With a call from Meng Xiangqiu, the spectacle of all the anglers collectively casting their baits by hand occurred once again across the pond.
On this 5.4-meter restricted fishing ground, baiting with lead was quite challenging. Many anglers who had been fishing with Zhang Yang tried using lead but found it difficult. To avoid falling behind and affecting their catch, they resorted to throwing a few balls of bait by hand.
Zhang Yang remained steady as ever. He baited with lead at a distance of about seven or eight rod lengths in front, casting normally with a Triangle Cannon while calmly observing the other anglers' actions.
Compared to Oil House Fishing Ground, where fish are released right before fishing begins, at Meng Village, fish were stocked two days in advance, making the fishing conditions noticeably different.
The first point has been mentioned before.
Over time, fish acclimatized to the new environment, gradually moving inward rather than circling the pond. Short rods lost their advantage,
Additionally, fish adapted to the fishing ground tended to spread out more evenly, making it difficult to quickly gather large schools. Instead, they moved in small groups of three to five.
This was particularly challenging for anglers who relied on baiting to attract fish and build up a school through consistent feeding.
Zhang Yang had anticipated these conditions, so he didn't overuse leaded bait, using only three egg-sized baits to lay the foundation and relying on frequent baiting to gather fish.
Within five minutes of starting, some anglers began catching fish.
A middle-aged angler in his forties near the middle of the north bank was the first to catch a fish, gripping his rod tightly as the fish pulled underwater with a buzzing sound, causing onlookers' hearts to race.
"Xiao Meng, what kind of fish did you put in here, it's so strong! Can't hold on!" The middle-aged man, while exerting his muscles to play with the fish, couldn't resist interacting happily with Meng Xiangqiu.
"The fish were put in ahead of time, so they're a bit stronger! Healthy Hebei carp! Big ones over three pounds, smaller ones two and a half! You're catching them pretty fast!" Meng Xiangqiu replied with a cigarette in his mouth.
Their strength was due to the early release and recovery of their physical strength, with another factor being the deeper water of the pond, at a depth of two and a half meters, creating extra resistance after the fish was hooked.
Soon, other anglers started catching fish one after another. The fish were biting well on this opening day; ten minutes into fishing, at least seven or eight people had caught fish, with catches happening across the whole pond.
Aside from a slightly faster catch rate near the middle of the north bank, other spots started producing fish as well. Zhang Yang noticed there wasn't a significant bias in the pond.
Through his steady Triangle Cannon routine, Zhang Yang's bait station began showing some activity, yet he refrained from rushing to start fishing. He maintained his steady style, nurturing the few fish that entered the bait station, intending to strike once the school grew larger.
In contrast, Han Qiang next to him was a bit impatient.
He cast six fist-sized bait balls into the spot and then began slow-hooked bottom fishing with double hooks. After at least five minutes of waiting for a single nibble and a slight bobber movement, he yanked the rod forcefully, causing the first fish to escape like a slingshot.
"Crap! So strong it snapped my line! Thrilling!"
Although Han Qiang lost the fish, he was not discouraged but rather excited, muttering while giving Zhang Yang a grin, before changing to a stronger line and continuing.
Zhang Yang, observing his movements, made a preliminary assessment of Han Qiang's skill.
Just an amateur hobbyist, no threat to Zhang Yang.
Not five minutes later, Han Qiang lifted the rod again.
After changing to a stronger line, he finally managed to haul in the second fish, though it took seven or eight rounds of exhausting the fish before surfacing it.
Having landed a fish, Han Qiang was elated, clumsily netting the fish, then bringing the net over his shoulder onto the bank, pinning the fish down with his hand, only then rudely unhooking it.
Zhang Yang watched and internally exclaimed, "Good heavens."
The hook he used had barbs; it looked to be at least a size 8 or 9 Ise Ni hook!
Perhaps due to the proximity of his spot, number 11, to the central oxygen machine, Han Qiang was having good luck with the bites. In the following ten minutes, he caught three more fish.
Within half an hour of starting, Han Qiang had already caught four fish, so happy that he began humming a little tune.
Seeing Zhang Yang had yet to start fishing, Han Qiang cheerfully asked, "Buddy! Seen any action? I've got four already, yet you're not moving. Could it be your bait is off? Use mine if you need to!"
Responding to this goodwill, Zhang Yang grinned, "No need, I've baited lightly, just taking it slow to draw them in. You fish your way, don't worry about me!"
"When it comes to catching fish, you can't be stingy with the bait! I've prepared plenty, let me know if you need it, no need to be shy!" Han Qiang replied with generosity.
"Sure, I'll let you know if I need it!" Zhang Yang nodded, continuing to change bait and cast.
"For us common folk, today's a real pleasure! Today's... get up here!"
Han Qiang was humming again when he noticed the bobber dip and once more made a grand gesture of pulling the rod and hooking another!
Yet, this time luck was not on his side; upon being hooked, the fish surged with power, suddenly flattening the otherwise upright rod.
Whoosh, snap! The rod in Han Qiang's hand whipped back uncontrollably.
The guy blinked in confusion, glancing around.
The high-strength line exceeded the strength of the mainline, directly breaking it.
Zhang Yang glanced over and noticed something interesting: instead of breaking at the eroded parts near the lead seat or float seat, it broke below the rod tip where the knot was tied.
Now that's trouble; the bobber, a full line, and the fish on it were all lost!
"Damn! Snapped the mainline! Even a four-weight line can break like that!" Han Qiang complained, putting down his rod and rummaging through his tackle box for spares.
"Did you make the mainline yourself? Typically, a well-tied mainline shouldn't break from the rod tip!" Zhang Yang couldn't help but advise.
If it were a completely unfamiliar angler, Zhang Yang wouldn't have bothered offering advice. But seeing as this guy was quite genuine, Zhang Yang felt he was good company and offered the tip out of goodwill.
"I don't even know. I bought them from the local tackle shop; ten bucks for a set, two bucks a meter!"
Han Qiang said as he found another spare mainline in his tackle box and quickly got back to it.
But perhaps due to a streak of excellent luck turning sour, his unfortunate streak seemed never-ending.
With a newly adjusted bobber and a fresh mainline, the first fish cut it again, right at the knot by the rod tip.
Now things were worse; two mainlines and both bobbers ended up in the pond, his rhythm for snatching fish severely disrupted again and again.
"Damn it, this is ridiculous! These lines never even touched water! How could they snap again!" Han Qiang was getting frustrated.