My Long-Awaited Night Fishing Trip Starts at Hucheng Creek
It’s been ages since I went night fishing, so I dragged myself out early to Hucheng Creek—surprise, surprise, there were already a bunch of fellow anglers set up. I snuck a peek at their catches… yikes, not great. The crucian carp were tiny, like mini snacks for the fish themselves! But hey, I thought maybe the bigger ones come out at night, right? So I decided to gear up and give it a shot anyway.
Quick Recap of My Fishing Gear & Setup
- Date: September 10th
- First Spot: Hucheng Creek
- Weather: Sunny (thank goodness no rain!)
- Fishing Rod: Dayu Wang 3.9m
- Line Setup: 1.5 main line + 0.8 #4 sleeve hook
- Bait: Old altar mixed grains (backup) + “All-Kill Fishy” + “Explosive Fragrant Crucian & Carp” (main formula)
- Float: Yiwei thin-tip float with 1.9g lead weight
- Target: Crucian carp (obviously!)
I started prepping: fixed the float (two eyes above water when half-submerged), mixed the bait, found the bottom with a lure, and set it to three eyes above water. The water was drifting a little, so I had to make it a bit stiffer to avoid losing the hook. The guy next to me kept lifting his rod like crazy—he had bites but couldn’t catch anything! Turns out the fish were super tiny, like micro-fish. Ugh, not a good sign!
First Bites at Hucheng Creek: “Mahjong Crucian” Galore
After 10 minutes of rushing around, I cast my first line. The bait formula worked great—when I pulled it, the bait was plump and perfect. I kept casting for half an hour straight (arm was already sore!) and finally got my first catch… two crucian carp at once! But wait—they were so small, people call them “mahjong crucian” (like the size of a mahjong tile). Disappointing, but at least I wasn’t skunked yet.
The bites were weird—every 15-20 minutes I’d get a fish, but none were big. The biggest ones were maybe half a liang (that’s like 25 grams!), and some were even smaller. Total bummer.
As it got dark, the daytime anglers packed up. I checked their catches—all tiny crucian, no big ones, and not many either. I caught a few more, but they were still microscopic. I thought: What’s the point of catching a million tiny fish? They’re not even worth cooking! So I made a bold move—pack up and switch spots before it got too late.
Second Spot: Chaimi River—Finally, Big Crucian Carp!
I arrived at Chaimi River around 7 PM. I picked a spot under a bridge—no grass, no holes, just open space. It felt safe, which is key for night fishing alone. But wait—opposite me, there were 7-8 people lined up! I didn’t expect that many anglers here. Suddenly I wasn’t nervous anymore—safety in numbers, right?
Chaimi River Setup Adjustments
The water was drifting a little, and the depth was almost 3 meters. I kept the 3.9m rod but switched to a 1.0 line with #5 sleeve hooks (since I hoped for bigger fish). I quickly threw some old altar grains to make a nest, used the same bait formula, and started casting nonstop.
It wasn’t until 8 PM that I got a solid bite! I lifted the rod—whoa, the fish pulled hard! It was a big crucian carp—beautiful, finally a decent catch! I was so excited I immediately set up my landing net (didn’t want to mess up and let it get away).
Next cast—another one! This one was big too. When I brought it to the surface, I didn’t take chances—I used the net to scoop it up. Safety first, always!
Chaimi River Fishing Experience: Slow but Steady
I couldn’t tell how the people opposite were doing—they were 50 meters away, and I was too shy to yell over. But my bites were slow—after those two big ones, it took forever to get another. But when I did, the crucian were all good-sized. Way better than the tiny ones at Hucheng Creek!
It got cold at night—I was wearing a short-sleeve shirt and shivering. And guess what? I caught a snail! It was hooked right in the mouth—can you believe that? Snails eating my bait? Crazy.
By 9 PM, most of the anglers opposite left—only two stayed. I kept fishing until 11 PM, but the bites died down. I was tired, so I packed up. When I left, those two were still holding on—respect to their patience!
Final Thoughts: Night Fishing Wins (Even with Tiny Fish)
I took my catch home—didn’t want to release them (hey, I worked hard for these!). I put them in a bucket to keep alive for a while. Next time I’ll definitely come back to Chaimi River—those big crucian were worth the drive.
It’s been so long since I night fished, and I’m glad I didn’t get skunked. Even though the first spot was a letdown, switching to Chaimi River saved the trip. For anyone who loves night fishing: don’t be afraid to move spots if it’s not working! Sometimes a 10-minute drive can make all the difference.
Oh, and a quick tip: If you’re going night fishing alone, pick a spot with other anglers—it’s safer and more fun. And always bring a jacket—night air gets cold fast!
Here’s to more big crucian carp on my next trip—fingers crossed!
