To Catch More Fish, Start with a Great Fishing Spot (and Perfect Your Bait & Setup)

Why My Neighborhood River Was a Hidden Fishing Goldmine I Ignored

Let me set the scene: I’ve been working out of town for years, but this August I finally moved back home. My apartment’s right by a city river-you know, the kind with government buildings lining both sides, fancy lights at night. I’d walk past it every day, never thinking twice about fishing there. Until one evening, I saw a guy hauling in a 2lb carp like it was nothing, plus two decent-sized crucian carp. I smacked my forehead so hard I probably left a mark-how did I miss this? This spot’s literally 5 minutes from my door, and I’d been ignoring it for months!

Here’s the kicker: Daytime fishing’s not allowed here (city rules, I guess). But night? Oh, night’s a different story. Those government building lights are so bright, you can practically read a book by them-no need for a headlamp to tie hooks or bait up. Only time you need a night light is for your float. That’s the kind of spot you dream about, right? Close to home, no crowds, and clearly full of fish. I knew I had to give it a shot-even if it meant braving a little rain.

My First Few Night Fishing Attempts: Frustration (and Zero Carp)

Before this trip, I’d only fished this river three times at night. Each time, I stuck around from 7pm to 10pm-about 2.5 hours. Let’s just say the results were… underwhelming:

• First trip: 2 small crucian carp. Meh, but at least I didn’t blank.
• Second trip: WINDY and cold (temp drop). Total blank. Zilch. Nada. I sat there freezing, watching my float do nothing but bob in the wind. Super demoralizing.
• Third trip: 2 crucian carp, one around half a pound. Better, but still nothing like that guy’s 2lb carp. What was I missing?

I started overthinking everything: Was my bait wrong? Did I need a better setup? Or was the problem the spot? Wait, no-the other guy caught a carp there. So it’s not the spot. It’s me. Or my approach. I decided to test one thing first: the bait. Because if the fish are there, the right bait should bring ’em in, right?

My Rainy Night Fishing Plan: Old Rice + Stash of Aged Chinese Liquor Bait

November 18, 2024-temps 11-18°C, forecast said rain. Perfect, right? (Sarcasm, but I was desperate.) I had a plan: test a weird bait combo I dug up from my storage. Back when I worked in Suzhou, I made a batch of Chinese liquor (Mianzhu Daqu) soaked with Chinese herbs-cloves, star anise, stuff I can’t even remember now. That bottle’s been traveling with me: Suzhou → Fujian → back home. It’s aged for years, so I figured it’s gotta have some magic fish-attracting mojo.

Here’s what I prepped before heading out:

• Left-over cooked rice + a splash of that aged herb liquor.
• A handful of old powdered fishing bait (the kind that’s been sitting in my tackle box for ages).

I mixed ’em up, balled ’em into three chunks, and threw ’em into the river at 6pm. Then I went home to eat dinner. Big mistake? Maybe. Because by 7pm, it started drizzling. My wife begged me not to go: “It’s raining, you’ll get soaked, and you’ll blank again!” But c’mon- I already threw the bait! I couldn’t just leave it there. I grabbed my fishing chair, stuffed my tackle in a bag, and bolted out the door at 7:30pm. Five minutes later, I was at the river.

Shockingly Fast Bites (Thanks to the Pre-Bait, Maybe?)

First, I set up my main bait: a mix of “Tongsha Xing” (a Chinese all-purpose bait), “Lan Ji” (another popular Chinese bait), and some musk-scented rice. I tied on my usual setup: 1.0 main line, 0.6 sub-line, and a small float. Then I started casting-over and over, just to get the scent out there.

Wait a second-usually, I have to cast 20+ times before I get a bite. But this time? After 3 or 4 casts, my float dropped 2 inches! I set the hook-nothing. But hey, a bite! That’s way faster than usual. I was grinning like an idiot. “Must be the pre-bait bringing the fish in,” I thought. A few more casts, another drop-set the hook, still nothing. Hmm. Maybe my hooks were too big?

Oh right! I used “Izu” hooks (a Japanese brand) because I was scared of missing a big carp. But maybe the fish here are smaller, or just don’t like those hooks. I swapped to size 2 “Sleeve” hooks (smaller, better for small crucian and carp), and dropped my sub-line to 0.4. Cast again. Float wiggled a little, then dropped 2 inches. I set the hook-

BOOM! Fish on! And it was fast-my fastest catch ever at this spot. I reeled it in, and it was a small silver carp (or maybe a crucian? Doesn’t matter-I was hyped!). Then another bite, another fish. I was on a roll!

Then the Rain Ruined Everything (Again)

I was having a blast-fish after fish, no blank, no slow bites. Then the sky decided to be a jerk. The drizzle turned into a downpour in 3 minutes flat. I had a tiny umbrella, but it was useless. My tackle got soaked, my shoes were squelching, and I could barely see my float. I tried to tough it out, but after 10 minutes of being drenched, I gave up. I packed up my stuff, ran home, and collapsed on the couch. Total bummer-just when I was getting good!

Wait, let’s look at that photo again. Doesn’t it look like daytime? Those building lights are insane. You can see everything-my tackle, the water, even the fish when they jump. That’s why this spot’s so perfect for night fishing. No need for fancy gear, just a float light. I’m already planning tomorrow night’s trip-same spot, same pre-bait (maybe add a little more of that aged liquor), same small hooks. Fingers crossed the rain stays away this time!

What I Learned (and What I’m Testing Next)

So far, the big takeaway is: pre-bait (or “chumming” if you’re fancy) makes a huge difference. Before, I never threw anything in ahead of time-I just cast and hoped. Now, throwing three balls of rice+liquor 1.5 hours early brought the fish in fast. That’s a game-changer.

Next, I wanna test:

• More pre-bait: Maybe 5 balls instead of 3? Or different types (like corn, or worms).
• Float setup: Should I use a lighter float? Or adjust the depth?
• Lure vs. bait: I’ve only used bait so far-what if I try a small spoon lure for those silver fish?

And hey, if you’re a beginner like me, don’t ignore the spots right by your house! I walked past this river every day for months and had no idea it was full of fish. Check local rules (daytime vs. night), talk to other anglers (that guy who caught the carp- I’m gonna ask him for tips next time), and test small changes. You never know what you’ll find.

Oh, and one last thing: Don’t let rain stop you-unless it’s a downpour. I almost stayed home, but if I had, I would’ve missed that fast bite streak. Just grab a cheap umbrella and go. The worst that happens is you blank (again), but the best? You catch more fish than you ever have. Worth it, right?