Testing My Homemade Fishing Bait: Targeting Big Crucian Carp, But Got Double Hooked by Bitterlings Instead!

Ugh, let’s be real-sometimes fishing plans go so off the rails, you’re left staring at your rod like, “Wait, did I accidentally make a bitterling buffet instead of a crucian carp treat?” That’s exactly what happened when I hit Tongli Water Station last afternoon to test my new homemade bait recipe. I was hyped to land some chunky crucians (you know, the ones locals call “ban ji” that make your heart race when they take the bait), but the universe had other plans. Spoiler: I left with a cooler full of tiny fighters instead. Let’s break down this chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly informative trip.

First Stop: Tongli Water Station-My Old Haunt (But With a Harvested Twist)

I’ve fished Tongli Water Station a dozen times before, so I knew the drive like the back of my hand. But when I pulled up? The cornfields that used to stretch for miles were gone-harvested clean! I hadn’t been here since last winter, so that was a shock. Still, I trudged to my favorite bay spot, half-worried some newbie had snatched my go-to spot. But nope-my lucky spot was empty! Score! I practically sprinted over, already mentally setting up my rod.

Wait, hold on-what’s this? The muddy slope I used to slide down for water access was gone. Turns out a local farmer turned it into a staircase! Super handy for filling my bait bucket, but the dirt was packed so high, my fishing tackle box was teetering. I rummaged around and found two random bricks (thanks, random construction leftovers!) to prop it up. Crisis averted-sort of.

Gear Check: Why I Packed a “Just in Case” Carp Setup (Spoiler: It Was Overkill)

Let’s talk gear-because this is where I maybe messed up. Tongli’s water here is only about 1 meter deep (super shallow!), but I’ve hooked a random carp or two here before. So I went with:

• Rod: Big Fish King Comprehensive 5.4m (my go-to for mixed species)
• Line: 2.0 main line + 1.0 leader (way thicker than I needed for crucians, but carp insurance)
• Hook: Size 4 Izumo hooks (good for crucians, but maybe too big for tiny fish? More on that later)
• Floater: 1.1g short float, set to 5 eyes when empty, 2-3 eyes when loaded (perfect for shallow water, I thought)

Then it was time for the main event: my homemade bait. I mixed 2 cups of my secret blend (shhh, don’t tell the other anglers!) with a 1:0.9 water ratio, let it sit 5 minutes, then kneaded it up. Added a dash of musk-flavored rice wine for extra scent-figured that’d draw the big crucians. The result? A super fragrant, slightly sticky ball that smelled like a fish’s dream. I was confident.

The Chaos Unfolds: Bitterlings, Double Hooks, and Zero Big Crucians

I started with a few quick casts with the bait as a ball (not broken up) to “feed the area.” Within 10 minutes? Boom-float went under. I set the hook, and… wait, that’s not a crucian. It’s a tiny, feisty bitterling! Then another cast-double hook! Two bitterlings at once! Are you kidding me? I was here for ban ji, not these little guys that fight like they’re twice their size.

From 3 PM to 5 PM (when I ran out of bait), it was nonstop. Let’s list the carnage:

• 7-8 tiny silver minnows (just a few-they were outnumbered by bitterlings)
• 10+ bitterlings (most with decent size for their species-like, bigger than my thumbnail)
• One tiny crucian (finally! But it was so small, I almost missed the bite)

I swear, at one point I held up my rod with two bitterlings dangling and thought, “Did I accidentally make a bitterling attractant instead of crucian bait?” The bites never stopped-every cast, something hit. But it was never the big guy I wanted. And to make it worse? Those size 4 hooks were too big for the tiny fish. I missed so many bites because the hook didn’t fit in their mouths. Ugh-rookie mistake, but hey, that’s testing, right?

What I Learned (The Hard Way) About Tongli Water Station & My Bait

Even though I didn’t land the big crucians, I left with some real lessons-no fancy fishing guides needed, just real on-the-water experience. Let’s break ’em down:

1. Tongli’s Best Fishing Times: Cold Weather = Crucian Heaven, Warm = Bitterling Party

Tongli’s shallow water (1m max) is a double-edged sword. Here’s the tea:

• Cold months (early spring, late fall, winter): Game on for crucians! The water warms up fast with sunlight, so crucians come into the bay to feed. Last year I fished here 20+ times in winter and landed tons of ban ji-no tiny fish messing with me. Total win.
• Warm months (summer, early fall): Run for the hills (or your car)! The shallow water heats up, so tiny fish (bitterlings, minnows) go crazy. They’ll hit every bait before a crucian even thinks about it. That’s exactly what happened here-warm October afternoon, tiny fish ruled the roost.

2. Bait Mistakes I Need to Fix (For Next Time)

My homemade bait wasn’t a total flop-it worked for getting bites! But it was tweaked for the wrong season. Here’s what I’m changing:

• Water ratio: 1:0.6-0.7 instead of 1:0.9-My bait was too soft and mushy. It stuck to the hook, but it dissolved fast, which probably made it more attractive to tiny fish (they love soft, easy-to-eat stuff). Harder bait would hold up better and maybe deter the little guys.
• More coarse particles & gluten (drawing powder): I need to bulk up the bait with bigger bits. Tiny fish can’t eat coarse stuff, so that’d let the crucians (who love crunchier bites) get to the bait first. Last year’s winter bait had more of this-duh, I forgot!
• Ditch the musk rice wine (for warm months): That super strong scent? It’s like a neon sign for tiny fish. In cold weather, crucians need strong scents to find bait, but in warm weather? It’s overkill. I’ll swap it for a milder, fishmeal-based scent next time.

3. Hook Size = Critical (I Can’t Believe I Forgot This)

Size 4 hooks are great for 100g+ crucians, but for 5g bitterlings? Way too big. I missed at least 10 bites because the hook didn’t fit in their tiny mouths. Next time I’m targeting crucians in warm weather (or just tiny fish), I’ll go down to size 6 or 7 hooks. Lesson learned-match the hook to the possible catch, not just the one you want.

Final Thought: Fishing’s More About Laughs Than Trophy Catches

By the end, I let all the fish go (they were too small to keep, anyway). As I packed up, I couldn’t help but laugh. I went in for big crucians, left with a story about double-hooked bitterlings. That’s the thing about fishing, right? You can plan every detail, but the fish always have their own agenda. And honestly? The chaos is half the fun. I left with sun on my face, a few good laughs, and a list of bait tweaks that’ll make my next trip way more successful.

To all my angler friends out there: Happy National Day (if you’re celebrating!) and may your next trip land you the big one-even if it’s not the one you expected. Just don’t forget to laugh when the bitterlings crash your crucian party. Trust me, they’re way more entertaining than you think.