Hey Anglers, Let’s Talk About My Third Trip to That Mysterious Pond!
Alright, fellow fishing fanatics—let’s cut to the chase. After crushing it at Dongxu Village last Wednesday morning (you gotta see those photos!), I was itching to get back out there. But this time? I wanted a new spot. Something close to work, low-key, and maybe a little… uncharted. Enter the “Air Force Base” pond—okay, not *actually* an Air Force base, but let’s be real, it felt like a hidden mission when I first scoped it out. Spoiler: This time, I didn’t go home empty-handed. Let’s dive in!
First, Let’s Recap the Last Win (Because Bragging Rights Matter)
Before we get to the new spot, can we just gush about Dongxu Village? That Wednesday morning? Absolute chaos (the good kind). I pulled in so many fish, my tackle box was practically singing. But hey, past wins don’t mean squat—today’s forecast was… let’s just say it wasn’t ideal. Sunny, 3°C to 14°C (hello, big temperature swing!), and a fishing index of 59. Yikes. But us anglers? We don’t care about “ideal.” We care about *not getting skunked*. “Just don’t go home without a bite,” I told myself. Spoiler 2: I did better than that.
Scoping the “Air Force Base” Pond: What’s the Deal?
So why this pond? Let’s break it down: It’s 10+ acres, rectangular (north-south), and totally abandoned. Used to be a community pond, but they stopped managing it years ago. Rumor has it they pulled most of the fish out back then, but *you can never get all the fish*. Last year I tried here—total dud. Barely a nibble. And get this: Locals say people have been sneaking in with nets, traps, and even electric gear. One guy zapped a 30+ pound grass carp? Another netted a 15-pound catfish? Wild. But hey, if there are still big fish hiding, maybe some smaller ones stuck around too. Worth a shot, right?
The Pond’s Vibe (and Why I Chose It)
Let’s be honest: This spot isn’t pretty. Water’s murkier than the coffee I drink at 8 AM, and there are weeds everywhere. But that’s the magic of wild ponds, right? No fancy docks, no “no fishing” signs—just you, your rod, and whatever’s lurking below. I picked the middle of the pond (since the only other angler was way on the other side, and I didn’t feel like hiking). Dude looked like he hadn’t caught anything yet—his net was empty. Oof, been there.
Prepping the Spots: My “Hit List” of Nests
Here’s the plan: I had leftover powder bait mixed with rice wine (my go-to cheapskate hack), and I dropped three small nests. Why three? Because if one dies, you’ve got backups. Let’s call them Nest 1 (shallow, near weeds), Nest 2 (deeper, 1.6m), and Nest 3 (shallow, under a fallen tree). Then I bolted back to work—because adulting, ugh. But let’s be real: I spent the rest of the day staring at the clock. “Five o’clock can’t come fast enough,” I thought. Every time my boss talked, I was just imagining my rod bending.
My Gear (No Fancy Stuff—Just What Works)
Let’s keep it real: I’m not rolling with a $500 rod. My setup was basic but reliable:
- Traditional long rod (perfect for reaching those weed beds)
- Seven-star float + barbless hook (old-school, but deadly for small fish)
- 2.5m 1x line (light enough to feel bites, strong enough for surprises)
- Red worms (the *only* bait small fish can’t resist—fight me)
The Action: Finally, Some Bites!
Five o’clock hit, and I was out of the office faster than a fish out of water. Grabbed my gear, sprinted to the pond, and… let’s go. First cast to Nest 1: Float goes down, then *slowly rises*. I lifted the rod—BOOM. First fish! A tiny silver crucian carp. Not huge, but hey—no skunk! That’s the win for the day, right? But then… another bite. Another crucian. Then another. I was on a roll! Sure, they were small (1-2 ounces), but I was catching fish. Take that, bad forecast!
The Big Surprise: That One Fat Carp
After 10 minutes, Nest 1 went quiet. Time to switch. I hit Nest 2 first—nothing. Zilch. Nada. Five minutes of waving my rod around like a maniac, and not a single bite. Bummer. So I moved to Nest 3 (the fallen tree spot). Adjusted my float, cast, and… *tap-tap*. Then the float rose slowly—like it was saying, “Hey, I’m here.” I lifted the rod, and WHOA. That wasn’t a tiny crucian. The rod bent, the line sang, and when I pulled it out? A *beast* (well, for this pond). A 3-4 ounce crucian carp, shiny and fat. Look at that thing—perfect!
Wrap-Up: The Final Haul (and My Rule)
By the time the sun set, I could barely see my float. Time to pack up. Total catch? 8 crucian carp. Some small, some medium. But here’s my rule: *keep the big ones, let the small ones go*. Why? Because if you take all the little guys, there’s nothing left for next time. So I kept 3 (enough for a bowl of soup—yum) and released the rest. Not a huge haul, but way better than last year. And hey, I didn’t get skunked. That’s a win in my book.
What I Learned (and What You Should Steal)
Let’s be real—this trip taught me a few things. Nothing groundbreaking, but stuff every angler should remember:
- Shallow = Better in Warm Weather: The two nests that worked? Both under 1m deep. The deep one (1.6m)? Nothing. Fish love shallow spots when it’s sunny—they can warm up faster.
- Backups Save the Day: Three nests? Smart move. If one dies, you’ve got others. Don’t put all your bait in one basket (literally).
- Timing is Everything: I caught most fish after 5 PM, when the sun was going down. Fish get skittish in bright sun—wait for dusk.
And hey, let’s not forget: Fishing isn’t about the number of fish. It’s about the feeling. The wait, the bite, the rush when you pull one in. Even if I’d caught zero, I’d still have loved being out there. But today? I caught some. And that’s enough to make this angler happy.
Next time? I’m bringing a bigger rod. Maybe I’ll finally catch one of those big grass carp the locals talk about. Fingers crossed. Until then—tight lines, everyone! Let me know in the comments (if you were here) what your last good catch was. I’m curious!
