When Shrimp Invade Your Fishing Spot: My Regretful Afternoon Sticking Around (And Why I’ll Never Do It Again)
Let me set the scene: March 31, 2024, just after 1 PM. I’m heading to my usual wild fishing spot, excited for a lazy afternoon chasing bass or maybe a big carp. But wait—water levels are up 30+ centimeters! My go-to old fishing spot? Completely flooded. Crap. So I had to scramble to find a new spot: a big corner area, set up my bait, and get ready. Water depth there was around a meter, no current—perfect. I set my float to “level water, two eyes” (you know the drill, floaters that sit just right), baited with a worm, and cast. Let the wait begin, right?
The First Bite: A Tiny Win (That Quickly Turned Sour)
Not even five minutes later, the float dips. I yank the rod—boom! A little crucian carp, maybe two ounces. Nice! I’m thinking, “Today’s gonna be good—fish are hungry after the flood.” But oh, how wrong I was. The bites slowed down immediately. Then, I see the float moving slowly across the water. “Big catch!” I thought—maybe a catfish or a bigger carp. I jerk the rod, reel in… and what do I get? A giant river shrimp. Ugh.
Old Fisherman’s Rule: “Shrimp in the Bait = Pack Up and Move”
Now, every angler worth their salt knows this saying: “If shrimp get into your bait, move immediately.” Why? Because of the food chain: big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp. If shrimp are hanging around, the actual fish I want (the ones that eat small fish) are probably scared off or gone looking for quieter waters. I stared at that shrimp, then at my bait bucket. “I just put so much bait in,” I thought. “Maybe I’ll wait a bit—maybe the fish will come back.” Big mistake. Huge.
Waiting (And Waiting) For a Real Bite
Ten minutes later, the float twitches. Finally! I reel in… a silver minnow. Not even a decent fish—just a tiny thing that barely counts. I tossed it back (no point keeping that). Then I waited. And waited. And waited some more. I kept thinking, “If there’s no fish now, maybe they’ll wander into the bait after a while.” An hour later? Another crucian carp. That’s it. One tiny carp in an hour? Pathetic.
Why I Stayed (Even Though I Knew Better)
By this point, the sun was starting to set. I could’ve packed up and moved to a new spot, but I was being stubborn. Here’s why I stuck around (stupid reasons, in hindsight):
- I didn’t want to waste the bait I’d already put down. Lazy, I know.
- I didn’t feel like setting up a new spot—flooded areas mean finding a good spot takes time.
- I thought, “Maybe the fish will show up last minute.” Spoiler: They didn’t.
The End Result: Regret (And a Terrible Catch)
When the sun went down, I packed up. Let’s count the catch: one tiny crucian, one minnow, and way too many shrimp. That’s it. I sat there for FOUR HOURS and got almost nothing. If I’d moved when I first caught the shrimp? Maybe I would’ve found a spot with actual fish. Instead, I was stubborn and wasted my afternoon.
What I Learned (And What You Should Too)
Let me save you the pain. If you catch a shrimp in your bait spot? MOVE. Don’t be like me. Don’t let laziness or stubbornness ruin your day. Yes, bait is expensive. Yes, setting up new spots is a hassle. But a bad day fishing is still better than a wasted day fishing? No—wait, no. A wasted day (like mine) is just… bad. Next time? I’m grabbing my rod and running to a new spot the second I see a shrimp.
Have you ever stuck around a bad spot when you knew you should’ve moved? Drop a comment below—let’s commiserate together. And if you have any other fishing fails to share? I’m all ears. Let’s make sure none of us make the same mistake I did!
