Chapter 19 An Abundance Catch

• "Well, those areas are usually fish havens, but let's keep our fingers crossed for some surprises," Michael said, not dampening Kenneth's upbeat demeanor.
• What if he had a surefire method to snag those fish with a net?
• On their way to the designated spot, Kenneth attached a long stick to each side of the three nets.
• Atop the sticks were his custom-modified foam pieces.
• Michael and the others watched, intrigued yet puzzled by Kenneth's unique approach to net crafting.
• After living in Brighter Valley for half their lives, they experienced something new.
• "Okay, Dylan, hold it steady," Kenneth directed.
• Kenneth took charge as the boat glided into the calm backflow area and settled.
• He carefully lowered the first net into the water.
• The stick, decorated with a foam block, was thrust into the water, leaving only a white buoy afloat.
• "Dylan, easy on the oars. I'm lowering the net," Kenneth instructed calmly.
• "Got it."
• The fishing net descended into the water as the iron boat glided forward.
• "Ken, do you think your method will reel any fish?" Michael asked skeptically.
• "I'm not certain, but we must give it a shot," Kenneth replied determinedly.
• "And this net's too hefty. It likely won't catch anything under two cities," Michael observed, his keen eye already noting the challenge.
• He remembered when Kenneth had landed a monstrous catch in this very lake.
• Yet, not every fish prowling its depths boasted such size.
• In the prime of fishing, they used to catch carp averaging around half a pound.
• Occasionally, they caught bigger fish, such as grass and crucian carp, which weighed several or even a dozen pounds.
• However, these rare, prized catches made them almost elusive to capture.
• Michael and the others couldn't fathom catching fish weighing over two pounds with just one net.
• "If it's not a sizable catch, it might do more harm than good to the environment," Michael remarked.
• "Haha! Ken, you've got a good point. Let's hope for a decent haul," he added, leaving his thoughts unspoken.
• Michael had a sense of how things might turn out.
• While Kenneth's fishing approach was innovative, it was also unfamiliar territory for them all.
• Despite Kenneth's expertise and efforts, Brighter Lake appeared disappointingly barren of fish.
• After deploying all three nets, Kenneth instructed Dylan to stop the boat at the heart of the backflow area.
• "Ken, what's the plan now?" Ryan inquired.
• "I'm going to dive in and check," Kenneth replied.
• "Huh?"
• Before they could react, Kenneth had already stripped down to his shorts and sleeves.
• "Ken, why not let me dive? I'm a strong swimmer and can hold my breath for four or five minutes," Ryan interjected, halting Kenneth in his tracks.
• Kenneth possessed a remarkable physique. His muscles were sculpted sharply as if chiseled by a master craftsman. His appearance was undeniably striking.
• Yet, as a young student returning from studying abroad, how could he measure up to the rugged strength of the village's seasoned men?
• "Don't worry, Ryan. I won a swimming championship abroad. I can hold my breath for ten minutes," Kenneth assured confidently.
• "Wow!"
• "Awesome!" Michael and the others cheered with thumbs-up gestures.
• Kenneth grinned and dove into the water.
• Kenneth's eyes widened underwater as he quickly assessed the surrounding conditions.
• His sudden appearance startled the fish lurking among the rocks, causing them to panic. In their frenzy, some accidentally collided with the fishing net and became trapped, unable to escape.
• Observing this success, Kenneth smiled.
• Instead of coming to the surface right away, he went further down into the depths of the water.
• 'Clang!'
• Kenneth sent a resounding clang echoing through the water with a decisive stomp.
• The surrounding lake seemed to shiver as many fish surged from the lakebed, darting anxiously through the water around him.
• Kenneth calmly ascended to the surface, satisfied with the results.
• The backflow area extended down to a depth of seven to eight meters.
• Its bottom lay scrubbed clean over time, adorned with rows of stones aligned along the current's path.
• "Ken, how was it? Water's cool down there?" Michael asked, pulling Kenneth aboard the iron boat with a cheerful grin.
• "Not bad. The water's clean, a bit salty like the sea, and sweet like mountain spring water," Kenneth replied thoughtfully.
• "Haha, Ken, what's the plan now? How long till we reel in the net?" Ryan asked, his smile wide with curiosity and enthusiasm for the day's adventure.
• After all, Michael had persuaded him to come with Dylan.
• When he arrived in the village, Kenneth was eager to test his many ideas. He hoped that if even one of them proved successful, it could substantially benefit Brighter Village.
• When he arrived in the village, Kenneth was eager to test his many ideas. He hoped that if even one of them proved successful, it could substantially benefit Brighter Village.
• "Ryan, Dylan, grip the oars like this and give the water a good slap," Kenneth instructed.
• "Huh?"
• "Ken, are you serious? This is a lake, not a pond. Will this do anything?" Ryan asked skeptically.
• "Trust me, it'll work," Kenneth assured confidently.
• Exchanging glances, the two brothers shrugged and picked up the oars. They vigorously slapped the water's surface, creating waves and splashes.
• After ten minutes, Kenneth signaled them to cease.
• "Let's reel in the net," he announced.
• Michael watched closely, curious to see if Kenneth's method would yield results.
• "Uncle Mike, help me out," Kenneth requested.
• "Sure," Michael replied, suppressing a smile. The prospect of pulling up an empty net seemed almost too straightforward.
• Upon reaching down to retrieve the floating foam from the water, Kenneth immediately sensed a weight in his grasp. Try as he might, he couldn't lift it!
• "Ken, the net might be snagged on a rock," Ryan speculated.
• "It's not. I've modified the net. The sinkers and the net are spaced apart, so it shouldn't catch," Kenneth explained calmly.
• "Then why is it so heavy?"
• "Let's find out. Help me pull it up," Kenneth urged, motioning for Michael to brace himself.
• Together, they hauled in the fishing net, anticipation building as they uncovered its contents.
• Michael's eyes widened with anticipation before the fishing net broke the water's surface.
• "Those are fish! And they're huge!!"
• "No way!"
• "Wow! There are big fish in this lake!!"
• Michael was stunned and silent while Ryan and Dylan shouted with excitement. Like teenagers, they hadn't seen such fish in Brighter Lake for years, and their excitement was palpable.
• "Ken, you're incredible!" Michael exclaimed excitedly as he reeled the nets.
• "Haha, let's first pull up the fishing nets," Michael continued with a chuckle.
• Michael and the others grew increasingly excited as the nets were hoisted onto the boat.
• The net stretched for a hundred meters, every inch teeming with fish—large ones, weighing over three pounds, some even five or six pounds.
• What amazed them most was these unfamiliar fish, unlike the usual grass or crucian carp they knew.
• After hauling up all three nets, the eight-meter iron boat seemed about to be engulfed by fish.
• The sheer quantity of fish caught in the nets was staggering and awe-inspiring.
• "Unbelievable! Unbelievable!" Ryan and Dylan echoed Michael's astonished praise.
• "Ken, you're a legend!"
• "Incredible! Incredible!" Ryan and Dylan chimed in, showering Kenneth with praise alongside Michael.
• "The fish in Brighter Lake are incredible. I bet your old nets didn't reach these depths, and they were too small. Even if the fish hit them, they probably slipped right through," Kenneth mused.
• "Yeah, Ryan and I never imagined there were so many big fish in this lake," Michael agreed.