait combo. Watch out for flooded spots (they’re full of surprises!). And for the love of god, don’t forget your net. Catch you on the water!