Unexpected Fishing Haul at Xionghe Reservoir: A Rainy Day Surprise

Let me tell you—fishing trips don’t always go as planned. I hadn’t visited Xionghe Reservoir in two whole years, but when my buddy begged me to join him for a day on the water? I couldn’t say no. The date was May 4th, and the forecast called for rain. Now, rainy fishing days are a double-edged sword: great for staying cool and avoiding sunburn, but terrible for dealing with mud that sticks to your boots like glue. Ugh, I knew I’d be wiping mud off my gear for days afterward—but hey, fishing is fishing, right?

Finding the Perfect Spot: Chasing a Hot Bite

We headed straight to our old go-to spot: Lao Zhuang Forest Farm. When we pulled up, I did a double-take. The water level was way lower than I remembered—like, way lower. I was about to grumble about how the low water might kill the bite when our boat driver dropped a bombshell: “The guys from Henan have a hot spot on the small island across the way.” No hesitation—we were going there. Why mess around with a spot that might be dead when someone else already found the fish?

Setting Up Shop on the Island Platform

We hopped on the boat, cruised over to the island, and set up on a wooden platform. I brought two hand rods and a single sea rod—my usual setup, but today? I had a hunch the sea rod might pull through. We baited up, cast out, and waited. And waited. And waited some more.

By mid-morning, we had zilch. Nada. Zero bites. I started second-guessing everything: Did we pick the wrong bait? Was the water too cold? Did the Henan guys lie? My buddy was already complaining about his back hurting from sitting too long. I was just about to reel in and try a different spot when the sky opened up.

Rain, Rain, Go Away? Wait, No—Come Back!

It started as a light drizzle, then turned into a steady rain. I pulled out my rain jacket, grumbling about how this was just making a bad day worse. But then—boom. My sea rod twitched. Then it doubled over. I grabbed it so fast I almost dropped my phone in the water. “I’ve got a bite!” I yelled. My buddy perked up instantly.

That first fish? A feisty catfish (we call ’em “ga ya” back home, but in English? Let’s go with catfish). It put up a fight, but I reeled it in easy. Then, not 10 minutes later, another bite on the sea rod. This time? A redtail. Then a yellowtail. Then a decent-sized crucian carp. Wait a second—my two hand rods? Crickets. My sea rod? A fishing machine.

The Surprise Catch: A Two-Pound Monster

We were hauling in fish left and right, and I was starting to think this rainy day was the best decision ever. Then—whoa. My sea rod went from twitching to practically jumping off the platform. I grabbed it, and the line screamed out. This was no small fish. I fought it for what felt like 10 minutes (probably 2, but who’s counting?) and finally reeled it in. A black snakehead—over two pounds! That’s a trophy for any reservoir angler.

Check out that first catfish! I was so stoked I almost forgot to take the hook out. The rain was still coming down, but I didn’t care—mud on my boots, wet hair, none of it mattered. We were catching fish, and that’s all that counts.

What We Caught: A Mixed Bag of Reservoir Favorites

Let’s list ’em out—this was a haul I didn’t see coming. By the end of the day, we had:

• Multiple catfish (ga ya)
• Redtail fish
• Yellowtail fish
• Crucian carp
• A monster two-pound black snakehead

Seriously, that snakehead was the star of the show. My buddy kept asking if I was sure I didn’t bring a net for it (I didn’t—total rookie move, but I managed to land it anyway). We took so many photos, I’m pretty sure my camera roll is 9% fish pics now.

That redtail was a beauty—bright colors, feisty fight. I love when you catch a fish that looks as good as it fights.

Yellowtails are always a win—they’re quick, and they taste great too. My buddy already claimed these for his dinner.

Why the Sea Rod Won the Day

I’m still scratching my head why the sea rod outperformed the hand rods so badly. Maybe the fish were hanging deeper? Maybe the bait I used on the sea rod (live worms, if you’re curious) was more attractive to the bigger fish? Or maybe it was just luck—fishing is 9% luck, 1% skill, right? Either way, I’m glad I brought it. I might even start bringing two sea rods next time.

Crucian carp are classic—they’re not the biggest, but they’re reliable. We caught a few of these, and they’ll make a nice soup for my family.

Mud, Rain, and Memories: The Best Part of Fishing

By the time we packed up, we were soaked, muddy, and exhausted—but grinning from ear to ear. The mud on my boots was caked on so thick I had to scrape it off with a stick before getting in the car. My rain jacket was soaked through, but I didn’t care. We had a haul we’ll be talking about for months.

That’s the big guy—two pounds of pure fight. I still can’t believe I landed it without a net. Total beginner’s luck, but I’ll take it.

Fishing trips like this are why I love the sport so much. You never know what’s going to happen. You can plan every detail—bait, spot, time of day—but sometimes the best catches come on rainy days, in spots you didn’t plan to fish, with rods you almost left at home. It’s the surprise that makes it worth it.

Our full haul! Look at that variety—catfish, redtail, yellowtail, crucian carp, and that monster snakehead. I’m still impressed.

Lessons Learned (and Maybe Some Tips)

After this trip, I’ve got a few takeaways:

• Never underestimate a rainy day. Sometimes the fish are more active when it’s cool and overcast.
• Listen to the locals (or the boat driver). The Henan guys knew where the fish were—don’t be stubborn and stick to your old spot if someone’s got a hot tip.
• Bring a sea rod. Even if you’re a hand rod purist, you never know when the big one will hit the deep water.
• Wear waterproof boots. Duh, right? But I forgot mine, and I paid for it with mud caked on my socks for days.

Close-up of that first catfish—look at those whiskers! He was not happy to be out of the water, but I was happy to have him.

Oh, and one more thing: take photos. Even if you think you’ll remember every detail, you won’t. A year from now, you’ll forget how big that snakehead was, or how muddy your boots got. But a photo? That’s a memory you can hold onto.

My buddy showing off his catch—he was so proud, he made me take 10 photos of him with that redtail.

Last shot of the day—muddy boots, wet hair, but a cooler full of fish. Perfect day, if you ask me.

So if you’re thinking about heading to Xionghe Reservoir? Don’t let the rain scare you. Don’t let the low water level scare you. Just grab your rods, listen to the locals, and hope for a little luck. You never know—you might walk away with a haul you’ll be bragging about for years.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a cooler full of fish to clean. And yes, I’m still complaining about the mud. But hey—worth it.