My Saturday Fishing Adventure: Reconnecting with Anglers After Lockdown (Changan River & Yanming Lake)

Hey there, fellow fishing fanatics! I’m Lao Liu, and if you’ve been following my angling rants, you know I’ve been going stir-crazy lately. Thanks to the lockdown, it felt like forever since I last wet a line or even smelled that sweet river breeze. But this Saturday? Oh man, it was like the fishing gods finally cut us some slack—we got the green light to hit the water again. A buddy in my fishing group shouted, “Who’s in for a scouting trip?” and before I could even grab my jacket, three of us (all local, thank goodness) were locked in: we’re heading to Changan River, with a quick detour to Yanming Lake to check the water first. Let me tell you, this wasn’t just a “scouting trip”—it was a full-on angling revival. Let’s dive in!

First Stop: Yanming Lake—Where Cold Winds Can’t Douse Angling Spirit

So I hopped on my bike (okay, fine, my old beat-up scooter—don’t judge) and zoomed over to Yanming Lake. Got there early, and guess what? My buddies hadn’t arrived yet. But hey, no problem—there was a guy already casting his line by the shore. I’m talking full-on committed—gloves, thick jacket, the works. I walked over, and he introduced himself as Xiao Wang. Dude’s been there since 7 AM, and let me tell you, the conditions were brutal.

Weather That Tested Our Nerve (But Not Our Passion)

Let’s set the scene: 3°C (that’s like 37°F for my US pals), wind howling so hard it was moving my hood, and the water? Walking—fast current, which is a nightmare for anyone trying to fish. I held my hands out for two seconds and they were numb. But Xiao Wang? He was just retying his hook like it was a sunny summer day. “No bites yet,” he said, grinning through chapped lips. “But hey, at least I’m not stuck at home scrolling TikTok, right?” I had to laugh—this guy’s angling DNA is made of steel.

Just as we were chatting, my buddy Tejing (we call him “SWAT” for his no-nonsense attitude) rolled up, followed by Lao Li. We huddled together, rubbing our hands, and I gotta say—even with the cold, just being there, by the water, with other anglers? It was like a shot of adrenaline. I’ve been couch-bound for weeks, scrolling through old fishing photos, but standing there, listening to the water rush, smelling the damp earth? My energy shot through the roof. If there’s one thing anglers know, it’s that water has a magic cure for cabin fever. No pills, no doctors—just a river, a rod, and good company.

From Yanming Lake to Changan River: Chasing Fish (And Fun) in Local Ponds

After 30 minutes of swapping lockdown fishing stories (let’s be real, half of us were just watching YouTube tutorials and “practicing” casts in our living rooms), we realized Yanming Lake wasn’t playing nice. No bites, wind getting worse—time to pivot. Tejing remembered a cluster of “happy ponds” (those pay-to-fish spots where you just have fun, no pressure) along Changan River. “Let’s go,” he said. “Even if we don’t catch anything, we can watch other anglers. Can’t waste a day out!”

We hopped in our cars (okay, I took my scooter again—gas is pricey) and zoomed over. Let me tell you, that drive was worth it. As soon as we pulled up, we saw rods bending, anglers cheering, and even a few buckets with glistening fish. This was the angling vibe we’d been missing!

Happy Ponds: Where Fun Trumps Big Catches

We didn’t even bother to set up our own rods (okay, maybe Tejing did, but he got distracted by a guy with a bucket of carp). We just walked around, chatting with other anglers, asking about their setups, and laughing when someone’s line got tangled (we’ve all been there). One guy, a regular at the ponds, had just pulled out a bucket—ten pounds exactly, he said. “Small guys, but they fight hard!” he told us, holding up a tiny but feisty crucian carp. Tejing couldn’t resist—he bought a 4-ounce native crucian from him (said he wanted to cook it for his kid). The rest? They tossed ’em back—catch and release, baby. That’s the good stuff.

Here’s the thing about happy ponds: they’re not about trophy fish. They’re about the feeling—of sitting by the water, chatting with strangers who become friends in 10 minutes, of laughing when you miss a bite, of high-fiving when someone lands one. Even if you’re just watching, it’s pure joy. For us, after weeks of being cooped up? It was better than any big catch.

Back to Yanming Lake (Because One Detour Isn’t Enough)

Just as we were packing up to head home, my buddy Shiyi called—he’d just gotten off work and was heading to Yanming Lake. “Come back!” he yelled. “I brought snacks!” We looked at each other, grinned, and Tejing said, “Let’s go. Can’t say no to snacks and more angling.” So we said goodbye to Lao Li (he had to pick up his kid from school) and Tejing and I zoomed back to Yanming Lake.

By then, the sun was setting, and the cold was even worse—but Shiyi had hot tea and fried dough sticks (the good kind, not the store-bought ones). We sat on a bench, sipping tea, watching the last anglers pack up, and talking about what we’d do next. “Next weekend,” Shiyi said, “we’re hitting the reservoir. I heard the carp are biting.” Tejing nodded. “I’m bringing my new rod. The one I ordered online during lockdown. Haven’t even taken it out of the box.”

Final Thoughts: Why Anglers Are Unstoppable (Even in 3°C Weather)

By the time I got home, it was dark, my hands were still a little numb, and my scooter was covered in mud. But you know what? I was grinning from ear to ear. Lockdown made me realize something: it’s not just about catching fish. It’s about the community—the guys you text at 5 AM to ask if the lake is frozen, the strangers who share their bait, the way your heart races when you see a rod bend. It’s about that feeling of being alive, of being where you belong.

And let’s be real—Xi’an has amazing anglers. We’re tough, we’re passionate, and we’ll show up even when the wind is howling and the water is moving faster than a taxi in rush hour. But man, do we need more good fishing spots. More clean rivers, more lakes with healthy fish populations. But until then? We’ll keep hitting the happy ponds, scouting new spots, and chasing that next bite. Because that’s what anglers do—we don’t just fish. We live for it.

What about you? Have you had a crazy post-lockdown fishing trip? Drop a comment below—let’s swap stories. And if you’re in Xi’an, hit me up—next weekend, we’re hitting that reservoir. Bring your rod, bring your snacks, and let’s make some more angling memories. See you on the water!