Preparing for the Fishing Adventure with Friends
Before the New Year, I made a plan with my buddy to visit his place for a few days. Let’s be real—half the reason was to hang out and strengthen our bond, but the other half? Purely to satisfy my fishing craving! His house is near a Huaihe River tributary, and let me tell you, the fishing spots around there are chef’s kiss. So many great spots to choose from; it’s like a fishing paradise for us enthusiasts.
We set the date for the afternoon of January 5th, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM. The crew? Me, my buddy, and his cousin—three of us ready to chase some fish. The weather couldn’t have been better: sunny with a light breeze, perfect for casting lines without worrying about wind messing up our throws.
Here’s the gear we brought (and used):
- 3 string hook setups (straight-shaft spinning rods with spinning reels)
- Hook type: Size 7 Maruzen hooks (super reliable for freshwater fish)
- Sinkers: 30g drop-shaped lead weights (kept the bait steady even with the light current)
- Fishing method: Overhead casting, searching for fish within 20–50 meters
- Bait: Red worms (classic choice—fish go crazy for these)
Oh, and a little mishap: we forgot to bring rod holders! But no worries—we spotted an old uncle chopping wood nearby, borrowed his knife, and cut a few tree branches to make our own DIY rod stands. Guess what? They worked like a charm! Who needs store-bought holders when you’ve got a sharp knife and some sturdy branches, right?
The First Catch: Proving My Skills to My Doubtful Buddy
I was just getting ready to set up the second rod when—ding ding ding!—the small bell on the first rod we cast started ringing like crazy. That’s the sound every angler lives for! I rushed over to reel it in, and within a minute, I had the fish on shore. A solid 4.5 liang (about 0.225 kg) catch—nice size for a first fish!
My buddy had been side-eyeing my fishing skills a little before this, teasing that maybe I’d come home empty-handed. But this catch shut him up real quick! He just stared at the fish, then at me, and didn’t say a word. I felt so proud—proof that my skills haven’t gotten rusty, and the fishing resources here are top-notch.
We checked the water depth near the shore later: 6–7 meters out, the water was less than half a meter deep. That meant my 7.2m traditional fishing rod was useless—what a bummer! The two grass-bed nests I’d planned to use for traditional fishing went to waste too. But hey, the string hooks were working, so we stuck with those.
Teaching Friends to Fish and the Chaos of Multiple Bites
After snapping a quick photo of my first catch, I got back to work—set up all three rods and cast them out. Then I took a minute to teach my two friends how to reel in fish and “fly” them (you know, lifting the fish out of the water smoothly without breaking the line). I didn’t want to be the only one having fun! But let’s be honest—casting takes some skill, so I ended up handling most of the throws. No shame in being the crew’s designated caster, right?
Our routine was simple: if a rod didn’t get a bite after a few minutes, we’d drag the bait a little to “tease” the fish. Still no luck? Reel it in and cast to a new spot. Since we used rubber bands to attach the red worms, the bait lasted longer—we only needed to replace it occasionally, which saved us time.
Then came the exciting part: we started catching fish on and off, and more than half of them were “slabs” (nice, plump fish)! The craziest moment? All three rods’ bells rang at the same time! The three of us scrambled to reel in—laughing, yelling, and exclaiming as we each pulled in a fish. That’s the kind of chaos that makes fishing with friends so memorable. No quiet solo trips here—just loud, messy, joyful fun.
Mid-trip, I hooked a small grass carp that was almost a jin (about 0.5 kg). We took a photo to remember it, then released it back into the water—no need to keep every fish, especially since it was a young one. Let it grow bigger for someone else to catch later!
Wrapping Up the Trip: Sunset, Fish, and Happy Friends
By 4:30 PM, we decided to pack up. As we walked back, we stopped to watch the sunset—pink and orange hues painting the sky over the river. That moment of calm after hours of excitement? Pure bliss. I felt so relaxed and content, like all the stress from daily life had melted away.
Let’s talk about the final haul: 28 fish total, and more than half were at least half a jin each. That’s a successful trip by any standard! My buddy and his cousin were stoked—they kept saying how much fun they had, and how impressed they were with the catch. I may have felt a little proud of myself, but hey, who wouldn’t?
Before we left, we gave 6 of the plumpest fish to the uncle who lent us his knife. It was the least we could do—his knife saved our rod-holder situation, so sharing our catch was a small way to say thanks. He was thrilled, which made us even happier.
To all my fellow anglers out there: if you get a chance to fish with friends, take it. It’s not just about the fish you catch—it’s about the DIY fixes, the teasing, the simultaneous bites, and the sunset walks afterward. Those are the memories that stick with you long after the fish are cleaned and cooked.
