Finding Hidden Treasures in the Mud: Catching Fish

Описание: The core discovery for a curious mind

The video shows a traditional bare-handed fishing method where a person stands barefoot in a muddy field ridge or ditch, fumbling in the soft mud with both hands to catch the loaches hiding within.

Purpose of Catching: Food and Economic Value
🐟 As a Food Source: This is the main purpose. The loach is a high-protein, low-fat, high-quality food source, rich in various trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. In many regions, it is known as "ginseng of the water."
💰 Economic Gain: In many rural areas, catching wild loaches is an important source of sideline income for farmers and fishermen.

Best Catching Locations:
📍 Slow-moving or still bodies of water: Look for paddy fields, irrigation ditches, shallow ponds, swamp edges, or very slow-flowing streams. Fast currents will wash away the silt and organic matter that loaches depend on for survival, so they are rarely found in such environments.
📍 Soft mud or silt bottom: This is the most critical indicator. Loaches are burrowing fish and need a soft substrate they can easily dig into to hide from predators and survive droughts. A muddy area that feels deep and soft when stepped on is an excellent sign. Sandy or gravelly bottoms are completely unsuitable.
📍 Shallow water areas rich in organic matter: Decaying plants, fallen leaves, and other organic debris are the main food source for loaches. Shallow areas where the water is slightly murky and the bottom has humus are usually their feeding grounds. At the same time, shallow water also makes bare-handed catching possible.