Anchang River Night Fishing Prep: Chasing Big-Eye Flatfish Before the Fishing Ban
Spring’s finally tiptoeing into Sichuan—temperatures are inching up (slowly, like a hesitant cat), and the cherry blossoms are budding like they’re dying to show off. That can only mean one thing: time to hit Anchang River! Wait, but the fishing ban’s around the corner? Oh right, we had to squeeze in a night trip before we’re stuck watching fishing videos for months. I texted my buddies: “Night fishing tonight?” Instant replies: “Hell yeah!” It’s been ages since we pulled an all-nighter by the river, so I scrambled to grab my night light, check my gear, and shoveled down dinner like a man on a mission. Also, shoutout to the platform’s upcoming fishing festival—we were low-key prepping for that too!
River Vibes & Early Recon: Why Everyone’s Either Slacking or Slaying
By the time we got to the river, the sky was that weird gray-pink twilight—perfect for night fishing. I scanned the other anglers: most looked bored, reeling in nothing but air. But wait, two guys had a couple of pound-sized mullet (those fight like tiny bodybuilders, by the way)! So I thought, “If they can catch something, so can we.” First order of business: mix bait. I started with all-purpose fishy bait (straight from the bag), but then I noticed the guy next to us was practically chain-reeling fish—small ones, but still! I leaned over: “Dude, what’s your secret?” He held up a bag of shrimp powder. Oh, that’s why! My buddy stuck to plain-flavor bait for crucian carp, but I was like, “Who cares about big fish? Let’s just have fun!” So I switched to a softer bait mix, and bam—first catch: a silver fish (those little devils are everywhere). Tossed it in a bucket; no need for a fish guard yet.
My Gear Setup for Big-Eye Flatfish: No Guesswork, Just Results
Let’s talk gear—this isn’t rocket science, but details matter:
- Rod: 4.5m Shenji All-Rounder (my “lucky” rod—never lets me down).
- Line Combo: 1.5 main line + 0.6 leader line. Last time I lost a combo to underwater junk, so I tested the line three times before casting—no mistakes this time!
- Float: 2.2g Xiaofengxian. The water was 1.2m deep, and it was flowing a bit, so I set it to “adjust 3, fish 3” (denser setup = less drift).
- Hook: Size 3 Jinhai Xi. Sharp enough for small mouths, strong enough if a bigger fish crashes the party.
I tossed a few big bait balls to make a quick nest, then switched to the shrimp powder mix. Game. Changer.
The Big-Eye Flatfish Frenzy: When the River Turns Into a Fish Buffet
After that first silver fish, the floodgates opened! I switched to a size 2 hook (smaller = easier for big-eye flatfish to bite), and suddenly I was reeling in fish like I was at a black pit tournament. It felt like every cast got a bite—those little guys were practically jumping onto the hook! My buddy was over there with his plain bait, catching a few crucian carp, but I was in big-eye flatfish heaven. Look at this guy—stomach stuffed full of bait, fat and happy!
The guy next to me laughed: “You’re making us look bad!” I just grinned—when you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll. At one point, I slowed down for a second, and bam—double catch! Both big-eye flatfish, mouths clamped onto the hooks like they were starving. Everyone says these guys are perfect for fried spicy fish, so I tossed ’em in the bucket too—dinner’s gonna be lit.
Night Falls, Fish Keep Biting: Even Crucian Carp Want In
As it got darker, I turned on my night light—and the fish didn’t care one bit! They kept biting like it was daytime. Then, I saw my float dip hard—I thought it was another small fish, but when I pulled, it felt heavier. Wait… a crucian carp! Small, but pretty (shiny scales, no scratches). I yelled, “Guys, crucian carp’s here!” We all got excited, but after an hour, it was still big-eye flatfish city. Oh well—crucian carp season’s not here yet; need a few more sunny days to warm the water up, I guess.
Final Catch & the Best Part: Fish, Friends, and Fried Goodness
After the crucian carp detour, it was back to big-eye flatfish and silver fish. But who cares? We were laughing, telling stupid stories, and just enjoying being outside. My last catch? A tiny mullet—pulled like a feather, so I tossed it back (next time, grow up a bit!). When we packed up, I looked at the bucket: I couldn’t even count them—easily 50+ fish. Spicy fried fish for everyone! Nothing beats eating what you catch, especially with friends who get your obsession.
My Go-To Tips for Big-Eye Flatfish in Spring (From Someone Who’s Been There)
Okay, let’s wrap this up with actual tips—if you want to catch big-eye flatfish in Anchang River (or any similar spot) this spring, do this:
- Bait: Go fishy + shrimp powder. Spring means small fish need protein to bulk up after winter—shrimp powder is like their favorite snack.
- Hook: Size 2-3 sleeve hooks. The smaller, the better—big-eye flatfish have tiny mouths, so a huge hook = no bites.
- Float: Lightweight (1.5g max). These guys bite hard—you’ll see the float dip like crazy, so a light float helps you react fast.
So there you have it—my chaotic, fun night fishing trip for big-eye flatfish in Anchang River. Sometimes you don’t need to catch monster fish; you just need good friends, a few bites, and a plan for spicy fried fish later. If you’re in Sichuan, hit Anchang River before the ban—trust me, you won’t regret it. And if you try my tips, tag me in your catch photos! Happy fishing, everyone—may your floats dip often and your buckets overflow.
