8: Chapter 08 An Opinion 8: Chapter 08 An Opinion The smaller fish swim faster and are more aggressive in competing for food, so once the slightly larger fish in the baited area can’t get any food, naturally, they won’t be caught.
And once they’re full, they just turn around and leave.
Yue Feng observed the other anglers around him and noticed that apart from an old gentleman who, like himself, was using traditional fishing methods with earthworms as bait, most people were using commercial bait.
Those fishing with bait seemed to have much less trouble with small fish swarming their spots.
But now Yue Feng only had earthworms, and the two additives used in the crucian carp bait formula hadn’t arrived yet.
He didn’t bring any other types of bait either, so what was he supposed to do?
Could it be the location of the bait spot?
The old gentleman not too far away was also using earthworms, but his spot didn’t seem to have as much trouble with swarming fish!
“Damn, these little fish in the spot are so annoying; there’s never a moment when they’re not!” Yue Feng mumbled, feeling somewhat frustrated.
“Young man, places with more underwater obstacles tend to hide small fish, so they’re especially fierce when crowding the bait.
I have another spot here, why don’t you come over and fish with me?” The old man beside him was quite generous, inviting Yue Feng to join him in his fishing spot.
The old gentleman meant well, but Yue Feng had come to fish with a purpose.
Fishing in someone else’s spot, even if he caught fish, would feel like a hollow victory.
“Thank you, sir, but I’ve just started learning how to fish.
I’m not good enough yet, so I won’t mix in with you.
I’ll find another spot and try baiting there!”
After thanking the man profusely, Yue Feng picked up his bucket and stool and found a new spot.
While everyone else was clustered near the prominent spade-shaped area, the migratory bend on the other side of the spade wasn’t crowded.
Yue Feng noticed some underwater vegetation in the water there and thought it might be a good spot, so he moved his stool to that location.
As soon as he sat down, a system prompt echoed in his mind again.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Your understanding of fishing has deepened by one point!
Damn, changing spots and getting points as a reward, five hundred points at that, isn’t easy to come by usually.
After moving, he used Rice Wine to bait the new spot.
This time, Yue Feng drew on his experience and used less bait, opting to try it out first.
Less bait, more frequent replenishment, so as not to waste Rice Wine if the underwater environment was poor and devoid of fish.
After changing spots and baiting again, the swarming of small fish finally eased, and Yue Feng managed to catch three or four large crucian carp, each weighing about half a pound.
With all the back and forth, it was already past eleven o’clock.
Gradually, on the entire west shore, most of the anglers had stopped catching fish.
That’s when Yue Feng’s Rice Wine revealed its dominant effect.
While everyone else had stopped getting bites, Yue Feng was still able to catch fish intermittently.
Although the bites weren’t fast, he usually didn’t have to wait too long after casting his line.
The sporadic catches kept everyone on edge, and soon enough, unable to contain their curiosity, some people approached Yue Feng to check out the fishing technique and bait he was using.
However, seeing Yue Feng’s rudimentary fishing gear and the earthworms on his hooks, many lost the urge to ask for advice.
With such simple equipment, he couldn’t be a fishing expert.
Maybe his successive catches were just a streak of luck from sitting on a fish path.
Yue Feng keenly observed these details, but he didn’t come up with any good strategies.
It’s not like business; you can’t just shove your way in – he couldn’t just start peddling himself with a thick face!
Moreover, he couldn’t leave his spot now with the bites being good.
Some thought Yue Feng was just lucky, while others, driven by curiosity, asked him about the bait he was using.
At the very least, this earned Yue Feng a few hundred Promotion Points.
Yue Feng came prepared, bringing plenty of trial-sized packs of his own Rice Wine bait.
Whenever someone asked, he gave them a small trial pack, and gradually, he had handed out more than a dozen.
Strangely, the fishermen who used the trial Rice Wine bait out of desperation began to catch fish one after another, and suddenly they were exclaiming it was miraculous.
Unthinkingly, it was already four in the afternoon by the time Yue Feng sat down by the water.
He received a call from the delivery guy—the stuff he bought yesterday had arrived.
He quickly packed up and cycled back to his shop.
Having received the Licorice Powder and strawberry powder, Yue Feng began mixing his bait recipe.
He found a large plastic basin and a bait-opening measuring cup for precise measurements and quickly started mixing according to the recipe’s ratios.
The bait he adjusted according to the recipe had a base smell of fish with a slight fruity sweet scent from the added licorice and strawberry powder.
It smelled quite mild.
Yue Feng casually took a small measuring cup and scooped up some dry powder, added water, and prepared a portion of bait.
The state of the bait was just right, and it looked quite presentable too.
No sooner had he separated the prepared bait into 400g packs than someone came into the store—
It wasn’t just anyone; it was the fellow fisherman Liu Fengnian whom he had met yesterday at the Jiulongjian reservoir.
Liu Fengnian wore casual clothes and had a slightly tanned face from frequently fishing outdoors.
“Hey, Brother Liu, you’re here!” Yue Feng greeted with a smile.
“Ah, your place is really not easy to find.
I was held up with something this morning and couldn’t make it over.
How about the Rice Wine bait?
Get me a few packs first!”
“There’s still quite a bit of Rice Wine bait left.
How many packs would you like?
Oh, and this is the spring crucian carp fishing bait formula I just mixed.
Please do me a favor and test it out for me!”
The cost of these baits wasn’t high, and since the customer had taken the trouble to come to him, Yue Feng was willing to give away some trial packs to establish a good customer relationship.
“Give me four packs of Rice Wine, two sets of 3.6-meter, 1.0 mainlines!
I won’t stand on ceremony about the trial bait either, I’ll give you feedback after trying it out!”
As Liu Fengnian listed the items he needed, he casually looked around the shop.
Yue Feng’s shop wasn’t big, but it was complete with all the equipment typically needed for traditional freshwater Taiwan Fishing, even stocking some basic lure products.
There were fewer items for sea fishing, only some casting rods.
Overall, there was nothing particularly distinctive about this small shop, nor any glaring faults—it was decent and standard.
“Four packs of Rice Wine for 80, two lines for 12, I’ll round down the change, so you can give me ninety!” Yue Feng said, briskly packing the bait and speaking generously.
“I witnessed the effect of that Rice Wine bait myself.
I’m curious how this formula bait will work—if it’s good, I can recommend it for you.
I have quite a few fishing friends!”
Yue Feng grinned and handed the trial bait to Liu Fengnian, saying, “This is a recipe I got my hands on after a lot of effort, it works well for catching big crucian carp in spring.
Give it a try when you have the chance!”
“Yue, you seem like a straightforward fellow, let me give you a bit of advice as an elder.
Your DIY packages are effective, but the packaging is still a bit crude!
Learn from other shops; it’s best to print some labels and stick them on, at least with a name listed.
It’ll make it easier for fishermen to find you!”
“That’s a great suggestion, I’ll sort it out when I get a chance.
I rushed into this line of work without really understanding it!” Yue Feng nodded humbly, quickly rinsing cups and boiling water to prepare tea.
This was the first customer to give Yue Feng advice, and he had a good impression of Liu Fengnian.
After all, in today’s society, how many would actively offer suggestions to a stranger?
Yue Feng valued such customers.