Chapter 36: Chapter 36: New Tactic, Two People Fishing in One Spot
However, at this moment, Zhang Yang and Zhao Bingguang on the north shore didn’t cast even a single bait ball by hand.
Their movements were synchronized, grasping lead weights with egg-sized bait balls, gently swinging them into the fishing spot. After swinging a few balls individually, they started to bring out the double-hook Triangle Cannon without rushing.
According to the fishing conditions from the previous session, there shouldn’t be much fish biting in the first half-hour. This time, the two fished in one spot, so the bait in the area was undoubtedly abundant, prompting Zhang Yang to deliberately adjust the frequency of casting to create a baited area to lure fish.
In the last session, the basic approach was to lift the rod once the bait reached the bottom, with a rhythm of about thirty seconds per rod, enabling two casts per minute.
Today, Zhang Yang deliberately slowed down, casting approximately every four to five seconds, resulting in a rate of about four casts every three minutes.
Introducing new fish into the baited area is a gradual process, and jointly casting to maintain a spot was rather easy for the two.
Previously, Zhang Yang and old Zhao looked like they had no problem with their casting technique and such, but today, as they fished in one spot together, the difference in their fundamental skills gradually became apparent.
Zhang Yang’s casting accuracy was evidently much better, with uniform bait landing spots within a concentrated range, whereas Zhao Bingguang sometimes cast wide even with a shorter three-meter-six rod.
At the initial three minutes, old Zhao could keep up, but after persisting for twenty minutes, his casting frequency subconsciously slowed down, allowing Zhang Yang to pull slightly ahead.
Zhang Yang noticed this subtle difference but didn’t mention it, continuing to patiently cast and maintain the spot.
When the time reached about twenty-five minutes, the opposite bank caught fish first!
Upon hearing the sound of rod braking and fish striking across the bank, Zhang Yang instinctively glanced up.
A familiar face was unfamiliar, an angler to the right of Wang Jun, wielding a 4.5-meter rod, adorned with a white fishing hat inscribed with the ’Old Ghost Cup Fishing Competition’ souvenir.
Needless to say, simply based on this attire, Zhang Yang could discern the angler likely had years of fishing experience.
Items like sun protection apparel, fishing hats, and fish protectors are often given away during fishing competitions, serving as a method for brands to expand brand awareness and influence.
The Old Ghost Cup Fishing Competition, sponsored by Old Ghost Bait, is a leader in the domestic bait industry, hosting numerous local fishing competitions annually.
Anglers who have participated in such competitions cannot possibly be complete novices. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re experts, just that they have some involvement in the fishing sport.
Simply hearing the sharp sound of his rod brake and fish striking, Zhang Yang drew an initial assessment of his skills – his fundamentals were not particularly solid as true experts strike fish silently.
Neighboring old Zhao, noticing Zhang Yang’s attention on the opposite bank’s initial caster, whispered, "I know this fellow! Qian Wenbo, he’s notable in W City’s fishing circle!
I previously mentioned the experts playing in the city center, referring to them! Unexpectedly, he got fish so quickly!"
Zhang Yang nodded, "Noted! He’s using a rod with only five sections, probably a 4.5-meter one! Wang Jun sitting next to him must feel uncomfortable!"
In this era of 2012, the so-called big four-section and five-section designs for fishing rods hadn’t emerged, so there was an easy method to determine rod length.
Most of the interface locations of each section have conspicuous paint breaks, four sections are three meters six, five sections four meters five, six sections five meters four – careful observation can differentiate easily.
"Didn’t you say shorter rods have more advantages than longer rods for fishing lively fish? How come 4.5 meters became better than 3.6 meters?" Old Zhao was confused.
"Not better, just uncomfortable! Imagine, with a five-meter-four rod, what’s the fish’s radius after catching?
Before the fish reveals itself out of the water, there’s some distance from the short rod’s spot, controlling fish doesn’t impact the next spot!
But what about 4.5 meters? A moment’s carelessness could unintentionally cruise to the three-meter-six spot, which puts Wang Jun at a disadvantage!
We don’t know if this guy’s doing it intentionally or not, just keep an eye on it, the bait spot is already prepared, too late to adjust!"
"Oh, my! There’s such tactics? I wouldn’t have noticed unless you mentioned it!"
As the two were discussing the angler on the opposite bank, suddenly, old Zhao’s bobber in Zhang Yang’s spot gave a standard bottom interface.
"Oh, my! I’ve got a bite here, let’s go!" Old Zhao shouted, lifting the rod and striking the fish!
Sure enough, successfully hitting the fish, a few rounds later pulling it to the surface.
Utilizing this opportunity to catch fish, Zhang Yang quietly advised, "The bite just now happened around five-ranges deep, showing a bottom interface! 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
The density in the spot should be there, watch a few more casts, and if it’s still this interface motion, then you can initially catch a few from the fish group and put them into the fish protector!"
"Okay! Don’t hold back, grab the bites you should grab, no need to specially take care of me!"
Zhang Yang laughed and nodded, "Alright!"
Following a few more casts, what Zhang Yang predicted came true, the spot showed a significant influx of fish, soon offering a second and third interface move.
Zhang Yang unabashedly snagged one opening cast fish, then patiently continued nurturing their joint spot. Unless the interface was solid, Zhang Yang lifted the rod upon hitting the bottom, accelerating the rhythm noticeably.
Jointly fishing one spot required greater control of the rhythm than what one could do alone.
The duo could cast a lot, but the fish retrieval speed was doubled as well, making density control among the fish group in the spot more challenging, easily scattering the group with careless extra catches.
Zhang Yang came fishing not just for the enjoyment but with the main goal of promoting products and increasing store visibility.
With old Zhao aiding so much, and scarcely enjoying the previous bout, Zhang Yang now seemed to deliberately hold back, allowing old Zhao to seize the fish period and catch a few more for fun.
Based on this consideration, Zhang Yang didn’t rush to change to dry bait to seize bites; instead, he maintained the double-hook Triangle Cannon rhythm to continue luring fish and filling up the spot, stabilizing the fish group density in the spot.
With both fishing the same spot, using the same bait, and Zhang Yang deliberately letting the flow, it excited Zhao Bingguang greatly.
When the fish started biting quickly, Zhao Bingguang soon entered a ’fast-bounce’ mode, averaging two to three casts for a bottom position bite, accumulating five or six fish very quickly.
"Oh, my! Today’s fish is really exciting, the strength is compelling! Zhang Yang, switch to dry bait too, why are you still using Triangle Cannon?"
Despite old Zhao’s excitement, he did notice Zhang Yang’s leniency.
"No worries, your rod is softer, the fish return slowly, just enjoy yourself, I’ll come by when you’re tired! Now the bite is lively, seizing bites is less prone to issue!"
Zhang Yang remained calm, again grasping the Triangle Cannon, casting precisely into the spot.
"Alright then, I’ll thoroughly enjoy it!"
"Hmm, don’t worry, I’m keeping an eye on it!"
After a simple communication, old Zhao fully indulged himself, deliberately slowing the pace, giving the fish more opportunities to take the bait.
Sure enough, the adjusted rhythm changed from catching a fish every few casts to every cast landing a fish!
Caught consecutively.
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Explanation ① Fast-bounce: A term describing the speed of catching fish, the slowest is ’qiu’ fishing, giving a bite every half-hour, hour, or even longer.
Slightly faster is slow bounce, offering a bite every five to ten minutes.
Faster is fast bounce, providing a bite every one to two minutes.
Even faster than fast bounce is consecutive casts, where almost every cast hooks a fish.
Faster than consecutive casts is explosive consecutive, with so many fish that the double hook can’t reach the bottom before being bitten, releasing a bite showing two tails.