Fishing Festival: First Luo River Catch of the New Year – Small Haul, Monster Fish

Let’s be real – my fishing game hasn’t been the same lately. Remember when I’d drop everything for Friday night fishing? Now life’s just a mess of errands and random stuff getting in the way. Next thing I know, it’s March, and I haven’t wet a line in the Luo River all year. But hey, the temps finally bounced back this week, so I rounded up a buddy and said, “Let’s do a night fishing trip – no excuses!”

Finding the Secret Spot (With a Little Help)

We hit up the south bank of Junhe Bay – that spot’s got magic, right? It’s quiet, and you can roll up on a bike or scooter right behind your spot, which is perfect for hauling all your gear. Last year the fishing was garbage there, so I hadn’t been back. The secret entrance I used to know? Almost blocked off. I was panicking a little, trying to remember where the heck to go, when a fellow angler rolled out on an electric bike. Duh – just follow him in! Crisis averted.

Setting Up Shop: Rods, Baits, and Last-Minute Hacks

Rod Length: Go Long or Go Home

We got there around 6 PM, and the day anglers were packing up. I asked a guy what he was using – 6.3-meter rod. The old timer next to him with an 8.1-meter rod? Looked like he’d caught a few too. So lesson #1: long rods are the move here. 6.3 meters is the minimum.

Bait: The “Forgot My Wine Rice” Special

My bait was pre-mixed at home – mostly stinky (high-protein) with a little sweet. But wait… I forgot my wine rice! Total brain fart. I rummaged through my bag and found some random free bait from a fishing app. Threw it all together, stirred it up, and hoped for the best. Let’s call it the “desperate special.”

Line & Hook: Winter Setup Strikes Again

I stuck with my winter line setup – 1.0 main line, 0.6 leader. Hooks? My go-to for river fishing: size 4 barbless Jinhai Xi hooks. Bait was a stinky-sweet pull bait, rod was a 6.3-meter Menggong Qinghu (light fox, if you wanna get fancy). Set it to 2 eyes under water, 1 eye over – classic winter setup.

The Wait: From No Bites to a Monster Bite

We set up, and the place was packed with anglers – all lengths of rods, everyone casting like crazy. My buddy grabbed his 5.4-meter rod and headed to the shallow end, far from the crowd. Saturday was warm, so shallow water should heat up fast, right? Sure enough, he got a bite first. Then a few small fish nibbles. Meanwhile, I’m in the deep end – no trash fish, but my float’s just sitting there. Dead. I thought, “Great, I’m gonna freeze here all night.”

Then, at 9 PM – boom! A slow, steady sink of the float. I lifted the rod, and bam – that’s a big one. The fight? Oh man, that’s the good stuff. Turned out to be a monster carp. I was stoked – finally! But then… nothing. Nada. My float might as well have been glued to the water. My buddy, though? He picked off a few more slow bites. By 10 PM, we were done. Old rule: catch, snap a pic, release, wash the net. No keepers tonight – just the big one and a few small guys for my friend.

What I Learned (The Hard Way)

Let’s break down the wins and fails from this trip:

• Temps are wild right now – big day-night differences. Day fishing is way better than night right now.
• Night fishing? Stick to shallow water (1.5-1.6 meters) before 10 PM. That’s where the action is.
• Bait: STINKY. Wine rice is a must – don’t be like me and forget it. Small bites, so you need something that lingers.
• Line & hooks: Go tiny. Light line, small hooks, sensitive float. Those fish are nibbling, not chomping.
• Release the little guys! Keep the big ones if you want, but let the small ones grow. I’m all about catch-and-release – keeps the river healthy.

Side note: I’m obsessed with TikTok, but night fishing? That’s my real jam. Nothing beats the quiet, the stars, and that split second when you feel a bite. Even if the haul is small, that big carp made the whole trip worth it. Can’t wait to get back – next time I’ll remember the wine rice, promise.