Lotus Pond Fishing Adventure: Catching Big Crucian Carp for a Perfect Ending

Let me tell you, this fishing trip started off with a total plot twist. I had a long weekend—off from Friday all the way to Monday! But guess what? My boss hit me up last minute, saying I had to come in tomorrow because of some “urgent work.” Ugh, work always ruins the fun, right? So instead of moping about the lost day off, I thought, Why not hit the river today? I had my heart set on a spot where I usually catch big scale carp, but then I remembered the bamboo forest spot I haven’t visited in ages. FOMO (fear of missing out) got the best of me, so I packed my gear and headed to the bamboo forest by the lotus pond. Let’s dive into the chaos and the catches!

Setting Up Shop: Bait, Rod, and a Quick Lesson in Patience (or Lack Thereof)

First off, the bamboo forest spot—man, it’s been way too long. Why? Because every time I used to come here, there were guys with sea rods hogging the best spots. But today? Empty. Score! I didn’t waste any time setting up. Let’s talk gear, because that’s half the battle, right?

My Go-To Bait & Rig for Lotus Pond Fishing

For lotus pond fishing, I swear by the “three classics” bait mix—Blue Crappie, Nine War, and Quick Attack. I’ve been using this combo for years, and it never lets me down. It’s cheap, easy to mix, and fish go crazy for it. As for my rod? A 3.9-meter Chuangwei Lingtian. Line setup? 3-pound mainline paired with 0.4 braided line and a 0.5 New Guan Dong hook. That setup’s perfect for catching all sizes—from tiny baitfish to big crucian carp.

Since the water here can be tricky (current, you know?), I use a double lead rig. It’s a lifesaver for preventing your bait from drifting away. Here’s my little ritual: I always hook the bait first to “locate” the spot, then toss in some extra bait to chum the area. It’s like sending a dinner invitation to the fish—works every time!

The First Catch: A Surprise Big Mouth (and a Lesson in Copying 101)

Okay, let’s get to the action. I cast three times, turned around to grab more bait, and when I looked back? My float was gone! Like, vanished into thin air. I grabbed the rod, and boom—there was this heavy pull. I couldn’t believe it! Third cast and I already had a big one? But wait—my net was still closed! I panicked a little, but I pulled it in as hard as I could. When the fish broke the surface? Oh my gosh, it was a nearly 2-pound grass carp! I dragged it to shore, threw it in the bucket, and finally opened my net. Then I tossed two handfuls of bait into the water and turned around—float gone again!

I lifted the rod, and this time it was a 3-finger grass carp. Nice! But here’s the kicker: I tried to net it, and it jumped out and got away. Ugh! I just opened the net, and it bails? Talk about bad timing. I was so mad—like, “Really? You couldn’t wait two seconds?” But hey, fishing’s full of those “the one that got away” moments, right?

Fighting the Current: When the River Decides to Play Rough

After that, I finally noticed the water was moving fast. The Zeng River (that’s the river by the lotus pond) usually has some current because of the dam downstream, but today it was crazy. My fishing box was sitting on a rock by the water’s edge, and by the time I looked again, it had drifted back 20 inches! I had to keep moving my gear as the water level dropped. Talk about a workout—fishing and moving gear at the same time. Not ideal, but I wasn’t giving up.

While I was fighting the current, I caught a few more fish: some native carp and a bunch of tiny silver fish (you know, the ones that steal your bait). They were fun, but I was waiting for something bigger. Then, around 4:30 PM, my mom showed up with my kid after school. My son was like, “Dad, can we take some fish home for dinner?” So I let them take the ones I had so far—no need to cook them myself, right? Less work for me!

The Grand Finale: Two Big Crucian Carp to End the Day

By 6:00 PM, I was ready to call it quits. I checked my watch, thought, One more cast, then I’m done. But wait—my float slowly rose three inches. That’s a classic crucian carp bite! I lifted the rod, and the pull was different—no crazy runs like the grass carp, just a steady weight. When the fish broke the surface? I was like, “Wait, is that a small carp?” But then I looked closer—it was a big crucian carp! Oh my gosh, I’ve been fishing here for years and never caught a crucian this big! I netted it, threw it in the bucket, and thought, “Okay, that’s a nice ending.”

But wait—another bite! I cast again, and the float dropped sharply. I lifted the rod, and another big crucian carp! Two in a row? That’s unheard of here. I was so excited I almost dropped my net. I fished for another 10 minutes, but no more bites. So I packed up my gear, grabbed my bucket of crucian carp, and headed home for dinner. Perfect way to end the day—even if I had to work tomorrow!

Final Thoughts: Fishing’s All About the Surprises

You know, this trip started off as a “let’s just mess around” day—no big expectations, just wanted to get away from work stress. But man, the bamboo forest spot delivered. I caught a big grass carp, lost one (still mad about that), fought the current, and ended with two huge crucian carp. That’s the thing about fishing, right? You never know what you’re gonna get. One minute you’re casting for grass carp, the next you’re reeling in a crucian that’s bigger than your hand.

Oh, and pro tip for anyone fishing the Zeng River by the lotus pond: always check the current before you set up. And for the love of all things fishing, open your net before you reel in a big one! I learned that the hard way. But hey, that’s part of the fun—making mistakes and laughing about them later.

Next time I’m off (fingers crossed my boss doesn’t ruin it again), I’m definitely heading back to the bamboo forest. Maybe I’ll catch an even bigger crucian? Or a scale carp? Who knows? That’s the beauty of it. Until then, tight lines, everyone!