Finally, Taiyuan’s Risk Control Is Over—Time to Chase Those Fish!
Let’s cut to the chase: Taiyuan’s wild fishing spots are scarce. Like, really scarce. So when the city lifted its risk control measures and a sunny weekend rolled around, I knew I couldn’t waste a second. Grabbed my gear, packed extra supplies (because you never know), and hit the road. If you’re a Taiyuan angler, you get it—we don’t have the luxury of picking one spot and chilling; we need backup plans. Backup plans for our backup plans. So today, I brought both my hand rod and a small raft rod, plus my newly arrived Lao Tan Jiu Mi (old altar rice bait) and Tong Sha Xing (all-purpose fishy bait). Red worms? Yep, those too. Better over-prepared than staring at an empty bucket, right?
First Stop: Jinyang Lake North Gate West Canal
My first pick was the West Canal near Jinyang Lake’s north gate. It’s a tiny little river, but free wild fishing spots in Taiyuan are like finding a needle in a haystack—so I’ll take what I can get. The setup here was simple:
- 3.3-meter short hand rod
- 1.5 main line + size 2 gold sleeve hooks
- Bait: Lao Tan Jiu Mi for nesting, All-Purpose Fishy + Blue Crucian mix for fishing
I found a sunny spot (fish love warmth, especially in late autumn) and hit two nests with bait. The scenery? Stunning. Reeds everywhere, clear blue sky, that crisp autumn air that makes you forget about work stress. Perfect, right? Wrong. So wrong.
Two whole hours. Two nests. Not a single bite. Not even a tiny nibble. I wasn’t asking for a monster carp—even a small topmouth culter or a Chinese false gudgeon would’ve made my day! I glanced at the old uncle next to me; he was staring at his float like it owed him money. “No bites today?” I asked. He shook his head. “Yesterday too.” Wait, what? You came back today after zero bites yesterday? That’s dedication… or maybe just a serious fishing addiction. Respect, but I wasn’t sticking around. The temperature was dropping fast, and “air force” (fishing slang for catching nothing) was looking inevitable if I stayed.
Second Stop: South Zhonghuan Bridge
Next up: South Zhonghuan Bridge. I’d heard people fish here from the bridge itself, so I pulled out my small raft rod. The bait was still the same mix—good thing the sun had dried it out a bit, making it easier to pinch onto hooks. When I got there, there were already a dozen people lined up on the bridge. Great, so it’s not a secret spot… but maybe the fish are here?
Newsflash: They weren’t. And the wind? Oh my god, the wind. It was howling so hard, my nose was running nonstop, and I could barely keep my rod steady. I lasted 40 minutes—no bites, just freezing my butt off. “Is this worth a cold?” I thought. Nope. Packed up again. Pro tip for Taiyuan anglers: Check the wind forecast before heading to bridge spots. Windy days = no fun, no fish.
Last Resort: Changfeng Six Pavilions (My Secret Spot)
By now, I was half-convinced I’d go home empty-handed. But I had one last trick up my sleeve: Changfeng Six Pavilions. It’s my little secret (don’t tell too many people, okay?)—a shallow, clear spot where you can almost see the fish swimming. I quickly threw some bait to nest, swapped my hooks for smaller ones (since the fish here are tiny), and tied on red worms. Red worms are magic for finicky fish, right?
Five minutes later… a nibble! I waited (shallow water means you can’t yank too early—fish steal bait fast here) and lifted the rod. A tiny wheat ear minnow! It was tiny, like, palm-sized tiny, but I was ecstatic. Finally! I fished for another hour, catching a handful more of those little guys. Not exactly the big carp I dreamed of, but hey—they’re fish. And for a Taiyuan angler fighting limited resources, that’s a win.
As the sun set, I kept a few to feed my turtle and released the rest. Drove home with a smile (and a slightly numb nose from the wind). Here’s the thing about fishing in Taiyuan: our basin terrain means most tributaries dry up, and Fenhe Park is off-limits. We have to hunt for those hidden, tiny spots. We have to bring extra gear, extra bait, and extra patience. But at the end of the day, it’s not about the fish—it’s about the chase. The fresh air, the quiet, the hope that the next cast will be “the one.”
My Takeaway for Taiyuan Anglers Dealing With Limited Resources
If you’re fishing in Taiyuan, here’s what you need to remember: Always have a backup plan (or three). Pack multiple rods (hand rod for small rivers, raft rod for bridges) and multiple baits (fishy, sweet, live bait—cover all bases). Check the weather (wind and temperature matter more than you think). And most importantly, don’t get discouraged. We might not have the best spots, but we have the best spirit. So next time you head out, prep like it’s a mission. You never know—your last resort spot might be the one that saves your day.
