New Year, New Fishing High: Landing My Personal Best Crucian Carp in Shanghai’s Chilly Waters

Setting the Stage: A Chilly January Morning in Shanghai

Let me tell you, Shanghai’s winter has been no joke lately—rain, snow, and wind that cuts right through your jacket. I’d been cooped up at home for days, staring at my fishing gear like a kid eyeing a cookie jar. When I saw the forecast for January 17th: “light wind, minimal current” — I was out the door before my coffee even cooled. Time to chase that catch!

Got to the river around 8 AM, and man, the water level was LOW. Like, way lower than usual. But here’s the kicker: it was practically empty! Only one old guy there, and he was pulling out a 3-ounce bream when I arrived. That’s all I needed to get my blood pumping. “If he’s catching, I can too,” I thought, fumbling to set up faster than a squirrel hoarding nuts.

My Gear Setup (No Fancy Stuff—Just What Works)

Let’s be real, I’m not rolling with high-end gear here. Here’s what I packed:

• Rod: 4.8m no-name special (it’s beat up, but it’s mine)
• Line: 1.0 main line with 0.4 fluorocarbon leader (super thin—prayed it wouldn’t snap)
• Float: Reed float with 1.6g load (perfect for slow water)
• Bait: “No Empty Net” + Blue Crucian (only buy from my go-to platform—trust the process)

Set up was routine: extend the rod, tie the line, find the bottom, adjust the float. Then I started “bombing” the bait to build a spot—cast, reel, cast, reel. Five casts in… SNAG! Lost a leader. Six casts later… SNAG AGAIN! Ugh, the riverbed was full of junk. I grumbled, packed up my stuff, and moved 10 meters down. “Third time’s the charm,” I muttered.

First Bite: A Surprise Carp to Kick Things Off

After moving, I got back to bombing the bait. Five casts later—BOOM! A sharp, clean bite. I’ve been fishing long enough to know that feeling: the float dips fast, no hesitation. I jerked the rod up, and… THERE WE GO! Line screamed off the reel. Turns out it was a carp! I hadn’t caught many this year, so this was a win—even if it wasn’t huge. Held it up for a quick pic, then planned to release it later. Gotta give back to the river, right?

The Big One: My Personal Best Crucian Carp

After the carp, I knew I needed to speed up the “bait pile” since moving had set me back. I grabbed some Wuliang You rice wine bait (also from my platform) and mixed it with my dough bait. Cast 7-8 times, then slowed down—let the fish come to me. Sat there, eyes glued to the float, hands a little shaky from the cold (and excitement).

Then… half a float eye dip. I didn’t even think—I just jerked the rod. WHOA! That weight! The line went tight, and the fish fought like crazy—dashed left, right, down. My 0.4 leader was screaming “danger, danger!” I held on for dear life, no fancy moves. After a few minutes, it popped up to the surface. My buddy (who’d tagged along last minute) scrambled for the net. NETTED! I pulled it in, and my jaw dropped.

This was a crucian carp? No way—this thing was massive! I’d never caught one this big in my life. Guessed it was at least 1.5 pounds (maybe more, but I’m not bragging… okay, maybe a little). Snapped a pic, sent it to my fishing group, and watched the chaos unfold. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” “I’m quitting my job to fish with you!” “Save some for the rest of us!” Classic.

Non-Stop Action: Crucian Carp After Crucian Carp

You’d think that big one was a fluke, but nope—this river was on fire. I adjusted my float a little (not too sensitive, not too dull—just enough to see the bites) and cast again. Half a float eye light dip—ANOTHER ONE! This one was almost as big as the first. The fight was insane—especially in cold water, where fish fight harder. If the water was warmer, I might’ve lost this one to a snapped leader. But today? Luck was on my side.

Then… one float eye rise. You don’t ignore that! Jerked the rod—YES! Another beauty. My buddy was laughing, “Dude, are you even trying anymore?!” I felt a little cocky, not gonna lie. Like, “Oh, another big crucian? Cool, just add it to the pile.”

Mid-texting my group (bragging, obviously), I looked up and saw the float was almost gone—only one eye left. Thought, “Time to re-bait,” so I lifted the rod… WAIT, THAT’S HEAVY! Oh my god, another one! I yelled, “BUDDY, NET READY!” He barely got it in time. This was my lucky day—no other way to put it.

Smaller Catches & Adjusting to Falling Water

After that, I got a few small crucians—nothing compared to the big ones, but hey, every catch counts. I even started skipping photos for the tiny ones (sorry, little guys). Then I noticed the water was dropping fast. Like, really fast. So I swapped my 4.8m rod for a 5.4m one—longer rods reach deeper water when levels drop. Threw it out, and… bite! Another solid crucian. My call was right.

Got one more before the bites died down—water was too shallow, and the fish moved on. Packed up around 11 AM, tired but grinning from ear to ear.

Wrap-Up: Releasing, Sharing, and New Year Wishes

Let’s talk about what happened to the fish: the carp got released (no need to keep it), and the big crucians? My buddy took them home—he’s got a family that loves fresh fish, so win-win. The tiny ones? Back to the river they went (they’re too small to eat, anyway).

New Year, new vibes, right? This trip was exactly what I needed—fresh air, a little adventure, and a personal best that’ll make my fishing buddies jealous for months. If you’re a angler reading this: don’t let cold weather stop you. Sometimes the best bites happen when everyone else is inside by the fire. And if you’re not a fisherman? Trust me, nothing beats the rush of reeling in a big one—especially when you least expect it.

What’s your best fishing story? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear it. Until next time, tight lines and happy casting!