Xizhi River Huidong Zhongshan Ancient Temple Fishing Trip 2025 Qingming Festival
Time flies like crazy—can you believe the first quarter of 2025 is already gone? I’ve been so swamped lately that I haven’t had a single chance to go wild fishing and unwind. Ugh, I still think about those weekends a few years back, just chilling by the big river, waiting for a bite. Those days are gone, and honestly? There’s nothing we can do about it, right? But hey, when life gives you a holiday, you grab your fishing buddy and hit the road!
Qingming Festival 2025: The Perfect Excuse to Fish
Wednesday, April 5, 2025—Qingming Festival, a national holiday here. I texted my old fishing pal Ah T, and we decided to drive 75 kilometers to Huangshatang in Huidong. We left early, but by the time we hit the river around 11:30 AM, the vibe was already chaotic. First, we tried to get to my old go-to spot from a few years back. But halfway there? Four cars—two white, two black—were parked right in the middle of the road. Total blockage. Turns out those folks were there for tomb sweeping (Qingming is a big day for that!). So we had to turn back along that tiny dirt road. Let me tell you, that 800-meter stretch tested my driving skills! But hey, I’m a seasoned driver—no biggie, just a little sweat.
Finding a Spot Amidst the Chaos
Once we got back to the main road, we kept driving along the river. And wow—cars were parked everywhere, people were scattered along the banks, and there were so many anglers it looked like a fishing festival! I guess everyone was cooped up during the pandemic years and is making up for lost time now. We drove all the way to the end of the riverbank before we finally found two empty spots. Thank goodness—we didn’t want to waste the whole day driving around!
We set up our gear right away. The water depth here was only 1.2 meters. Ah T went all out: he threw in 6 fishing blocks and a bag and a half of pellets for bait. Dude, that’s overkill for 1.2 meters! I thought to myself, “What big fish could even be here in this shallow water?” But hey, we were already there—might as well go all in. I grabbed my 5.7-meter long rod, 3-pound main line, 1.2-pound fluoro leader, and set it to flat calm (so the float sits right on the water surface). My target? Tilapia, for sure.
Waiting for the Bite (and Enjoying the Scenery)
After setting up the bait and checking the depth, I checked my watch: 1:25 PM. I knew bait takes at least an hour to start working, so I kicked back. I grabbed some sunflower seeds from my tackle box, leaned against the bank, and just watched the river. There were remote-controlled bait boats zipping around, and a couple of people were kayaking freely. For a minute, I forgot about fishing—this was pure bliss. The river was calm, the air was fresh, and I was with my buddy. Couldn’t ask for better.
First Bites: Nothing But Silver Friends
About an hour later, the float started twitching. I lifted the rod—small fish, probably silver carp. Then another twitch—silver carp again. Ugh, those guys are always the first to show up! But hey, at least I was catching something. Ah T was in the same boat—he was reeling in small fish nonstop too. After two hours of nonstop casting, my arm was killing me. I told Ah T I needed a nap, so I climbed into the car and passed out. I didn’t even notice when it started drizzling—woke up half an hour later with my pants soaked from the rain. Oops! But a little rain never stopped a fisherman, right?
I got back to my spot, but the bites were super light. I could barely see the float move. So I grabbed my scissors, trimmed some lead from the line, and changed the setup to 5 hooks down, 2 up. That should make the float more sensitive. I cast again, and after 30 minutes of nonstop casting (my arm was screaming by now), I saw a tiny dip in the float. I jerked the rod hard—oh, that weight! That wasn’t a small fish. It fought me for 45 minutes—back and forth, darting under the rod, trying to get away. But I wasn’t letting go. Finally, I reeled it in: a huge tilapia! Man, that was so fun. I haven’t fought a fish that big in ages. My arm was sore for days, but totally worth it.
Rain, Tired Arms, and Heading Home
I kept casting, but the bites were still slow—just a few here and there. Then, about an hour later, it started raining hard. Not just drizzle—pouring. Ah T and I looked at each other. It was getting dark, and we both had work the next day. “Let’s pack up,” I said. We grabbed our gear, loaded the car, and hit the road. The drive home took 90 minutes—traffic was crazy because of the holiday. But we were tired and happy, so it didn’t matter.
When we got home, the first thing I did was clean that big tilapia. It was huge—enough for dinner and leftovers. Then I showered, ate, and crashed. Today was exactly what I needed: a break from work, time with a friend, and some great fishing. Even with the road block, the rain, and the sore arm, it was perfect. Next time, I think we’ll go earlier to get a better spot. Maybe even bring an umbrella for the rain! But hey, that’s part of the fun—fishing trips never go exactly as planned, right? Can’t wait to plan the next one.
