The annual Winter Fishing Festival began on Monday at Chagan Lake in northeast China’s Jilin Province. Local fishermen drilled holes in the ice and lowered their nets to catch fish in harsh temperatures that dipped to negative 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
One leader of a fishing team caught many people’s attention for his incredible skills at locating fishing grounds.
Zhang Wen, who is over 50-years-old, has been working on Chagan Lake for over 30 years. Fishermen are still amazed with his skills and technique.
[Fisherman]:
Zhang should have retired at this age, but he still holds the position. Fate seems to have tied Zhang and fish together. Every year we can get a good catch by following his lead.
Zhang and his team set a Guinness World Record in 2008 for catching over 168,000 kilograms or 370,000 pounds of fish in a single haul.
[Zhang Wen, Fishing Team Leader]:
We had not expected to catch that much. We thought 50,000 to 100,000 kg was already the limit. 150,000 kg was unimaginable.
Zhang says he’s proud of doing his job and hopes someday to pass on his fishing techniques so they won’t be lost.
Chagan Lake is the largest inland lake in Jilin Province. With high water quality and a well-protected environment, the lake is home to a large number of fish and shrimp. Each year, the Winter Fishing Festival is held to celebrate ancient fishing traditions.
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