Unexpected Fishing Trip: Three Battles at the Reservoir, Landing a 6+ lb Thai Carp
Okay, let’s be real—my Saturday was supposed to be boring adult stuff: running errands back home. But then my high school teacher hit me up with a text that made me drop everything: “XX Reservoir, tonight, 4 PM. Let’s fish.” Wait, what? I’d been itching to hit that spot for weeks, but plans kept falling through. When a teacher who’s basically a fishing legend asks you to join? You don’t say no. You grab your gear, stuff your face with snacks, and haul ass to the reservoir. Let’s dive into this chaotic, fish-filled night.
The Great Reservoir Rush: Finding a Spot (Spoiler: It’s Packed)
First off, the drive was a mad dash. I texted my teacher, “Be there in 20!” but halfway there, he called: “Dude, wind’s insane—like, ‘can barely hold your rod’ insane. And the shore’s packed—everyone’s fighting for a spot.” Great, just great. I’ve got zero chill about crowded fishing spots, but Thai carp? Their fight is worth the chaos. Those bad boys pull harder than my ex on a bad day.
When I rolled up? Holy hell. The dam was packed with anglers on platforms, and the main shore? Every inch had a rod. My teacher was camped near the dam, but I’m too cheap (and smart) to mess with the slippery dam slope without a platform. The opposite platform? Yeah, I’ve fished there before—only small tilapia, like three-finger “catfish” (wait, no, tilapia) that are barely worth the effort. I came for Thai carp, not tiny snacks. So I scanned the shore, found a tiny gap between two guys, and set up shop. Game on.
Gear Check: What I Brought (And Why It Almost Failed)
Let’s list my setup—because if you’re fishing Thai carp in a windy reservoir, you need the right stuff (or at least make do with what you have):
- Rod: Magic Stream 4.5m all-around rod (28-19 action—stiff enough for big pulls, but not a broomstick).
- Line: 4lb mainline, short leader (0.8 braid + #2 new hook), long leader (0.4 braid + #1 new hook). Why braid? Thai carp have sharp mouths—mono would get shredded.
- Bait: Fishing Home’s new “All-Kill” bait (mixed with Black Pit Carp strawberry bait). Free sample? Hell yes. It smelled like strawberry candy—fish can’t resist that, right?
- Human Snacks: Strawberry Mello Yello, pineapple buns, eight-treasure porridge. Gotta fuel the fishing rage.
First cast? A tiny white minnow. Cool, but not the Thai carp I came for. The problem? Wind. It was so strong, my bait barely hit the water before the wind pushed it off course. And my floats? All small—no heavy ones to cut through the waves. So I did what any desperate angler does: I packed the bait tighter, made it harder, and switched to the Meizhou rig (heavy lead on the bottom—no float movement unless a big fish is eating).
First Two Hours: Chaos, Tilapia, and Teacher’s Bragging
For the first two hours, it was a disaster. The wind was howling, my float was bouncing like a jumping bean, and all I caught were tiny tilapia (three-finger “kittens” as I call ’em) and that one minnow. Meanwhile, my teacher? He was hauling in 2lb Thai carp left and right. “Dude, you’re using the wrong rig!” he yelled over the wind. Yeah, no shit, Sherlock—my floats are tiny! I can’t see a bite if the waves are eating the float.
Then my homeroom teacher and chemistry teacher showed up. Talk about a high school reunion! My homeroom teacher took a spot from a guy who’d just left (lucky!), and my chemistry teacher? He climbed the dam with a platform (show-off). Those guys who left? They had 30-40lb of fish—mostly 2lb Thai carp. I was low-key jealous, but also like, “Wait till I get my big one.”
The Chemistry Teacher’s Secret: Science = More Fish
My chemistry teacher is a genius—no joke. He doesn’t just cast and hope; he studies bait. He mixed his own stuff (using “chemical principles” he rambled about) and within an hour, he had three Thai carp: two 2lb, one 5lb. I was like, “Wait, why am I using free bait? I should’ve asked for his recipe!” But no—stubborn me stuck to my All-Kill mix. (Spoiler: It worked later, but not at first.)
My homeroom teacher? Not so lucky. He took the spot that was pulling Thai carp all day, but all he got was tilapia. “Stupid tilapia,” he muttered. “I came for the big ones!” Same, bro. Same.
9:30 PM: The Wind Calms—And My Luck Turns
Then, at 9:30, the wind died. Like, completely. The water went from a washing machine to a mirror. Finally! I could see my float. I stuck with the Meizhou rig (heavy lead) because I didn’t trust the tilapia to stop biting. Here’s how it went:
First, a tiny tilapia—dead bite. Then another. Boring. But then? A tiny dip in the float. I waited (unusual for me, but I was tired of tiny fish). Then the float slowly sank. I set the hook—WHOOSH! The rod bent like a noodle, and the fish bolted to the right (deep water). I held on for dear life—if I let go, it would take my rod. After 5 minutes of tug-of-war, I pulled it in: a 1lb Thai carp. Too small. I tossed it back. My teacher laughed: “You’re spoiled now!”
Thirty minutes later? Another bite. Big top float (like, the whole thing went under). I set the hook—nothing? Wait, no—line was tight. I reeled in, and there it was: a tiny crucian carp. Surprise! My #2 hook was too big, but it still got it. Cool, but not the big one.
Then, the moment I’ve been waiting for. A tiny dip, then a slow top float. I ignored it at first (tiny fish, right?). But then the float stayed up—no wiggles, no sinking. I thought, “Weird.” I set the hook—BANG! The fish bolted left, then right. I held on, yelling at my teacher: “HELP! GET THE NET!”
The 6+ lb Thai Carp: Battle of a Lifetime
This fish was strong. Like, “I’m gonna take your rod and swim to China” strong. I fought it for 10 minutes—my arms were burning, my legs were shaking. My homeroom teacher ran over with the net: “I got it! I got it!” But my PE teacher (who was watching) yelled, “IT’S BIGGER THAN THE LAST ONE!” and grabbed the mainline. Bad move. The fish spooked—tail whipped, and it bolted again. I almost dropped the rod, but I held on. Finally, after another 5 minutes, I got it to the shore. My homeroom teacher netted it—YES! 6+ lb Thai carp. The biggest of the night. I was so hyped, I took a pic with it (and my homeroom teacher’s hand for scale—his hand is tiny next to the fish).
Then, I got greedy. I switched to a 0.4 braid leader (thinner, better for bites) and tried for another. A bite—set the hook—BANG! Another big one. But then? The line snapped. “NOOOOO!” I yelled. My teacher laughed: “That’s what you get for being greedy!” Fair. Fair enough.
Final Hours: Small Fish, Good Vibes, and a Dead Fish Bag
After that, the bite slowed down. I caught a 2lb Thai carp—too small, so I let it go. My teacher teased me: “You’re so spoiled! I’d kill for that 2lb!” But hey, when you catch a 6+ lb, 2lb feels like a minnow. I also caught a few tilapia (four-finger, finally) and a tiny crucian. My PE teacher gave me two small tilapia—“Take ’em! They’re good eating!” I didn’t want to, but he insisted, so I put ’em in my bag.
When we packed up, my bag was full. But here’s the bummer: the drive home was 40 minutes, and my bag had no oxygen. All the big Thai carp died. The tilapia? They were still alive. Those little guys are tough as nails. The crucian? Also alive. Go figure.
Side note: The fish with the broken tail? That’s from Tuesday’s trip. I’m not sure why it’s there, but hey—proof I’ve been catching Thai carp lately.
Final Thoughts: Worth the Chaos (But Kill the Fish Smell)
Let’s be honest: fishing is 90% waiting, 10% chaos, and 100% worth it. Even though the first two hours were a disaster, the 6+ lb Thai carp made it all worth it. The Fishing Home bait? Worked great—especially when I packed it tight for the wind. My only regret? Not bringing a bigger float. And next time? I’m stealing my chemistry teacher’s bait recipe. Science wins, always.
Also, pro tip: if you’re fishing Thai carp in a windy reservoir, bring heavy floats. And don’t let your PE teacher grab the mainline when you’re fighting a big fish. Dude almost cost me the catch of the night.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got 40lb of fish to clean. My kitchen smells like a lake. Send help.
