My September Fishing Diary: Another Day of New River Spots Exploration
September 12th, 2024 – Today’s weather was a perfect mix of “not too hot, not too cool” for fishing. After spending the Mid-Autumn Festival at home with my son, I finally got to escape the kitchen (and the kids’ Lego chaos) to go wild fishing again! Last time, I hit the Shaxi wild river and caught some decent fish, so I was itching to find another hidden gem. Let me tell you about my morning adventure – complete with a little misinformation, a detour, and some unexpected small fish encounters!
Morning Plans: When Rumors Led to Misadventures
First, let’s set the scene. I’d heard from a fellow angler the night before that a pond called “Wuhe Tang” had just stocked fish. Man, did that get me excited! I spent half the night replaying last year’s experience: two hours of nonstop biting, hauling in 10+ jin of crucian carp and grass carp. I swear, I was practically drooling thinking about it. But when I rolled out of bed at dawn and drove to Wuhe Tang, reality hit hard.
The place was a ghost town. No crowds, no splashing, just a few old-timers with long rods. I asked one guy, and he just shook his head: “No fish in weeks – the netting is broken, and the water’s too clear.” Oops, rumor busted! And to make it worse, the river there was rushing so fast I couldn’t cast without tangling. Perfect, so much for my “guaranteed big catch” day. Onward to Plan B: explore!
Finding the New Spot: Road Tripping for Rivers
When fishing plans go south, I always default to the “drive aimlessly until something looks right” method. I cruised along the roads near Xinhuichuan West Road, scanning the riverbanks. What I wanted was: clean water, some weeds (for hiding spots), and easy parking. And yes, no high-voltage lines (safety first, people!).
As I drove past a wide river channel with a fish-retaining net, I stopped. The water looked calm, and there was a grassy bank with a few spots for parking. Perfect! No one was there yet, so I parked quietly. I checked the depth with a stick – about 2 meters deep, which is manageable for my 3.9m rod. The guy across the river was using a long traditional rod, but I didn’t bother asking (he looked too focused on his own catch). If others can fish here, so can I. Worst case, I’ll go home with nothing – but that’s better than sitting at home, right?
Equipment Check: Keeping It Classic
My go-to setup today: 3.9m rod (I love this length for rivers – casts well and reaches the middle of the channel), 1.2mm main line, 0.6mm subline, and a size 1 hook (I prefer smaller hooks for small fish, even though today I caught a surprise). Oh, and my trusty float: I started with a 1.4g float to cast into the current, but the wind was tricky. I switched to a 2.0g float for better control – turns out, the depth was deeper than I thought, so a heavier float helps keep the bait steady.
But the real star today was my homemade bait. After moving house, I realized I’ve got *way* too many unused fishing formulas. There were whole boxes of unopened mixes gathering dust – some even expired! But instead of letting them go to waste, I repurposed them. I mixed a few old formulas with wine rice and some homemade medicine wine, then packed them into small balls. Now I can just grab a handful, add water, and cast – saves so much time at the river! No more fumbling with open bags and scales; just “squeeze and cast.”
Fishing the New Spot: Adapting to the River’s Mood
First, I needed to find the bottom. I cast a few times, adjusting the float until I hit the sand. The river here was calm, but there was a light breeze that made casting a bit wobbly. I set up a fixed point: drop the hook, let it sink, and wait. Then I started “playing” with the float – no, not like that, I mean casting in small intervals to attract fish.
My first few casts caught nothing but the occasional ripple. Then, mid-air, I saw a flash – a whitebait! So I switched to a 2.0g float (my 1.4g was too light for the current). With the new float, I dropped the bait, and *bam* – a small white fish hit. But wait, that was a “mid-air” bite, meaning the fish was attacking the float on the way down. So I adjusted: instead of letting it sink, I started using a “drift float” to target fish rising from deeper water. That’s when I realized the river had some deeper pockets – perfect for crucian carp!
But wait, every time I cast, I kept hooking tiny fish. First, a whitebait, then a “wheat ear” (I think it’s a minnow with a silver body, like a wheat seedling). I caught about 5 of them before a real bite hit. The float dipped sharply – not a small fish! I struck, and felt a heavy pull. But it was just a big crucian? No, wait, the fish was small. Wait, maybe it was a carp? No, crucian carp are smaller. Either way, I fought it for a minute before realizing it was a small fish too. “Fishing is about patience,” I told myself, but honestly, when you’re used to big catches, small fish feel like a tease!
Dealing with the Little Ones & Calling It a Day
Here’s the thing: I switched floats, changed the bait, even switched the hook size – but the small fish kept biting. I tried “catching and releasing” but they’re so small, I just let them go. Then, my phone rang – it was my manager, calling for an urgent “emergency work meeting.” Ugh, right, adulting strikes again. I’d hoped to fish until sunset, but work won’t wait.
So I packed up, dumped the remaining bait into the river (I don’t want to leave trash), and headed home. Total catch? 1 small crucian, 10+ whitebait, and 5 wheat ears. Not a big day, but that’s fishing, right? The adventure of finding a new spot, even if it didn’t pan out, is half the fun.
Final Takeaways: Lessons from the Day
1. **Rumors aren’t always reliable** – always check with local anglers first, or just roll the dice and explore.
2. **Backup gear is key** – if your float breaks, have extras. But more importantly, backup *bait*! My homemade mix worked like a charm.
3. **Flexibility is everything** – today, I started with 1.4g float, switched to 2.0g, changed bait, adjusted depth. That’s why they say “fishing without a net” – you adapt or you lose.
4. **Small fish = practice** – patience with tiny bites builds skills for when the big ones hit. I can now cast with my eyes closed after today’s “micro-fish marathon.”
Next time, I’ll try again at Xinhuichuan West Road. Maybe I’ll bring a longer rod to target the deeper spots. And next time, I’ll bring snacks – because waiting for fish is hungry work! Until then, happy fishing, everyone – may your next spot be better than expected, even if it means a detour.
