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.