Belated Fishing Report 1: Refusing to Give Up, Still Blank Again
Okay, let’s cut to the chase—this fishing report’s way overdue. I’ve been out a few times since May 2024, but life hit me with a double whammy: some random chaos and a little health scare that left me feeling flat-out gloomy. Future plans? Meh. Writing? Zero motivation. But after a buddy talked some sense into me and I took it slow, I finally found my spark again. And since I’ve been itching to wrap up those unwritten fishing logs, this one’s first on the list—no more putting it off!
Why We Came Back (Spoiler: We Were Stubborn)
Us anglers? We’re suckers for a “big fish dream.” Last time we hit this reservoir? Total blank. But when you know there’s a monster lurking below and you walk away empty-handed? It sticks with you. Anger, frustration, “I’ll show you this water”—you name the emotion, we felt it. So when the post-May 1 holiday weekend only gave us one day off? My buddy Xiao Zhi (yeah, we’ll keep the nickname, but in English vibes) hit me up immediately: “Let’s go back to that reservoir. We’re not leaving till we land something.”
Setting Up Shop (Again, in the Same Spot)
We grabbed some rice noodles for breakfast, rolled up to the reservoir around 8 AM, and guess what? We were the first ones there. The water was way lower than last time—maybe 20 cm down? Not a great sign, but we’re stubborn, remember? We plopped down in the exact same spots we fished last time (why mess with a “proven” spot? Even if it blanked us once…).
First step: check the depth. Then mix up some floral-scented bait for the spot, plus a little of the reservoir owner’s rice wine dregs to boost the scent. Ten minutes later, the sun popped up, and wow—those rays were brutal. Blinding, even. We knew the day was gonna get hot, but we didn’t care… yet.
Waiting (And Waiting, And Waiting) for a Bite
While the bait soaked, I rigged up: top hook with old jar corn, bottom hook with wine-scented corn. Tossed it out and waited. Twenty minutes later, my main bait was ready—so I switched to double hooks, started casting every minute on the dot. Twenty minutes of that, and… nothing. Nada. Zilch.
By then, the sun was climbing, and I was bored out of my mind. I spotted a bird darting back and forth near the bridge—feeding chicks, probably. I yelled over to Xiao Zhi: “Hey, check out this bird!” His reply? Four blunt words: “Focus on fishing.” Ugh, party pooper. I kept casting, twitching the rod every two minutes to lure something in. Half an hour later? Still no bite. No twitch, no bobble, nothing.
Desperation Sets In (And a Frog Attack)
By 10 AM, the sun was scorching. Sweating through my shirt, even the bird had tucked into its nest for shade. No bites = no fun. I wandered over to Xiao Zhi’s spot. He was using old jar corn too, so I grabbed a bottle (don’t worry, he said yes). Then I swiped a ball of smelly bait (the kind fish supposedly love when it’s hot) and headed back.
I set up 1.5 meters away from my original spot, under the bridge’s shade, and started casting the smelly stuff. Still nothing. My net was sitting there, unused, and I swear it was judging me. The day was turning into a joke—until…
When the “Bite” Is Just a Frog
There was no wind, just sticky heat. Xiao Zhi was bored too—until he spotted the reservoir owner’s hoe. Next thing I know, he’s doing volunteer work: fixing up the fishing spots! He’d finish one, yell over: “Check out my handiwork!” I’d yell back: “Focus on fishing!” (Payback’s a beach, right?) He kept going—fixed five spots total. Dude’s a laborer, not an angler today, I swear.
I was still casting, switching between spots, when—boom! My float shot up fast. I yank the rod… nothing. But a bite! I yelled to Xiao Zhi: “Got a twitch!” Then I got serious, casting again. A few minutes later, the float slowly sank to the side. I yank—felt something heavy! But no fight. No thrashing, no pull. Weird. I reeled it in… and there’s a frog hanging on the hook. I laughed so hard I almost dropped the rod. Tried to take a pic, but the frog squirmed free and plopped back into the water. Typical.
Calling It Quits (Third Blank in a Row)
By then, the sun was unbearable. Xiao Zhi gave up on fixing spots. I picked up all the trash other anglers left (come on, guys—leave the place cleaner than you found it!). Then we packed up. As we walked away, I looked back at the reservoir: “Third blank. Wow.” Xiao Zhi just sighed: “Next time?” I shrugged. Do I have the guts to come back? Who knows.
Anyway, that’s the report. Overdue, but done. Now I just gotta stop thinking about that frog… and that stupid blank. Maybe next time the fish will show up? Or maybe I’ll just bring more snacks. Either way, fishing’s still fun—even when it’s a total flop. What’s your worst blank story? Drop it in the comments below!
