Perfect Overcast Autumn Days: A Middle School Freshman’s Night Fishing Adventure Gone Wild

Okay, let’s cut to the chase—yesterday was the White Dew solar term, which means the sun’s moving south, days are getting shorter, and that old poem “From tonight’s dew turns white; the moon’s brightest over home” starts hitting different. Lately, the temperature swing here is wild: 30°C (86°F) at noon, 18°C (64°F) at night. Everyone says autumn’s perfect for fishing, but wait—do fish even bite when it’s hot during the day? I figured once the sun went down and it cooled off, they’d be hungry. So after dinner, I hopped on my “BMW” (okay, fine, my beat-up bike) and headed out. Let’s just say the night didn’t go as planned… but it was way more memorable than a typical fishing trip.

First Stop: Battling the Weed Jungle (And Winning… Barely)

My go-to spot? Anchang River, just above marker 398. But holy cow—summer’s overgrown everything. The bank was a wall of weeds, no clear spot to sit. I felt like Indiana Jones hacking through the jungle just to find a tiny patch of dry ground. After 10 minutes of swatting, tripping, and muttering, I found a spot that didn’t look like it’d collapse into the river. Score? Maybe. Let’s just say my shoes were already caked in mud by the time I set up my gear.

My Fishing Setup (AKA “The Tools of the Trade”)

Let’s list out what I brought—no fancy stuff, just my usual go-tos:

• Rod: 4.5m (14.7ft) generic pole (nothing fancy, but it’s loyal)
• Line: 1.5lb main + 0.8lb leader (thin enough for finicky fish, strong enough… maybe)
• Float: Xiaofengxian 1.8g (I’ve had this for years—never lets me down)
• Bait: “All-Catch Shrimp” (super versatile, has shrimp and attractants mixed with grain)
• Hook: Size 5 sleeve hook (good for small to medium fish)
• Target: Redtail fish (they love strong scents—this bait’s perfect for ’em)

By the time I got everything sorted, the sun was fully down. Good thing I just bought a Xionghuo G-1 headlamp from an online shop—total lifesaver. Hooking bait and tying knots would’ve been impossible without it. I mixed up the All-Catch Shrimp: you have to knead it a bit to make it sticky for pulling, or keep it loose if you want it to break up fast. I went with sticky for better hook hold—no sense in feeding the river for free.

The “Bite” That Wasn’t (And the Neighbor’s Lucky Break)

First cast, second cast, third cast… nothing. Then—BAM—next to me, this guy’s line is screaming. I’m like, “DUDE, WHAT DID YOU GET?!” He yells back, “Little carp—maybe half a pound!” Wait, half a pound? That line noise sounded like a shark. Either his rod’s super soft, or that carp was on steroids. Either way, I’m thinking, “Tonight’s gonna be good—maybe a mini-bag (that’s fishing talk for a small haul)!”

Me? My float’s just sitting there. Then—tiny red tick. Gone. Red tick. Gone. I’m like, “What the hell is that?!” I tried dropping the float two inches to “fish deeper” (or whatever the old-timers say). Still nothing. Then, as I’m scrolling my phone (rude, I know), the float drifts sideways. “Crab again?” I thought—those little guys love stealing bait. I lifted the rod, and… TWITCH. Oh, thank god—it’s a fish! Pulled it up, and there’s my first catch of the night: a yellow catfish (locals call ’em “Imperial Army” for some reason—don’t ask). “Surrender, little guy!” I laughed. “I’ll treat you nice… until I release you later.”

When Bait Fails: Switching to Worms (Desperation Mode)

After that, nothing. Nada. Zilch. I switched to worms—figured if the fish didn’t want shrimp, maybe they wanted a live snack. Still, the bites were tiny—so light I could barely feel ’em. By 10 PM, I’m thinking, “Is this how the night ends? One yellow catfish and a bunch of near-misses?”

Then—my phone blows up. A friend texts: “JUST CAUGHT A 5-6LB BIGHEAD CARP! IN THE FUJIANG RIVER!” And the kicker? He didn’t even hook it—he snagged it. I’m like, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” I’ve fished that river for years and never even seen a bighead that big. So I thought, “Why not try snagging?” Big mistake. I cast, felt a tug—thought it was a fish. Nope. “Hangnail!” (fishing talk for a snag). I pulled hard… and my hook snapped. But wait—my leader didn’t break! It’s that Jiucheng line I bought from the shop—total game-changer. Super flexible, strong as hell. The hook gave out first. Note to self: upgrade hooks next time.

The “Monster” That Scared Us Home (No, Not a Fish)

By 11 PM, my neighbor’s packing up. I say, “One more cast!” I stand up, ready to throw… and see a wavy line moving through the water right by my rod. My brain goes, “SNAKE. SNAKE. SNAKE.” I’ve been terrified of snakes since I was a kid. The bank’s covered in tall grass—nowhere to run. I yell, “DUDE—SNAKE! RIGHT THERE!” He looks, goes pale, and says, “LET’S GO. NOW.”

We packed up faster than you can say “fishing rod.” Tossed the yellow catfish back (sorry, little guy—we’ll meet again), grabbed our gear, and bolted. By the time we hit the road, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it. Note to self: never fish in tall grass after dark. Ever. Even if the temperature’s perfect.

Final Thoughts (No, Not a “Lesson Learned”—Just a Rant)

So, the night ended with: 1 yellow catfish (released), 1 neighbor’s small carp, 1 broken hook, and a snake scare that’ll haunt my dreams. But hey—fishing’s not just about catching fish, right? It’s about the stupid stuff that happens. Like hacking through weeds, watching a friend snag a giant carp, and running from a snake like we’re in a horror movie.

Next time? I’m bringing a machete for the weeds, a better hook, and maybe a snake repellent. And I’m definitely heading to the Fujiang River for the bighead carp—snagging or not. Let’s be real, I’ll probably get skunked again, but that’s half the fun. Oh, and if you’re reading this and thinking, “Why is a middle school freshman writing about fishing?”—because I’ve been obsessed since I was 10. Sue me.

Until next time, tight lines (and watch for snakes)! 👋