Three Anglers Catch Big Crucian Carp at Reservoir: A Day of Fishing Success & Banter

The Build-Up: “Explosive Fishing Spots” & Morning Chaos

Let’s be real—my buddy Jian has a *track record* with “explosive fishing spots.” Every time he swears it’s the next big thing, we end up with more stories than catches. So when he called while Xiao Fang and I were driving home, ranting about a “secret reservoir” he’d found? We exchanged a side-eye, laughed through the phone, and finally caved. Spoiler: We should’ve learned our lesson before… but hey, fishing buddies are weirdly optimistic.

Fast forward to the next morning. *Surprise, surprise*—Xiao Fang was nowhere to be found. Jian and I blew up his phone until he picked up, half-asleep and panicking. “I overslept!” he yelped. We laid into him (lovingly, of course) until he caved: “Fine! I’ll mix bait, hook your rigs, and net every fish—just get here!” That’s the kind of bribe that works with lazy fishing pals.

An hour’s drive flew by with our usual banter—joking about Jian’s past “fail spots,” teasing Xiao Fang about his bed head. Then we parked, grabbed our rods, and hiked a few minutes… and there it was: the reservoir we’d only heard rumors about. Sun glinting off the water, trees lining the banks—*finally*, a spot that looked promising. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Setting Up: Old Haunts, Trusted Rigs, & Deep Water Hacks

We picked spots with obvious fishing history—scuffed banks, old rod rests, the works. No time to waste: we tested depths, tossed a handful of rice wine bait (our go-to for crucian carp), mixed up our bait, and tuned our floats. It’s the same routine every time, but when it works? *Chef’s kiss*.

My Rig Breakdown (Because Details Matter)

• Rod: 5.4m (for deep water)
• Main Line: 1.5lb test (strong enough for big crucians)
• Leader: 0.8lb test (thin enough for finicky bites)
• Hook: Size 4 sleeve hook (perfect for crucian carp mouths)
• Float: 1.8g nano float (super sensitive—great for deep water)
• Setup: Tuned to 3 eyelets, fished at 1-2 eyelets (classic bottom bite setup)

I also set up a 4.5m rod on the side—shorter, lighter, baited with live worms. Why? Sometimes shallow water holds sneaky crucians, and worms are unbeatable for lazy fish. The reservoir was *deep* where I set up—4.8m to be exact—so I added a dash of gluten to my bait to keep it from falling apart mid-cast. Jian went for 5m+ depth (smart move, as we’d learn later), and Xiao Fang? He stuck to 2.5m, stubborn as ever.

First Casts: Feeding the Fish, Waiting for the Bite

At first, we did the “fast feed” trick: big clumps of bait, frequent casts, reeling in before the rig hit bottom. Why? To get the fish excited—let ’em know there’s a feast. After 10 casts or so, I switched to a slower pace: 2-3 minutes between casts, upper hook with bait, lower hook with a worm. “Slow and steady wins the crucian race,” I thought.

The Action: First Bite, Golden Crucians, & Xiao Fang’s FOMO

Thirty minutes in—*boom*. My float gave a tiny twitch. I waited (rule #1: don’t jerk the rod at the first twitch)… then it dipped again. I set the hook, and *whoa*—the rod bent. Deep water means big fights, even with crucians. I had to maneuver around tree branches (thank goodness I brought a long-handled net) and finally netted the first fish. I held it up: shiny scales, golden belly, *perfect* crucian carp. “First one down!” I yelled to the guys.

Five minutes later? Another bite. Float slowly rose—*that’s* the crucian carp’s telltale “I’m eating the bait and lifting it” move. Set the hook, reeled in, and another golden beauty. Xiao Fang was watching from his spot, yelling, “How?!” I grinned: “Deep water, buddy. You’re too shallow!”

I doubled down: bigger bait clumps (to keep the fish in the area) and thicker worms (for bigger crucians). Four casts later? *Black float*. That’s the “fish is running” signal. I set the hook, and this one fought harder—200g easy, maybe more. *Another golden board crucian* (what we call big, flat crucians). Then another bite, another fish. By 10am, I was on a roll—every 10 minutes, a crucian hit the net.

The Lull: Wind, Muddy Water, & Xiao Fang’s Air Force

By 1pm, the wind picked up. Waves crashed against the bank, turning the water muddy. Fish went quiet—my float sat still, no twitches, no rises. I tossed another handful of rice wine bait to refresh the spot, then packed up the 4.5m rod. Time for a snack break! I grabbed my sandwiches and walked over to check on the guys.

Xiao Fang? *Zero bites*. Nada. Zilch. “Told you shallow water was bad,” I teased. He mumbled something about “master anglers using short rods” and “long rods being clumsy.” Jian, on the other hand? He was still getting occasional bites in his 5m+ spot. “Water’s still cold this time of year,” he said. “Fish stick to deep water where it’s warm.” Duh—we should’ve remembered that, but Xiao Fang’s stubbornness won out.

The Comeback: Long Rods Save the Day

After chatting for 20 minutes, the wind died down. We headed back to our spots. I picked up my 5.4m rod—nothing. Nada. Then I remembered Jian’s success: *longer rod = deeper water*. I grabbed my 6.3m rod (heavy, but worth it) and set it up the same way: upper hook bait, lower hook worm, tuned to 1 eyelet, fished at 1-2 eyelets.

Second cast—*tiny twitch*. I set the hook, and *there it was*: another crucian. “Yes!” I yelled. I rigged both rods (5.4m and 6.3m) but only the long one got bites. Another crucian hit the net—this one was even bigger. I was in heaven: slow, steady catches, no rush, just the sound of the water and my rod bending.

The End: Emergency Call, Generous Tips, & Xiao Fang’s Grumpiness

Just as I was settling into the groove, Jian’s phone rang. “Family emergency,” he said. “We gotta go.” Ugh—timing is always cruel. I packed up my rods, and a guy from the next spot walked over. He’d been watching me catch fish all day, and his spot was empty. “Can you tell me your setup?” he asked. I spilled everything: bait recipe, rig details, depth, even gave him my leftover worms. “Bait and worms work—fish love ’em,” I said. He thanked me a hundred times, and I left him to take over my spot.

On the drive home, Jian and I couldn’t stop talking about the reservoir. “We gotta come back before it gets too hot,” I said. “This is the last golden window for crucians.” Xiao Fang? He was silent at first, then grumbled: “I don’t wanna come back.” We laughed—we knew he was just bitter he didn’t catch anything. “You just hate that we were right about long rods,” Jian teased. Xiao Fang rolled his eyes, but we could see a smile creeping in.

By the time we got back to town, the sun was setting. We high-fived (well, Jian and I did) and promised to plan another trip. Even Xiao Fang mumbled, “Fine… but I’m picking the bait next time.” Yeah, sure he is. But that’s the thing about fishing buddies—you argue, you tease, but you always come back for more.