Back to the Past to Become a Fishing King-Chapter 571 - 328: Secrets Hidden in the Fishing Test

There are a total of four ponds at the competition venue here. According to the information disclosed in the event regulations, the four ponds are divided into two designated fish ponds and two blended ponds.

Here, both designated fish and blended ponds have fast and slow options, meaning there's a certain difference in fish density among the four ponds.

The settings of the fish conditions in this competition already show the differences between the Fishing King Cup and other fishing competitions. Four ponds with different fish conditions, each pond having two matches, with the fishing order randomly determined by drawing lots for the session and spot. This setup can result in more than ten variations of fish conditions, which presents a high requirement for an angler's comprehensive fishing skills.

Zhang Yang also didn't know whether the number two pond he chose had fast or slow fish, but that wasn't important to him, the key was to learn about the fish conditions.

If the fish bite quickly, then he fishes for fast fish; if slowly, then for slow fish. Collecting information on current fish conditions means the exploratory fishing wasn't in vain.

Before casting the line, Zhang Yang observed the water color and sensed that the fish bites in the pond might not be good. Actual fishing testing confirmed Zhang Yang's judgment.

For the next twenty minutes or so, Zhang Yang kept casting the line with a certain frequency, but there was no feedback from the bobber at all.

Those who know would say the fish are uncomfortable and not biting, but those who don't might think there's no fish in the pond.

By contrast, Liu Zi at the neighboring number one pond had much better fish conditions. He caught a little crucian carp about one or two ounces in less than ten minutes, and it was almost boiling over at the spot. Every time the bobber flipped, the fish would bite, and a gentle pull would catch a double.

The water color in the pond had issues, but it didn't affect Liu Zi's fishing continuously next door. With no bites on his side, Zhang Yang focused more attention on Liu Zi. After watching for a while, Zhang Yang put down his fishing rod and strollingly went behind Liu Zi.

Coincidentally, Liu Zi fished out another fish from the spot, and Zhang Yang quietly said, "Don't rush to put it in the fish basket, let me see the fish!"

"Oh! Take a look, the fish bite is good, I feel it should be new fish!"

Liu Zi lifted the leader line to show the unfortunate fish that just came out of the water to Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang took the crucian carp and carefully examined it after removing the hook.

Initially, Zhang Yang also thought it was a freshly placed new fish. But upon examining the lip area on one side of the fish's mouth, Zhang Yang's eyebrow habitually raised.

Something's wrong! There's a light-colored scar on the fish's mouth from being hooked before and then healing.

This isn't a new fish!

Crucian carp are relatively small, and their mouths are relatively thin, so after being caught and released, the wounds on their mouths tend to be bigger than those on carp or other fish. Some anglers with slightly poor control and release skills exaggerate the damage to the fish mouth.

Inexperienced anglers might hardly notice the subtle healed scars on fish mouths, but who was Zhang Yang, a master who could even imagine the fish's state of biting the hook just by seeing the scars?

"There's a healed wound on the fish's mouth; it should not be new fish. Catch a few more to look!" Zhang Yang continued.

"A wound? How come I didn't notice earlier! The bites are quick, and they eat feed aggressively. It doesn't have the slippery fish bobber behavior. Shouldn't be slippery fish, right?"

Liu Zi said softly while casting.

As they spoke, the bobber again showed signs of a bite, but Liu Zi delayed lifting the rod for a double catch.

As expected, two fish came up.

Zhang Yang again took the leader line to remove the hooks and observe, and like the previous fish, there was a slight healed wound near the 12 o'clock position on the fish's mouth.

Looking at the third fish, the scar was even more exaggerated, with an obvious wound around the outer ring of the fish's mouth. After the scars on both sides of the lips healed, the fish's mouth was slightly crooked.

"How is it, boss?" Liu Zi raised his head, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Zhang Yang casually threw the fish into the water and shook his head.

"They're all old fish that have been caught and released! The last one was the most obvious; the fish's mouth has become crooked!"

"Could it be that the fish were caught and released a long time ago? I didn't notice any differences in the biting behavior from new fish!" Liu Zi asked again.

Zhang Yang nodded, "You fish slowly for a while. We'll discuss the specifics later!"

"Alright, sure!"

Leaving Liu Zi's number one pond, Zhang Yang went to Xiaobao's number three pond.

The water quality in the third pond was similar to the other ponds, with a gray-green tint that gave an impression of an unhealthy water body.

Compared to the ultra-fast fish conditions in the number one pond, number three mixed pond's fish conditions were much slower.

However, compared to the number two pond where Zhang Yang was, the fish condition actions in the third pond were noticeably more prevalent.

Yet, despite many bobber movements, the phenomenon of slippery mouths was severe, making it difficult for Xiaobao to catch the fish during bobber rotations, top lifts, set bites, or even when the bobber turned black.

Zhang Yang stood behind and watched for at least three minutes, witnessing more than ten bites on the bobber, yet Xiaobao only caught one fish, and that was hooked by the tail.

"What depth did you set? So many bites but can't catch any fish!" Zhang Yang asked from behind.

"Set at eleven eyes, fishing with kneaded bait! The bites are too slippery, can't catch them from actions! Otherwise, it's the slingshot dehooking!" Xiaobao said, annoyed.

"Get up and let me try the rod!" Feeling challenged, Zhang Yang directly motioned for Xiaobao to get up and give up the spot.

Xiaobao obediently vacated the fishing spot for Zhang Yang, standing beside like a little student observing.