I only use hand rods, and Taiwan-style fishing is now common.
Taiwan-style fishing, competitive fishing, and wild fishing are completely different. There’s no need to buy gear based on competitive fishing standards.
Simplifying everything is best.
For fishing bait, all those messy commercial baits are made with chemical fragrances—red worm scent, earthworm scent, fishy scent, bread scent. None are as effective as real red worms or earthworms. Red worms are better than earthworms because they don’t dirty your hands.
I only use commercial baits as groundbait.
Places where humans feel comfortable are also places where fish feel comfortable.
In most cases, a fishing outfit with a hat is more practical than an umbrella. Umbrellas are heavy and cumbersome.
For comfortable fishing, a mini fishing platform is convenient, and a folding stool is cheap and easy to reposition.
For wild fishing, a good 5.4m rod is enough. Cast diagonally nearby—you won’t catch fish far away. In large water areas, fishing nearby is more effective. Those videos of masters catching giant fish are usually filmed in fish ponds.
Rods shouldn’t be too stiff. Ratings like 5H, 6H, or 20H are for competitive fishing speed and have nothing to do with wild fishing. Soft rods are less tiring and less likely to break lines.
Sub-line boxes and main-line boxes are all useless. A small clip bag with a few foam rings is best.
For floats, a short-foot, long-body, long-tail design is best for ordinary fishing. Fancy shapes like date pits are scams. Choose floats with high lead weights—sensitivity has nothing to do with lead weight. Thick float tails are most important for comfort.
Buy the smallest fish basket. For landing nets, depth matters, not diameter.
Fishing lines don’t need to be thick. Unless you’re targeting 10kg fish, a main line of 1.5 is enough at most. Don’t buy too much—one box lasts a year.
Don’t use large hooks or barbless hooks. Barbless hooks are for competitive fishing and easily slip off when using earthworms or red worms. Don’t buy expensive ones.
Either don’t bait the nest or bait heavily for night fishing. Musk millet and similar products are nonsense—smelly bait works best for nesting.
Avoid wild fishing spots with too many small fish. Don’t use fragrant baits—for wild fishing, the key is “smelly.”
Finally, what’s the best fishing spot? Check in the evening before. If someone fished there at night, use their nest the next day.
