The Last Fishing Trip of This Autumn: A Memorable Day at Juandu Lake

Time flies like crazy, right? One minute I’m complaining about the summer heat, and the next thing I know, it’s the last day of autumn. Work’s been a total grind lately—nonstop deadlines, late nights, the whole shebang. My hands were practically itching to grab my fishing rod, but I could barely find a free minute. Then, finally, a break! But wait—my wife dropped a bombshell: she wanted fresh fish for dinner. Oh, man, I know better than to argue with that. And let’s be real, wild fishing in Chengdu? Total gamble. The water quality’s hit-or-miss, and I’ve got a family that loves eating those fish. I can’t risk serving them something from sketchy water. So Juandu Lake it was—pretty much the only spot around with decent water quality. I set my alarm for 7:00 AM, packed my gear, and hit the road at 7:30. By 8:00, I was standing by the lake, rod in hand, ready to make this autumn’s last fishing trip count.

Basic Info: The Setup for My Autumn Finale

Let me break down the deets for any fellow anglers out there—you know how we love our gear talk! Here’s what I brought to the lake:

Date & Location

• Date: November 6th (yep, literally the last day of autumn—talk about perfect timing!)
• Location: Juandu Lake (my go-to spot for clean water and reliable catches)

Gear & Tackle

• Rod: A 4.5-meter “vintage” rod (I’ve had this bad boy for years—sentimental value, but it still works like a charm)
• Line Setup: Started with 1lb main line + 0.4lb leader. Switched to 0.6lb leader later (more on that disaster later…)
• Weather: Cloudy (not too hot, not too cold—ideal fishing weather, in my book)
• Target Fish: Crucian carp (I’m obsessed with these little guys—they put up a fight, and they taste amazing)

The Chaos Begins: Crowds, Baits, and a Near-Miss

First off—Sunday at Juandu Lake is a zoo! I should’ve guessed, but wow, the place was packed. Maybe it’s the nice weather, or the fact that everyone’s trying to squeeze in one last autumn trip too? Either way, I found a spot (barely) and got to work.

Bait Prep: Shrimp vs. Scatter Pellets

I heard shrimp was working lately, so I grabbed a handful of fresh shrimp. Also, I’m not a pro at black carp fishing, but I brought some scatter pellets just in case. For those who don’t know, black carp fishing usually means a bit more finesse. I set my float to 8 eyes (that’s the measurement for float depth, if you’re new), planning to fish at 2 eyes. Pro tip: if you’re missing bites, push the float up or trim a little lead—small adjustments make a huge difference. I spent a few minutes tweaking that setup until it felt just right.

The First Hour: Waiting (and Waiting) for a Bite

I started with small scatter pellets, casting and reeling in on a steady rhythm—you know, the “build the feeding zone” trick. Forty minutes went by… nothing. Nada. I was starting to think I’d wasted my morning. Then—bam! A tiny little dip in the float. I reacted fast, but missed. Ugh, classic. I pushed the float up two eyes (adjusting for depth, since the fish might be feeding lower), cast again. A few more casts, and the float wiggled… then disappeared! I set the hook hard. Oh no—snapped! My 0.4lb leader was gone in a second. Definitely a carp—those guys are strong. I should’ve known better than to use such a thin leader for black carp. I swapped it out for 0.6lb—fingers crossed that would hold up.

The Catch: A Rollercoaster of Excitement and Frustration

Finally, the first bite! After the leader swap, I cast again, and the float dipped. I set the hook, and this time—success! It was a crucian carp, my target fish. Yes! I reeled it in, carefully unhooked it, and put it in the bucket. That win got me fired up.

More Catches (and a Big Surprise)

After the first catch, I added a few more scatter pellets to the spot. Another bite—small dip, half an eye. I lifted the rod, and this one fought back! It took me two minutes to reel it in—turns out it was a naked carp (about 2 pounds, maybe? Big enough to give me a workout). Nice! Then a couple more crucian carp followed. I was on a roll… until suddenly—nothing. No bites, no wiggles, nothing. Ugh, the fishing slump.

The Slump: Waiting, Missing Bites, and a Bad Decision

I went back to casting on rhythm, but it was brutal. Thirty minutes of staring at the float, willing it to move. Finally, I saw some weird float movements—tiny wiggles, but I couldn’t tell if it was a bite or just the current. I cast, lifted the rod… nothing. Wait, no—wait a second. It wasn’t a bite, but it wasn’t snagged either. Then—snap! Another leader gone. That was it. I thought, “Screw it, let’s go big or go home.” I swapped to 1.5lb main line + 0.8lb leader. I wanted a big fish, dammit! But here’s the thing: big line means big hooks, and the small crucian carp couldn’t get past the hook to bite. The float movements were even harder to read—tiny twitches that I couldn’t be sure were bites. Total bummer.

Back to Basics: Saving the Day

I realized my mistake. The water was cold (autumn, duh), so the fish were small and skittish. Big line was overkill. I swapped back to 1.0lb main line + 0.6lb leader. Finally—relief! A few more crucian carp came in. I was happy, but I knew my time was running out. The sun was starting to set, and I had to get home to cook that fish for my wife.

My Autumn Fishing Takeaways (No Jargon, Promise)

Let me keep this simple—no fancy fishing terms, just what I learned the hard way:

• Cold water = more bait with fishy smell (like shrimp). The fish are less active, so they need a strong scent to draw them in.
• Thin line + small hooks = better for small, skittish fish. Big line might work for carp, but it’ll scare off the little guys you’re targeting.
• Don’t be stubborn! I switched lines three times, and each time I learned something. If it’s not working, change it—no shame in that.

The Best Part: Going Home to My Wife

So, did I “cash in” (you know, catch enough to cover the fishing fee)? Nope. But who cares? I caught enough for dinner, and that’s what matters. I packed up my gear, loaded the fish in the cooler, and headed home. My wife was waiting, and let me tell you—she was thrilled. We cooked the naked carp and one crucian carp for dinner that night, and it was amazing. The rest went in the fridge for soup the next day—perfect, since it was the start of winter (Lidong, for those who know the Chinese solar terms, but I’m keeping this English, promise!).

Honestly, that’s the best part of fishing for me. It’s not about the big catches or the money. It’s about the quiet time by the water, the thrill of a bite, and then bringing home something fresh for the people I love. Yeah, I spent the day switching lines, missing bites, and getting frustrated—but at the end of the day, I had a great time, and my wife was happy. That’s a win in my book.

Now, I’m already thinking about next year’s first fishing trip. But for now? I’m content with this autumn’s last one. It was messy, it was fun, and it gave me some great stories (and a full belly). What about you? Any memorable last fishing trips of the season? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear!