Chapter 789: Chapter 450: Zhang Yang’s Thoughts (Part 2)

This fishing method is somewhat wasteful given the current relatively optimistic fish conditions. The efficiency is clearly much higher in gathering fish and catching double tails than teasing one into biting beautifully.

But Zhang Yang chose to do this anyway. It’s a winning streak anyway, and Zhang Yang has completely mastered the double-tail catching method; it offers no challenge.

However, teasing is different. In Zhang Yang’s view, this method will be one of the mainstream strategies in the upcoming rounds of the competition. The harder it is to catch fish, the more effective teasing will be. Zhang Yang considered this as a precautionary training for the future rounds.

So, Zhang Yang stopped obsessing over catching double tails and instead, each time the hooks hit the bottom, he would tease the fish that came up with a sudden bite, achieving extremely high success.

This made Teacher Yu and Sun Yi in the livestream excited; the effect of live-broadcasting the float was simply explosive.

Most of the audience watching on TV or in the livestream have average skill levels at best. The small invisible nibble actions and floating movements don’t offer much visual appeal, but the sudden big bite from teasing the float had people’s hearts skipping beats, truly thrilling.

"Teacher Yu, do you think that Zhang Yang in the camera knows we’re live streaming his perspective and is intentionally putting on a show for everyone? The bite indication is too enjoyable to watch!" Sun Yi asked with a grin.

Yu Wensheng shook his head: "I don’t think so. The live streaming perspective was a last-minute decision of ours, and we haven’t communicated this with him. He’s also too busy with the competition to check his phone, so how would he know he’s being live-streamed now? So, your guess is probably wrong!"

"Then? Why did he abandon the double-tail method he used to use and switch to this teasing technique?"

"I think he’s preparing for future competitions!"

"Hmm? How did you figure that out?"

"Look at Zhang Yang’s movements after separating the hooks but before baiting! He’s constantly tweaking the state of his bait!" Yu Wensheng pointed out specifically.

The camera soon gave a close-up shot, showing Zhang Yang holding a bait ball slightly smaller than his fist in his left hand, gently bouncing it every few seconds, using his fingertips to tidy up the fringes left from the last scoop, maintaining its smooth exterior.

The separated double hook lines were placed on a magnetic strip, with the smooth bait ball pressed above the hook tips. With a little force, the double hooks formed two smooth, plump bait balls.

Before Yu Wensheng’s reminder, Sun Yi didn’t notice this detail. In fact, even after Teacher Yu pointed it out, Sun Yi still couldn’t understand the actual significance of Zhang Yang’s actions.

With Sun Yi’s limited understanding, he merely thought Zhang Yang’s bait balls looked excellent, solid, smooth, and plump.

"Zhang Yang’s bait ball is gorgeous, not too big or small, and looks very plump!" Sun Yi commented after watching.

Yu Wensheng smiled slightly and explained: "This is just the appearance; you have to see the essence through the phenomenon!

The teasing bait method heavily relies on technique. The same bait can have different effects in different people’s hands.

Even with the same person, at different times or using different techniques, there will be differences!

I believe Zhang Yang is currently finding the bait state that suits the present fish conditions and aligns with the teasing method!

Constantly tidying the bait keeps it relatively smooth on the surface, making the bait more solid when applied to the double hook.

Such that during teasing, the bait’s underwater condition will be better and won’t become too loose after water absorption to the point that it falls off the hook with a tease!"

"Uh... What you’re saying indeed makes a lot of sense!"

After Yu Wensheng’s explanation, Zhang Yang’s seemingly unremarkable teasing method instantly appeared sophisticated in Sun Yi’s eyes.

...

The competition continued, and after changing methods, Zhang Yang’s catch efficiency slightly declined, but the casting frequency wasn’t much affected, frequently catching fish, with the tail count steadily rising.

Compared to Zhang Yang’s unpretentious style, Yu Xiaotong next door was having a harder time.

Zhang Yang wasn’t leading by much, about six or seven fish in difference. Yu Xiaotong had a faster frequency, occasionally catching double tails to make up some fish, but Zhang Yang would immediately rebound. Most of the time without double tails, Yu Xiaotong caught one, and soon thereafter Zhang Yang caught one too—their fishing rhythm was almost identical.

At this moment, Zhang Yang was entirely enjoying the competition, having found a new way to train his skills. By making extreme fish condition judgments and practicing actual fishing, he forcibly maintained the competition rhythm at the same level as his opponent, creating an impression to outsiders that their skills weren’t vastly different.

This wasn’t just a ploy of playing dumb; it was Zhang Yang consciously honing his fishing skills, enjoying the competition while also practicing unfamiliar methods, achieving multiple objectives.

The first half’s fifteen minutes quickly ended in this relaxed atmosphere, with the referee announcing the end of the first half, anglers switching positions, and taking a five-minute break.

Zhang Yang put down his fishing rod, stood up, and lazily stretched. Then, naturally, he picked up his tackle box and switched spots with Yu Xiaotong next door.

During the mid-game break, Teacher Yu and his partner Sun Yi exchanged a glance, and Sun Yi, understanding, suggested: "Teacher Yu, now that the anglers on stage are taking a break, shall we head backstage for a quick interview? I see that you have a very high opinion of the angler Zhang Yang!"

"Sure! I was thinking the same! Let’s go backstage and have a chat with Zhang Yang!" Yu Wensheng seized the opportunity and agreed to his partner’s suggestion.

The two hosts immediately stood up, with the camera operator following closely, striding towards the rest area backstage.

Zhang Yang, having just switched positions, had opened a bottle of mineral water but hadn’t taken a sip when he saw several people bustling in. The host holding a microphone, followed by a camera operator with gear in hand, appeared very serious.

"Hello Zhang Yang, is it convenient to do a quick interview right now? Earlier, Teacher Yu and I had a spur-of-the-moment idea to come to the lounge for a few questions!" Sun Yi greeted Zhang Yang casually.

"Hello host, hello Teacher Yu! Sure, but time is limited, let’s just chat briefly!" Zhang Yang nodded, politely reciprocating.

"During the previous competition, most of the live broadcast focused on you. I wonder if you knew that?" Sun Yi asked.

"Huh? I didn’t know? Was I on TV?" Zhang Yang was slightly stunned.

"Well, Teacher Yu called it right! Could you talk about why you changed your fishing method during the competition? In the previous games, you were catching double tails; why not in this last game?" Sun Yi continued asking.

Upon hearing this slightly sensitive question, Zhang Yang instinctively smiled while shaking his head: "The competition isn’t over yet; asking about this might be a bit inappropriate?"

"Uh, I was a bit abrupt!" Sun Yi realized the question might indeed be inappropriate, appearing a bit embarrassed.

"But it’s not entirely unanswerable; it would be wrong not to show respect to a lovely host and Teacher Yu!" Zhang Yang paused briefly, then continued.

"I have already won two rounds of the PK, securing a spot in advance, so the third match holds less pressure for me. I thought I’d try some other fishing techniques!

In the competition ponds of Tian Tian Yu here, practice rods are not allowed before the match. My understanding of the fish conditions here is almost zero, so taking advantage of the opportunity, I thought I’d familiarize myself with various fish conditions and fishing methods!"

While this answer differed slightly from Yu Wensheng’s prior analysis, the overall direction was the same. It’s almost unheard of for someone like Zhang Yang to test fishing conditions and methods in a 16-into-8 competition.