Fishing for Small Minnows at Outer Ring River with Size 4 Hooks: A Casual Day by the Water

Hey fellow anglers, what’s up! Welcome to my little fishing diary. Let me tell you about a recent trip I took to Outer Ring River—you know, the spot where I’ve been chasing small catches instead of big trophies lately. Spoiler: It turned into a hilarious session of hooking tiny minnows with size 4 hooks. Who would’ve thought?

Why I Chose Outer Ring River That Day

First off, let’s set the scene. It was September 17th, and there were some COVID restrictions in parts of Tianjin (but don’t worry, I was lucky enough to get out). The day before, I’d had a crazy catch—so many fish my arm was actually sore! So I decided to take it easy this time. No pressure to land big fish, just relax by the water, breathe some fresh air, and maybe catch a few small guys for fun. Outer Ring River was perfect for that—recently, it’s been full of small crucian carp, not the big ones or carp everyone dreams of. But hey, I was there for the vibe, not the trophy.

My Fishing Setup for the Day

Let’s talk gear—because even for casual fishing, you need the right stuff. Here’s what I packed:

• Rod: Dousha 3.6-meter rod (light, perfect for small fish)
• Main Line: 1.2 (thick enough for some pull, thin enough for sensitivity)
• Leader Line: 0.8 (super thin, good for tiny bites)
• Hooks: Size 4 (wait, size 4? For minnows? Yeah, I know—stick with me)
• Floater: Less than 3 grams (because the river was flowing—current means you need a heavier floater to stay put)
• Bait: Leftover mix of “Tongsha Xing” and “Tongsha Xiang” (I’d made too much the day before and stuck it in the fridge—waste not, want not, right? Gotta respect the bait makers!)

Oh, and I didn’t even bother with chumming. I just wanted to sit, cast, and see what happened. No pressure, no plans—just me and the river.

The First Few Casts: Small Crucian Carp and a Surprise

I cast my line, and boom—instant action! The floater bobbed up and down, then took off. I lifted the rod, and there was a tiny crucian carp. Nice! I thought, “Is this gonna be a hot streak?” But nope—after a few more casts, the bites slowed down. Oh well, that’s fishing for you.

Then, another bite: the floater was shaking like crazy—classic small fish nibbling. I waited until it took a good bite, then lifted. Whoa! A small silver fish—turns out it was a topmouth culter (you know, those jumpy guys). And get this—it was hooked through the gills! When I took a photo, it was flopping around so much it fell off the hook and landed on its fin. Looked like it was doing a “flying mode” stunt. The water couldn’t hold it, so it tried to fly? Hilarious. Here’s a pic of that crazy catch:

The Tiny Minnow Surprise: Size 4 Hooks and Micro-Fish

After that, I cast again. The floater shook, then… blackout! I thought, “Wow, that’s a big one!” But when I lifted the rod, there was zero weight. I pulled it out, and—holy cow—it was a tiny minnow. Like, microscopic tiny. And it was hooked properly with a size 4 hook! How is that even possible? I felt like a fishing wizard. Who catches minnows with size 4 hooks? Me, apparently. Check this little guy out:

Then, I cast again. Waited… waited… 30 minutes later, another bite. The floater was bouncing all over the place—definitely small fish. I waited until it stopped moving, then lifted. Again! Another tiny minnow. What is this? Is the river training me? The minnow flopped around in my bucket so much it escaped. I just laughed—this was too funny.

The River’s Flow and the End of the Day

Oh, and let’s not forget the water level—it was dropping like crazy. That’s why the bites were so slow sometimes. Fish move when the water level changes, right? After a while, I cast, and… nothing. Nada. So I sat back, checked the fishing app, replied to some messages from other anglers, and watched the water. An hour later, another bite—small crucian carp again. Here’s a pic of that one:

But then, no more bites. I waited another 30 minutes, and nothing. So I decided to call it a day. Since no one was around to take a pic of me, I just took shots of my catch bucket (and the river, which is basically my “natural fish tank,” ha!). Then, I did the best part of fishing: releasing all the fish. Gotta leave the river full of life for the next anglers. Here’s me releasing the fish:

Why This Trip Was Perfect (Even Without Big Fish)

Let’s be real—this wasn’t a “trophy catch” day. But it was fun. I didn’t stress about catching big fish. I just relaxed, laughed at the tiny minnows, and enjoyed the quiet. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. Fishing isn’t just about the catch—it’s about the time outside, the fresh air, and the silly moments (like hooking a minnow with a size 4 hook).

Hey, if you’re feeling stressed, grab your rod and head to a casual spot like Outer Ring River. Don’t set big goals—just cast, wait, and see what happens. You might end up with a story (and some tiny fish photos) that make you smile.

Until next time, tight lines, and remember: even the smallest catches can be the most memorable. Catch you in the next post!