Night Fishing: Targeting Carp & Crucian Carp, Yellow Catfish Bite the Most Aggressively

Let’s be real—night fishing isn’t for everyone. It’s dark, it’s quiet (until that random twig snaps and you jump out of your skin), and sometimes the fish just don’t cooperate. But on April 16th, 2024, I dragged my gear to a local wild river with one mission: catch some big crucian carp and carp. Spoiler: The carp ghosted me, but yellow catfish? They were basically fighting over the bait like it was a free buffet. Let’s dive into the chaos (and the wins).

My Setup: Rods, Line, Bait, and a Last-Minute Bait Fail

First, let’s talk gear—because if you’re not set up right, you’re just sitting in the dark talking to yourself (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Here’s what I brought:

• Rods: Ren Zhan (tough, good for big carp) and Shen Ji (lighter, perfect for crucian carp)
• Line setups: 2+1.2 (for carp) and 1.5+0.8 (for crucian carp—don’t judge, I like having options)
• Bait: Old Altar Fermented Grain Mix (oops, more on that later) and wine rice (a classic for luring in bottom feeders)
• Hooks: Iseni No. 5 (sharp, great for carp’s tough mouths) and Sleeve No. 2 (small, perfect for crucian carp’s tiny bites)
• Target fish: Big crucian carp and carp (duh)
• Weather: Clear skies—nice, but that also meant the river was a little cooler than I wanted (carp hate cold, fyi)

Now, the fail: I meant to grab the sweet potato-flavored Old Altar grain mix (carp go crazy for that stuff this time of year). But when I opened the bag at my spot? Fermented grain. Ugh. No time to run back to the tackle shop (it was already getting dark, and I’m not driving 20 minutes for bait when the fish might be biting). So I went with it—beggars can’t be choosers, right?

Setting Up Shop: Two Carp Rods, One Crucian Carp Rod, and a Lot of Hope

By 7 PM, the sky was just dark enough that I could barely see my rod tips without the glow of my headlamp. I set up two carp rods—one on each side of my main crucian carp rod—about a meter apart. Why? Because carp are skittish, and sometimes they’ll check out one spot before the other. Plus, it gives me something to do instead of staring at one rod like a weirdo.

For the carp rods, I mixed it up:

• One rod: Hooked with live earthworms (classic, can’t go wrong)
• The other: Hooked with wheat grains and corn kernels (fermented, since that’s all I had—fingers crossed)

Then there’s the crucian carp rod—my “fun rod.” I figured, even if the carp don’t bite, crucian carp love evening bites. And night fishing? The glow bobbers make it so easy to spot bites—no squinting at the water like I’m trying to read a text in the sun. Perfect.

The First Hour: Crucian Carp Go Crazy, Carp Ghost Me

Within 10 minutes of dropping the crucian carp rod, BAM—bobber goes under. I yank, and there’s a fight! Not huge, but a solid crucian carp—about 2 ounces (or 50 grams, for my metric friends). Nice. Then another. And another. It was a freakin’ feeding frenzy.

I was having a blast—until I looked over at the carp rods. Dead. No movement. No bobber twitches. Nada. I sighed. Carp are such divas. They’ll make you wait for hours, then maybe bite once and swim away. Classic.

The Surprise Guest: Yellow Catfish Crash the Party

Just when I was getting bored of only catching crucian carp (don’t get me wrong, I love ’em, but I wanted carp), something weird happened. My crucian carp rod’s bobber didn’t just go under—it sank like a rock. I thought, “Oh, big crucian carp!” But when I reeled in? Nope. It was a yellow catfish—about 2-3 ounces (60-80 grams). Wild ones grow slow, so that’s a decent size.

Wait, yellow catfish? They usually hang out in deeper, muddier spots. But here they were, right in my crucian carp spot, fighting over the bait. Cool! But also… annoying. Because yellow catfish have so much slime, and they swallow the hook deep. I spent 5 minutes trying to get the hook out without getting covered in slime (spoiler: I failed. My hands were gross for the rest of the night).

Then another one. And another. They were everywhere! I started laughing—who needs carp when you’ve got feisty yellow catfish biting every 5 minutes? They’re not the biggest, but they fight hard. Way harder than crucian carp, that’s for sure.

Two Hours Later: Carp Still MIA, But I Don’t Care

By 9 PM, the “golden two hours” for carp were over. I checked the carp rods again—still dead. No bites. Nada. But did I care? Nope. Because my bucket was full of crucian carp and yellow catfish. The crucian carp were steady, the yellow catfish were aggressive, and I was having a great time.

Sure, I was a little disappointed about the carp. But that’s fishing, right? You don’t always catch what you target. Sometimes the unexpected is better. And let’s be real—yellow catfish taste amazing. Way better than carp, in my opinion. So I packed up my gear, cleaned my hands (as best I could), and headed home with a big smile.

Final Thoughts: Night Fishing Is All About Adaptability

Here’s the thing about night fishing: you can’t control everything. The bait you bring might be wrong, the fish might not show up, or a random catfish might crash your party. But that’s the fun of it. You have to roll with the punches.

Would I try carp again? Absolutely. Next time, I’ll bring the sweet potato-flavored grain mix (lesson learned). But for now? I’m happy with my crucian carp and yellow catfish. They kept me entertained, and I went home with a good meal. What more could a fisherman ask for?

Oh, and if you’re new to night fishing? Start with crucian carp or catfish. They’re way more likely to bite, and they’re easier to catch. And don’t forget the glow bobbers—they’re a game-changer. Trust me.