Post-Mid-Autumn Fishing Trip: The One That Got Away (And Then Some)

Let’s set the scene: Mid-Autumn Festival was over, and I’d been on my best behavior—mopping floors, washing socks, even taking the family out for a meal that finally got the “approval stamp” from my “leader” (aka my spouse, let’s be real). That smile? Oh, it was the green light I’d been waiting for. Tomorrow? Fishing. Finally.

Planning the Trip: Logistics & Last-Minute Hurdles

First, the pandemic put a damper on any fancy camping plans, so we nixed the overnight stuff. A local friend recommended the Chu River’s Liuhe Donggou section—checking the map, it’s practically right by the Yangtze River. Perfect. I hit up my fishing buddy, Jiang Guan, and we locked in the date: next morning, bright and early (or so we thought).

Pre-Trip Prep: Covert Operations

Since I couldn’t risk waking the “leader,” I executed a top-secret mission the night before: stashed all my gear by the door. Rods, reels, bait—everything within easy reach for a stealthy escape. No alarms, no questions. Just me, the dark, and my fishing dreams.

The Drive: A Detour That Almost Derailed Us

I snuck out at dawn, crept to the car, and met Jiang Guan. The drive started smooth… until we hit the Chemical Industry Park road. A guard waved us down: “Internal road only—no entry.” Ugh. So we did the classic “detour shuffle,” zigzagging through side streets for an extra 20 minutes. By the time we hit the levee and reached the spot, the sun was barely peeking over the horizon.

Setting Up: Darkness, Depth, & Early Disasters

We fumbled through the dark to find a rocky bank, plopped down our chairs, and got to rigging. I was using an 8.1-meter rod. Just as the float twitched twice? Bam—water levels started rising. Fast. Like, “current so strong it’s pulling my line sideways” fast.

Jiang Guan’s Unlucky Break

Jiang Guan was still setting up when—snap—his rod tip line snapped, and his expensive float sank into the deep water. I could practically hear the cash register “ding” in his head. Ouch. That float wasn’t cheap, and with water this deep? No way we were retrieving it.

The Day Unfolds: Bites, Tangles, & A Near-Miss

As the sun came up, more anglers showed up—tons of lure fishermen, actually. By the time the tide neared slack water, the bites picked up. Deep-water fighting? That’s the good stuff. I hooked a fish that looked almost 2 pounds—my target species, finally! But wait, more drama:

My Three Cut Lines (Ouch)

Right before the big tide, I got snagged again. Moved spots a few times, but no luck. Then—snap—line cut. Then again. Then a third time! I was kicking myself for not checking my line strength. The worst? One time, I was cutting duck liver bait, felt two tugs on my chair, looked up—rod tip still. Went back to cutting, felt two more strong tugs, looked up, and my hook was empty. Just… empty. No fight, no nothing. So close!

Jiang Guan’s Surprise Catch

Jiang Guan, meanwhile, was netting shrimp and—boom—caught a mandarin fish! Total surprise. Then a grass shrimp floated by, so I grabbed it for bait. Spent ages casting, snagging, pulling—lost the shrimp, got two lead head hooks, but zero bites. Typical.

The Big Escape: The Fish That Got Away (Literally)

It was getting late, so we packed up. My catch? A few decent-sized ones, but wait—when I was emptying the fish basket? A catfish bolted. Straight out. Vanished. I just stared, half-laughing, half-crying. “Well,” I told myself, “at least it’s free now.”

Jiang Guan’s Haul & The Night Fisherman’s Bounty

Let’s give credit where it’s due: Jiang Guan’s catch was way better. Lots of yellow catfish, making a racket that drew a small crowd. Then a local who took over our spot for night fishing showed us his haul later—dang, that guy cleaned up. Made me a little jealous, not gonna lie.

The Drive Home: Mosquitoes & Regrets

We loaded up, but forgot to check for mosquitoes. By the time we hit the road, my feet (since I was wearing sandals) were covered in bites. Itchy, annoying, and I had to focus on driving—brake, gas, scratch, repeat. One hour and 68 kilometers later, we finally got home.

Post-Trip: Food, Floats, & Fixes

First order of business: cook the catch. Braised yellow catfish and catfish (the one that didn’t escape) with a cold beer. Perfect. Then, I found a broken glow float on the bank earlier—sanded the cracked foot, but it wouldn’t light up. Trashed it. Ended up pairing a heavier weight float with another glow float I had. Close enough.

Final Thoughts: The Chaos We Love

Was this trip perfect? No. Did I lose a big fish, cut three lines, and get eaten by mosquitoes? Yes. But that’s fishing, right? The mess-ups, the surprises, the “wait, how did that happen?” moments. Jiang Guan and I are already plotting our next trip—maybe we’ll skip the internal road detour, check our line strength, and keep a closer eye on the fish basket. Until then? At least I have the bragging rights (sort of) about the one that got away.