Fishing Stories by the Qi River: From Annoying Slingshots to a Cat’s Curiosity
Man, let me tell you, the weather these past couple of days can be summed up in one word: scorching. It’s like Spring and Summer had a massive argument, Spring got so fed up it packed its bags and went back to its parents’ place, and Summer, left alone and grumpy, decided to take it all out on us. No gentle transition, just a full-on, violent blast of heat. It’s brutal!
Yesterday, the mercury hit 36°C (that’s about 97°F for my friends across the pond). For our little northern city, that’s absolutely insane for this time of year. The streets, parks, and riverbanks are now parade grounds for… well, let’s just say a lot of people are wearing very short pants, all desperately seeking a patch of shade to escape the sun’s relentless “affection.”
But you know what? Hot or not, a fishing trip is a fishing trip. That’s the principle of the “fishing for fun” lifestyle. If you’ve got the time, you don’t get lazy. Of course, you’ve got to be smart about it—avoid the peak heat around noon. So, as the evening brought a sliver of coolness, it was go-time. Grabbed my gear and headed straight for my old haunt.
The Setup: Chasing Shadows and Big Fish Dreams
Date: May 16th
Location: Old fishing spot by the Qi River
Weather: Sunny and unforgiving
Rod: 3.6m Zhulu Crucian rod
Float: Yiwei reed float
Bait: A mix of All-Kill fishy and aromatic bait
Hook: Size 1 sleeve hook
Line: 1.5 main line, 0.6 leader
Rig: Set to one eye, fishing for two or more
Lately, my fishing trips have been a tease. I’ve had two outings in a row where I hooked into something big, only for it to say “see ya!” and snap my line. Is my luck good because I’m finding them, or terrible because I can’t land them? Honestly, their escape makes perfect sense. That tiny hook and whisper-thin leader line are not meant for that kind of heavyweight duty. I’m basically asking a toothpick to lift a dumbbell. It’s a bit unfair to the gear, and definitely to the fish!
Unwelcome Guests: The Slingshot Menace
Today, I returned to my old reliable spot under the Taishan Road bridge. This place has practically become an influencer hotspot—the north bank was packed. It wasn’t even 6 PM yet, and the river watchman was still on duty, so the prime spots on the bridge itself were still empty. Perfect timing. In a few minutes, he’d clock out, and I could claim my throne. I started prepping my bait to save time once I started fishing.
Just as I was mixing, three guys in sunglasses walked down from the bridge. Ugh, instant mood killer. The gear on their arms gave them away immediately: slingshot fishermen. In recent years, we’ve seen a rise of these “visual spear-fishing” guys and these slingshot hunters. Their methods are, frankly, horrifying and the damage they do to fish populations is right up there with illegal netting. But they’re sneaky and mobile. They’re everywhere here. Seeing them just fills you with this helpless frustration. Yeah, you could call the authorities, but by the time anyone shows up, they’re long gone, vanished into the city.
You know what they say: out of sight, out of mind. I packed my stuff and moved about a hundred meters down to fish near the highway bridge. I’d had decent bites here a few days ago. More importantly, I just didn’t want to see those slingshot guys. They ruin the whole vibe.
A Change of Scenery, But Not of Luck
The two spots aren’t far apart. But today, the wind direction was all wrong for this spot. Fishing downwind is never ideal, and sure enough, after about half an hour, I had almost zero bites. I managed to lure up two desperately hungry little silver fish, but not a single crucian carp in sight. Checked the time—the river watchman should be off duty by now. Time to head back to the main spot and try my luck there.
Back to Base: Feline Distractions and Fishing Struggles
I returned to the old spot. The slingshot gang was gone, and so was the watchman. The bridge spots were now taken, including by a young couple, maybe in their twenties. Each had a rod, and they had a fancy pet carrier backpack. Inside was this majestic-looking tabby cat—definitely not your average alley cat. Just looking at that designer carrier told you it wasn’t cheap, let alone the pedigreed feline royalty inside it. I have to hand it to the younger generation; they know how to live. Out for a stroll with the girlfriend, walking the cat, and getting some fishing in? That’s the dream right there.
I snapped my focus back. Time to get serious. I hadn’t fished here for a few days, and the water conditions had changed noticeably. The water level was about half a meter deeper, and there was way more submerged vegetation. Cast after cast yielded nothing. Was today going to be a complete skunk? The young couple wasn’t having any luck either. The fishing after summer kicks in is so unpredictable. This place used to be a guaranteed spot for multiple bites, but not today.
Just as I was starting to feel that familiar pang of fisherman’s despair, I saw it. The float settled, then ever so slowly rose by one eye. I lifted the rod, felt the resistance, and out came a beautiful little crucian carp, maybe two ounces. What a relief! It felt like a major victory.
The Slow Grind and a Grand Finale
Time kept ticking, but the fishing never really picked up. By the end of the session, I’d only managed to tempt three small crucians out of hiding. The couple packed up empty-handed. It really makes you wonder about fishing during this seasonal shift from spring to summer. The fish just become complete mysteries. To all my fellow anglers out there, how’s the bite in your neck of the woods? Any secret tricks for this tricky time? I’m all ears!
My session wrapped up with a rather classy send-off: three beautiful horses from a nearby equestrian club trotted gracefully along the path. A much nicer sight than slingshots, that’s for sure.
So that was my adventure by the Qi River. A mix of annoyance, a bit of awe at a fancy cat, some serious struggles with the fish, and a tiny bit of success. This “fishing for fun” journey always has something new to throw at you. Here’s hoping your next trip has more bites and fewer unwanted surprises. And a huge happy 7th anniversary to the Fishing Home community – may all your events be a roaring success!
I’d love to hear if you’ve had run-ins with slingshot fishermen or if your pets ever join your fishing trips. And seriously, any tips for summer fishing are welcome!
