Big Fish Hunt Fails, But Big Carp Bites Keep Coming! | My Fishing Diary

Time flies, and the seasons shift—another fishing window is here! Lately, I’ve been obsessed with chasing the last of the big fish season. My buddy had the bright idea to pre-bait a spot for a few days of carp hunting, so I jumped at the chance. Now, I work night shifts, so I can only fish in the mornings. That means my friend handled most of the prepping while I crashed after my shift. Win-win, right? Let’s dive into the chaos (and the unexpected wins) of my recent trips.

Day 1: 40km Drive, Big Expectations (That Flopped)

After a graveyard shift, I dragged myself out of bed, threw my gear in the car, and hit the road for 40km. The plan? Two anglers, one pre-baited spot. We took turns: whoever was free fished, whoever wasn’t topped up the bait. Simple enough—until the big fish decided to ghost us.

Our Big Carp Setup (That Did Nothing)

We were targeting 10+ pound carp, so we went all out:

• 8.1m rod (because you need reach for big water!)
• 6lb main line, 5lb leader (overkill? Maybe, but we were scared of breaking off)
• Size 6 Hayabusa hook (sharp enough to stick a carp’s tough mouth)
• 4.5g float (for 4m deep water—no way around it)

Wild fishing means carp density is low, so we stuck to bottom fishing. No fast casting—we didn’t want to spook the giants. But here’s the thing: I’m not a pro big carp angler. Was this setup even right? If any big fish gurus are reading, hit me up in the comments—save me from future fails!

Two Hours of Nothing = Panic Switch

After two hours of staring at a stationary float, I lost my mind. “Screw the big carp,” I thought. I grabbed my 6m short rod, mixed up a test batch of bait (my “Big Fish King” recipe—more on that later), and switched gears. Desperation? Maybe. But it worked.

Day 1: The Carp Save (And a Handful of Surprises)

Turns out, the big carp weren’t biting—but the big crucian carp? They were going crazy! The pre-bait had drawn in a school, and my short rod was the perfect tool to pick them off. Let’s break down the setup that actually worked:

My Secret Carp Bait Recipe (That Actually Works)

I mixed two parts “Big Fish King” (the “aromatic” version) with one part “No Empty Net” (the “fishy” version), plus 0.7 parts water. It’s a weird ratio, but I tested it a hundred times. The smell is insane—you can almost see the fish swimming toward it. Pro tip: Don’t skimp on the mixing time—knead it until it’s smooth, like playdough. If it’s crumbly, you messed up the water ratio.

The Carp Setup That Crushed It

For the crucians, I used:

• 6m rod (light enough to feel the bites, strong enough to fight big ones)
• 3.5lb main line, 1.5lb leader (thick enough to handle a surprise carp—trust me, I’ve lost big ones before)
• Size 6 Zhanpin “Wolf Fang” hook (super sharp, perfect for crucians and small carp)
• Adjusted for 3.5m depth: I set the float to “flat calm” (no buoyancy) and fished at 2 eyes. Super slow, super natural—exactly what the crucians wanted.

These bad boys were 2+ ounces each—some even bigger. And every few casts, a small grass carp would sneak in. The fight? Oh man, they pull like crazy! It was the perfect consolation prize for the big carp that bailed on us.

By midday, my arms were sore. I packed up, dumped some extra bait in the spot (for tomorrow), and headed home. Small fish go back to the water, big ones get given away to friends—no waste here. And yeah, I was a little sad about the big carp… but those crucians? They made my day.

Day 3: Deja Vu (But We’re Not Giving Up)

Two days later, I was back. Same night shift, same 40km drive, same big carp setup. And guess what? Nada. Zip. Zilch. The big guys were still MIA. But this time, I was prepared. I didn’t wait two hours—I grabbed my short rod, mixed up the same “Big Fish King” + “No Empty Net” bait, and started casting.

Same result: crucians every few minutes. Same size, same fight, same joy. I even caught a few more grass carp—one almost pulled my rod into the water! (Pro move: Always keep your hand on the rod when you’re fishing shallow.)

Why We’re Still Chasing the Big Carp

Yeah, the crucians are fun. But there’s something about the big carp that keeps us coming back. The thrill of a bite that bends your rod to the breaking point? The panic when they run into the reeds? That’s the stuff fishing dreams are made of. So we’re sticking to it: pre-baiting every day, trying new setups, and waiting for that one bite. Because when it happens? It’ll be worth every 40km drive and every hour of staring at a float.

Oh, and if you’re wondering who’s writing this? I’m Yu Dalian—just a guy who loves fishing, hates night shifts, and can’t wait to hold a 10+ pound carp. Follow along for more fails, wins, and weird bait recipes. Until next time—tight lines!