Longhu Park Night Fishing: Catching Fish and Good Vibes After Dark

Let’s be real—if you live near Longhu Park in Zhengkou, Gucheng County, and you don’t hit the water at least a few times a week, are you even trying? I’ve been itching to wet a line lately, and even though the weather wasn’t perfect, today checked all the boxes: no wind, mild temps, and zero excuses. So I grabbed my gear, headed straight to the park, and settled into my go-to spot for a night of night fishing at Longhu Park. Spoiler: It was chaos, joy, and a few near-disasters—exactly what fishing is all about.

Why Longhu Park? The Local Fishing Hotspot

First off, let’s talk about why this spot is so popular. Since September rolled around, the banks of Longhu Park have been packed with anglers. Why? Because everyone’s been catching—like, serious catches. I’ve seen guys hauling in stringers of crucian carp (that’s the fancy name for those plump, tasty freshwater fish) left and right. So even though I told myself “don’t target crucian carp, just catch whatever bites,” let’s be honest—my eyes were glued to the water hoping for that big tug.

My Setup: Light Gear for a Relaxing Night

I didn’t overcomplicate things tonight. Here’s what I brought:

• Rod: 3.6m Zhulu·Crucian (super light, perfect for feeling every bite)
• Float: Wuya Night Fishing Float (1.4g, great for low-light visibility)
• Line: 0.8 main line + 0.4 leader (thin enough for sensitive bites, but strong enough for surprises)
• Hook: Size 3 Big Fish King Barbless Hooks (gentle on the fish, easy to unhook)

Location: The Trusty Old Spot

I stuck to my usual nook—no need to mess with a new spot when this one’s been good to me. A few days back, I sprinkled a couple handfuls of rice wine bait near this area (around 2.5m deep). But tonight, when I checked the depth, it was more like 1.5m—weird, but no big deal. The bottom was nice and flat, which is a win for night fishing (no snags = no frustration).

Date, Weather, and Timing: The Perfect Window

Let’s get the deets out of the way—because timing is everything for night fishing:

• Date: September 15, 2024 (fall is prime crucian carp season, fyi)
• Weather: Around 21°C (mild, no wind—bless)
• Time: 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM (sunset to late night, when the big ones come out)

The Bait: No-Fuss “All-Killer” Formula

I’m not a bait snob—tonight I went with the easy stuff: Tongsha Xiang (which translates to “All-Killer” bait, and let’s be real, that’s a bold name). It’s a pre-mixed formula with a pure grain smell—you open the bag, and bam, that earthy, nutty scent hits you. The instructions say 1:1 water ratio, and even a newbie can nail it. I mixed it up, let it sit for a few minutes, and boom—perfectly fluffy bait that sticks to the hook but dissolves just right to draw in fish.

Tackling the Float: Old-School Tuning for Night Fishing

Here’s the thing about night fishing—you don’t need fancy tuning. I kept it simple:

• Started with no leader: tuned the float to 6 eyes (that’s the measurement on the float stem)
• Added the leader and size 3 hook: float dropped to 2 eyes
• Trimmed a tiny bit of lead: now it sat at 4 eyes with the hook on
• Used a small piece of lead on the hook to find the bottom: set it to catch at 2 eyes

Wild, right? No overthinking. For night fishing, sometimes the more “loose” the setup, the better—you want to feel every tiny bite without missing the big ones.

The First Bite: Heartstopping, Then Heartbreaking

Okay, let’s get to the action. I started by “chumming” the water—casting the bait out, letting it sit 5 seconds, then reeling in. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Then—bam—a sudden drop (that’s a “cold mouth” bite, for you newbies). I jerked the rod up, felt a little weight, then… nothing. My stomach dropped. I’d hooked a fish, but it got away—probably a crucian carp that slipped the barbless hook. Ugh. The worst part? Scaring the whole school away. So I had to start chumming all over again. Dumb mistake, but hey—night fishing is full of them.

Then, just when I thought I’d messed up the spot, I saw the float rise (a “top mouth” bite) and then slowly drift sideways. I grabbed the rod, jerked up, and boom—the rod bent into a perfect arc. The line was thin (0.4 leader!), so I had to take it slow. I reeled, let it run, reeled again—looping around the spot a few times. Finally, I pulled it to the bank, and… wow. A beautiful crucian carp—shiny, plump, just perfect. I was so stoked I almost dropped my phone taking a pic. That’s the high of fishing, right? All the waiting pays off in one second.

The Chaos: Small Fish Take Over

But then—boom—the small guys showed up. I’m talking tiny minnows, baby crucian carp, and those annoying little fish that steal your bait before it even hits the bottom. Every cast, the float would dance, and when I reeled in, it was just a tiny fish (or no fish at all, just an empty hook). Ugh. That’s the downside of night fishing in a popular spot—once the small fish smell the bait, they go crazy. I tried switching to smaller bait, casting farther, even waiting longer—but no luck. For a while, it was just tiny fish after tiny fish.

Sticking It Out: More Crucian Carp (and Tiny Ones)

But I didn’t give up. I moved my rod a little to the left, cast a bit closer to the bank, and… bam—another crucian carp. Then another. Then another. Some were tiny (like “mahjong tile” size, as we say), some were bigger (around 1 ounce—perfect for frying). By 10 PM, my hands were cold, my legs were sore, but I had a nice stringer of fish. The temperature dropped fast—from 21°C to who-knows-what—and the bites slowed down. So I packed up my gear, cleaned up my spot (leave no trace, right?), and headed home.

Wrap-Up: Why Longhu Park Night Fishing Is Worth It

Let’s be honest—tonight wasn’t perfect. I lost a fish, dealt with tiny pests, and froze my butt off at the end. But it was fun. That’s the thing about night fishing at Longhu Park—you don’t just catch fish. You catch memories. You chat with the guys next to you (even though I didn’t tonight, I usually do). You watch the sun set over the water, and the stars come out. You forget about work, about stress, and just focus on that float. It’s magic.

So if you’re in Gucheng County, do yourself a favor: grab your gear, head to Longhu Park, and try night fishing. Even if you don’t catch a ton, you’ll have a blast. And hey—maybe you’ll get luckier than me and land a monster. Who knows?

Until next time, tight lines, and may your floats always stay up (until the bite hits)!