Ant River Pole Fishing: Action at Donghua Gate for Crucian Carp

Hey folks, it’s Brother Cao here! Let me tell you about my wild fishing adventure yesterday—this one started with a total letdown, but ended with some solid crucian carp action at Donghua Gate on the Ant River. Spoiler: Short rods were the real MVP here. Let’s dive in!

The Morning That Started With a Ghost

First off, let’s set the scene: Thick fog, freezing temps, and a plan that went up in smoke faster than my morning coffee. Rented a cabin with Old Man Zhang the night before—we were supposed to hit Beigang Pond at dawn. I woke up at 5 AM, half-asleep, and rushed through my pre-fishing routine: gear check, mixing bait, the works. By 5:30, I was all packed, waiting for Old Man Zhang to roll up.

Fog, Freeze, and a No-Show

6 AM rolled around, still foggy as hell. Old Man Zhang wasn’t there. I checked my phone—no texts, no calls. 6:30, still nothing. I started pacing, sipping hot tea to stay warm (my fingers were numb even with gloves!). 7 AM hits, and I’m fed up. I call him—first ring, goes to voicemail. Second ring? He picks up, and I swear I almost dropped my phone.

“Hey kid, I went to the private pond with my buddy Lao Wang—fog’s too thick for the river, didn’t want you to waste your time!”

Waste my time? I’d been up since 5, packed all my gear, mixed bait for the river! Ugh, that’s the last time I trust a “fishing buddy” who bails last minute. I was fuming, but then I thought: Screw the pond. The Ant River’s where the real action is—you never know what’s gonna bite next.

Rushing to Donghua Gate: Solo Fishing Mission

I grabbed my gear, threw it in the truck, and hauled ass to Donghua Gate—upstream from the main gate, my usual spot. Got there around 7:15 AM, and the riverbank was dead empty. Perfect—no crowds, just me and the fog.

First order of business: Set up my rods. I brought three: two 4.5m rods and one 3.6m rod. My go-to setup for the Ant River—long rods for deep water, short rod for the shallows where crucian carp love to hang out.

Bait Mix: Blue Carp + 919 + Full Catch Secret Sauce

Before I even set the rods, I mixed my bait. Here’s the recipe I’ve been using lately:

• 60% Blue Carp (classic crucian carp bait)
• 30% 919 (adds a nutty scent that works in cold water)
• 10% Full Catch (my secret weapon—tiny bit of this boosts attractant)

First batch was too hard—my bad, I measured water wrong. Added a splash more, kneaded it for 5 minutes, and boom—perfect consistency: soft, crumbly, but holds on the hook. I like it a little moist so it dissolves slowly in the current.

Rod Action: Long Rods = Duds, Short Rod = Magic

I set up the two 4.5m rods first, casting to the deeper holes (10-12 feet deep) where I usually catch bigger fish. Then the 3.6m rod, casting to the shallow edge (3-4 feet) right by the bank. Bait on all, and I started waiting.

First Hour: Small Fish Chaos

First 30 minutes? Nothing but tiny fish—minnows, baby crucian carp, and those pesky little “boat nail” fish (you know, the ones that nibble but never hook). The 4.5m rods? Nada. The 3.6m rod? Constant taps. I reeled in a minnow, then a baby crucian, then another minnow. Annoying, but at least it’s action.

Then I got fed up with the 4.5m rods. Switched them to live worms—figured maybe the big boys like worms better. Cast them back out, and 10 minutes later, bam! One of the 4.5m rods bends—small catfish, maybe 6 inches long. “Catfish ball,” I call ’em. That’s the only bite those rods got all day. Lame.

The 3.6m Rod Saves the Day

But the 3.6m rod? It was on fire. Let me list the catches:

• 30+ small crucian carp (half-ounce to 1 ounce)
• 5+ “boat nail” fish (the bigger ones, not the babies)
• 2 nice “green spirit” fish (1 foot long—those are rare in the Ant River right now!)
• 1 small “Yalu” fish (silver, fast—tastes great fried)
• Double headers! Two crucian carp at once, then two boat nails. So fun!

I was reeling them in so fast my arm started to ache. The key? Casting right by the bank—fish were hanging out there because the water was warmer (sun was starting to break through the fog by 9 AM). I switched from gloves to bare hands because I was sweating through my jacket (fog lifted, sun came out—total 180 from the morning cold).

Sticking Around Till 11:30 AM

Normally, I leave by 9 or 10 AM—no crowds, no pressure. But today? The 3.6m rod was still biting strong. I thought, Why leave? The river’s quiet, the sun’s out, and I’m catching fish. So I stayed till 11:30. By then, my bucket was half-full—mostly crucian carp, a few nice green spirits, and that tiny catfish.

Let me be real: I wanted to catch big “boat nail” fish (they’re like 2-3 pounds, super fun to fight). But they didn’t show up. Maybe tomorrow? Wild fishing’s all about luck—you never know what’s gonna be on the other end of the line. That’s the fun of it!

Why I Love the Ant River More Than Ponds

Old Man Zhang chose the private pond, but I’m glad I came to the Ant River. Ponds are boring—you catch small crucian carp all day, maybe a big one once a month. The river? Every cast is a surprise. Today it was crucian carp and green spirits—tomorrow? Maybe a big catfish, a carp, or even a sturgeon (I’ve heard rumors!). That’s the magic of wild fishing—no guarantees, just adventure.

Plus, solo fishing is underrated. No one telling you to hurry up, no one judging your bait mix, no one stealing your spot. I can sing off-key, take 10-minute breaks to eat a sandwich, and stay till I’m tired. Perfect.

Final Thoughts: A Frustrating Start, a Great Finish

So that’s my day: A buddy who bailed, fog, cold, then a solo mission that turned into a crucian carp party. The 3.6m rod was the star—never underestimate the power of a short rod near the bank, especially when the fish are shallow.

To all my fishing buddies out there: Don’t let a last-minute bail ruin your day. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you plan alone. And if you’re fishing the Ant River? Hit Donghua Gate, use a 3.6m rod, and mix Blue Carp + 919 + a dash of Full Catch. You’ll thank me later.

Stay tuned for my next post—I’ll be trying to catch those big boat nail fish again. Till then, tight lines, and may your buckets be full!