Chapter 795: Chapter 453: Gentlemen’s Agreement (2)

Yu Wensheng: "Hello everyone, I’m Yu Wensheng! Welcome back to the competition!"

"After several intense rounds, the competition has reached a crucial point. The outcome of the next three duels will determine the top eight contestants.

I wonder what Teacher Yu thinks about the anglers currently vying for the top eight. Which anglers do you think have a higher chance of advancing?" Sun Yi started off strong, ready to put his partner Old Yu on the spot.

Old Yu pursed his lips and smiled slightly: "To make it into the top eight from 168 anglers already proves their strength. So, in my opinion, all eight anglers on the field currently have a certain likelihood of advancing to the top four!"

"Oh, Teacher Yu, that’s such a diplomatic answer, not offending anyone!" Sun Yi laughed and teased.

"Haha, that’s reality for you! The competition has just begun, and nothing has happened yet, so how can we draw conclusions based on subjective judgment? The biggest attraction in competitive events should be their unpredictability! Don’t you think?"

"That’s true. My point is, among the eight, who do you think is more skilled, and who is slightly less competent?

Performance in the moment is one thing, but overall skill is another. What I’m asking doesn’t contradict your discussion!"

"Oh, you mean that, huh? That’s easy to answer! We can’t evaluate unfinished matches, but we can look at data from completed ones!

Based on comprehensive data so far, Zhang Yang ranks the highest. This young angler has been very consistent. He has already showcased his skills in the top 16 to 8 match and is currently leading the pack!

However, even though Zhang Yang’s technique is good, his luck today isn’t the best. He’s been matched up against Wang Chao, and their first match is a head-to-head showdown!

In a double-elimination format, the first victory is quite significant. Wang Chao is quite skilled, so this should be exciting!"

After Old Yu and Sun Yi discussed, the director and cameraman smartly switched the main view to Zhang Yang and Wang Chao’s showdown.

"Teacher Wang Chao is currently ranked second, and Zhang Yang is first. This is like a collision of titans, an early look at a clash of the titans! The match has begun, Teacher Yu, can you analyze the fishing techniques and relevant strategies on the field?"

Yu Wensheng nodded: "The match just started a minute ago, and both are still in the stage of casting to create a bait area and attract fish!

From previous data, I estimate it takes at least ten casts to attract fish before they start biting, which will gradually reveal their fishing strategies!

Let’s patiently observe and see what strategies these two masters use to catch fish given the current conditions!"

Yu Wensheng was right; the first ten casts were indeed about creating a bait area.

However, it was evident that both sides were already contending.

Even when it came to casting to attract fish, Zhang Yang and Wang Chao had subtle differences in their details.

Zhang Yang’s bait balls were bigger and more irregular. He would patiently wait for the bobber to settle to the preset depth near the bottom before retrieving.

On the other hand, Wang Chao used a technique where he cast with double hooks using bait cores, which were smaller but in better shape, choosing a method akin to fast-paced surface fishing.

He didn’t wait for the bobber to settle before retrieving for the next cast.

Yu Wensheng observed a few casts and quickly noticed their differences, and immediately started analyzing publicly: "Wow, I thought we’d need to wait for fish bites to see distinctions, but in reality, the contest is fiercer than we expected. Zhang Yang and Wang Chao’s methods have already diverged!

First, let’s discuss Zhang Yang. Through observation, I found that he retrieves at a height when the bobber descends to about seven or eight notches. I’m confident this means it’s not at the bottom!

I estimate that underwater, the depth is around ten centimeters from the bottom!

In professional terms, this should be considered a mid-layer setup! 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Now about Wang Chao, his method for creating a bait area is simpler. His strategy greatly differs from Zhang Yang’s, using a more common high-frequency surface baiting approach for high-density, fast-paced fishing!

He casts with double hooks, but the drop point isn’t full-length. He retrieves before the bobber settles, relying on water resistance to disperse the bait into the water!

As this doesn’t require the setup to be ready, this baiting method is faster, and these two methods for creating a bait area are quite representative!"

Initially, Sun Yi didn’t notice these technical details, but after Old Yu’s analysis, Sun Yi realized the contest started from the first cast.

"So, do these two baiting methods have any pros and cons? Can you elaborate, Teacher Yu?"

Yu Wensheng continued: "They’re not pros and cons per se, just different strategic approaches by the anglers! Let’s start with Zhang Yang’s strategy of targeting about ten centimeters above the bottom; this is a moderately conservative approach.

If the fish are biting fast, a few casts might encounter bites at the entrance, allowing him to quickly capitalize on this and catch target fish and establish an advantage.

If the fishing conditions are worse than expected with no entrance bites, a ten centimeters position won’t spread the bait too much. Then Zhang Yang can adjust to bottom fishing or teasing, ensuring smooth tactical transitions, advancing or retreating when needed!

In contrast, Wang Chao’s baiting strategy is a bit more aggressive.

The rapid cast frequency for surface baiting quickly disperses bait. Though he uses more bait than Zhang Yang, the 1.8-meter depth means the bait spreads widely.

A sparse bait area makes fish aggregation tough; if mid to bottom layer bites are few, Wang Chao might find himself at a disadvantage.

Based on this baiting approach, Wang Chao seems to be taking a calculated risk. If it works, he’ll quickly gain an advantage, but if not, with poor conditions, adjusting later could be troublesome, leaving him hoping to turn things around post repositioning in the second half!"

It must be said, just from baiting details, Old Yu accurately deduced their fishing strategies.

Zhang Yang indeed aims for stability with adaptability, while Wang Chao seems to strategically gamble.

Why gamble? Simple, seeing Zhang Yang’s remarkable dual-hook success earlier, Wang Chao likely finds it hard to match. To win, matching Zhang Yang’s strengths head-to-head seems unwise; he must try his swift fishing expertise instead.

"From previous matches’ fishing conditions, it seems Teacher Wang Chao’s strategy has a success rate! The fish in Pond No. 1 do seem relatively fast, don’t you think, Teacher Yu?"

Yu Wensheng nodded again: "That’s Wang Chao’s fishing brilliance, making a calculated tactical gamble, not a blind one, but a decision made after thorough analysis!

At the start of the afternoon matches, low atmospheric pressure made fishing conditions tougher, but now the rain has cleared and pressure risen; I personally believe conditions shouldn’t be too poor!

If overall conditions are slightly better than the last set of the previous match, Wang Chao might take the lead!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the camera caught Zhang Yang’s bobber descending to about ten notches, and suddenly it made a small accelerating movement.

Zhang Yang hadn’t expected much; he just figured he’d cast the bait, so a few centimeters difference in depth didn’t matter. He decided to retrieve and hook the fish anyway.

And just like that, a casual hook set the bait, and he got a catch.

Zhang Yang scores first, leading 1-0!