Ant River Pole Fishing at Donghua Gate: Non-Stop Small Fish Chaos

Hey there, fishing buddies! It’s Cao here, and let me tell you—my recent trips to the Ant River have been a wild mix of wind, tiny fish, and some unexpected holiday chaos. If you’re into real, unfiltered fishing diaries (no fancy big-fish lies here), stick around. Today’s story? Donghua Gate, non-stop small fish, and a day that started with forgetting the Mid-Autumn Festival (oops).

First Off: The Windy, Fishless Slump (Before Donghua Gate)

Let’s set the scene. For two days straight, I hit the Ant River, and man—what a letdown. It was either gale-force winds that made casting impossible, or every single bite was from those tiny, annoying “trash fish” that don’t even count as a real catch. No decent fish, no nothing. But hey, at least I didn’t go home empty-handed? Wait, no—wait, no, I did get some, but they were so small they barely qualified. Let’s just say “satisfied with whatever” was my motto those days.

Mid-Autumn Festival? Wait, What Day Is It?

Okay, here’s the chaotic part. I’m a guy who’s either working (moving bricks, if you must know) or fishing. My brain’s basically a loop of “work → bait → cast.” So imagine my surprise when I got to the work site, and everyone’s chatting about the Mid-Autumn Festival. “Wait, today’s the festival?” I thought. Nope, turns out it was the day before, but I was so out of the loop I panicked. I rushed home at lunch, grabbed some snacks for my parents, and made plans to meet them for dinner. But first—fishing! Because priorities, right?

Rushing to Donghua Gate: The “Warrior” Old Angler

I bolted home, scarfed down a quick bite, and grabbed my gear. My destination? Donghua Gate on the Ant River—my usual spot for “maybe a big one” dreams. But when I got there, I saw a familiar sight: an old angler sitting there, rod in hand, looking like he’d been there since dawn. I asked, and sure enough—he’d been fishing since 7 AM. A total warrior! No breaks, no food? Dude, respect. But also, “dude, it’s a holiday—go home!”

My Setup: 3 Rods, No Plan (Just Hoping)

I set up in my go-to spot, even though I knew the big fish (like the “big boat nail fish” we locals call them) had been MIA. My setup? Three rods: one 4.5m, two 3.6m. All with pull bait (to attract whatever’s biting). I wasn’t picky—catch whatever bites, I thought. And bite they did… just not the good ones.

Small Fish Chaos: Pairs, Pairs, and More Pairs

First, the tiny “small boat nail fish” (let’s just call them minnow-like pests) were coming up in pairs. Like, every cast, two of them. Annoying? So annoying. I tried switching it up: hook with bait, bottom with worm. Did that stop the small stuff? Nope. But wait—something weird happened. I started getting double hooks of two different fish! Like, a small carp (wait, no, “Huluozi” is what we call a type of minnow) and a boat nail fish together. What the heck? That’s not how double hooks are supposed to work! Nature’s trolling me, I swear.

Some Wins (But Still Tiny): Huluozi and Small Crucian Carp

Okay, let’s not be all negative. I did catch some Huluozi—those little guys were actually decent size, almost as big as small crucian carp. And a few small crucian carp too. But that’s it. The old angler downstream? He’d caught two tiny catfish (we call them “catfish balls” because they’re so small), some “Qinglingzi” (another tiny minnow), and a couple crucian carp. Nothing to write home about.

Downstream Mystery: Why No Big Fish?

We chatted about the downstream spot—usually, that’s where the big carp hang out (3+ meters deep). But this year? Nada. No bites, no activity. “What’s going on?” we wondered. Maybe the water temperature? Maybe the fish moved? Who knows. But it’s frustrating—last year, that spot was a carp goldmine.

Tired of Tiny Fish: Let’s Move!

By 3 PM, I’d had enough. All I was catching were baby fish—so small I didn’t even bother with a fish basket. The Qinglingzi? They’re jumpy! Every time I tried to take the hook out, they’d leap out of my hand. Put them in the bait bowl? They’d bounce right out. I gave up on keeping them. So I packed up my rods and decided to try downstream—maybe a change of scenery would help.

Downstream: More Tiny Fish (Including Baby Carp)

I set up one 4.5m pole (for “waiting fishing” as we call it—slow, patient) and one 3m rod with a float. Bites were fast… but again, tiny. Small crucian carp, mostly. And then—two baby carp! So small I almost mistook them for crucian carp. I let those go immediately—no way I’m keeping baby fish. I caught a dozen more tiny crucian carp, but that’s it. No big fish, no excitement.

Why Wild Fishing Over Ponds/Reservoirs?

Let me take a quick detour—some of you might ask, “Why not go to a paid pond or reservoir for big fish?” Fair question. Here’s my take:

• No one to go with! All my fishing buddies stick to wild spots, not paid ones.
• Wild fishing is about freedom. If I’m bored, I can pack up and leave. No pressure to “stay until you catch something” because you paid money.
• Paid ponds are expensive, and reservoirs? If you don’t catch a big fish, you’re stuck there for hours, wasting time and money. And let’s be real—when you do catch a big fish, what do you do with it? My parents’ freezer still has fish from last winter’s ice fishing. They don’t want any more! I’d rather just catch for fun, not for food.

Wrapping Up (Finally): Home for Festival Dinner

By 4 PM, I’d had enough. I let all the tiny fish go (they’re too small to eat anyway) and headed home. The old angler? Still there, saying he’d stay until 4:30. Respect, but also—dude, it’s a holiday! Go eat mooncakes with your family!

Oh, and quick correction: I thought that day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, but it was actually the day before. Oops. Anyway, to all my fishing buddies out there—happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Hope you catch bigger fish than I did. Until next time, tight lines (and may your hooks not get stuck on tiny fish pairs)! 🎣