Unique method of fishing in streams using ant eggs in Nghe An.
(Baonghean.vn) – With bait readily available in nature and fishing spots mainly in streams, people in western Nghe An always come up with unique "innovations" in their fishing methods. One of these "innovations" is fishing with ant eggs.
We happened to meet Mr. Luong Van Chum from Khoi village (Tam Thai - Tuong Duong) carrying his fishing gear. His fishing "equipment" was quite simple, consisting of: a fishing rod, a basin for bait and fish. The basin was full of ant eggs and dead large ants. The fish he caught were only about the size of an adult's finger; sometimes he caught a bigger one, but that was very rare. Mr. Chum said: "To catch these kinds of fish, you have to wait for the clear water season; you can't catch them during the muddy season."
The fishing rods used in streams are usually small ones bought at the market or homemade from bamboo. The materials for making the rods are also very simple, requiring only a ballpoint pen spring and a small bamboo rod. The spring is straightened and bent into a hook – simple but more than enough for fishing in the stream.
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| Mr. Luong Van Chum is fishing by the bridge in Khoi village (Tam Thai - Tuong Duong). |
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| The bait consists of ants and ant eggs. |
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| The dead ants are released into the water to attract fish, while their eggs are hooked onto fishing lines as bait. |
Sharing his secret to fishing with ant eggs, Mr. Chum said that in this mountainous region, almost every household fishes using ant eggs. Small fish are naturally voracious eaters, and ants and their eggs have a special "fragrant" scent that attracts them. At night, anglers find an ant nest, soak the ants in water to kill them, and then prepare for the morning's fishing. The dead ants are scattered on the water's surface to release their scent and attract fish, while the eggs are hooked onto the fishing line as bait.
The secret is simple but surprisingly effective: just sitting and fishing for a short while by the Khoi village bridge, he caught over 1kg of fish in his basin. People frequently come to this section of the stream to fish; some days, more than a dozen people bring their fishing rods and ant eggs.
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| The fish caught in the stream are mostly small species. |
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| Sometimes, larger fish get caught on the ant eggs as bait. |
Dao Tho
