518 | Ditching Crucian Carp for Bighead Carp: When You’re Under the Weather and the Water’s Flowing

Okay, let’s be real— I’ve been off the fishing scene for almost eight months. No urge to hit the water, no craving for the fight… until my buddy Liu hit me up. “Let’s go chase bighead carp in that wild river,” he said. Now, I know that river’s got barely any bigheads, but hey— anything’s better than nothing, right? And let’s cut to the chase: I was so over crucian carp and common carp. Let me break down why.

Why Crucian Carp Just Isn’t Cutting It Anymore

First off, pre-Dragon Boat Festival crucian carp? Total buzzkill. Catch a small one? No fight, no meat— just a tiny thing that’s not worth the effort. Catch a big one? Oh, great— it’s stuffed with roe. Killing a fish full of eggs makes me feel like a monster. You gut it, pull out all that roe, and you’re left with two sad little fillets. Release it? Ugh, but it’s a pound-plus crucian— hard to let go. Catch and release feels like a waste of time, but keeping it feels wrong.

Common Carp? Even Worse

Then there’s common carp. When they’re carrying roe? Impossible to catch. And our local carp resources are already scarce— you’d have to camp out for days just to get a bite. Even if you do land one? A 10-pound carp’s roe could stock an entire river. No way I’m killing that. Plus, I can’t spend days squatting by the water— I’ve got a business to run, a family to feed. So yeah, I’ve been sitting this one out. No need to “steal” fish from the ecosystem.

Fishing FOMO? It Fades

Local anglers keep asking: “Aren’t you itching to fish? Don’t you crave it?” At first, yeah— I’d wander the riverbank, watch others cast. But most of them keep every fish, big or small. After a while, even watching got boring. Turns out, fishing’s like smoking or drinking— the more you do it, the more you need it. But take a break? Suddenly, the urge fades. Even when I do want to go, I can’t be bothered to prep: lines, rods, bait mixes, snacks… it’s a whole production.

Prepping for Bighead Carp: Less Hassle, But Still a Hassle

Here’s the thing about bighead carp: the setup’s simpler. Less gear, less stress. So when Liu called, I caved. Let’s list what I brought:

• Two rods: 6.3m main, 7.2m backup (can’t risk breaking a rod and being stuck with nothing to do)
• Two sets of line rigs (one type, no fancy stuff)
• Standard gear: fishing chair, leaders, hooks, rod holder, snacks, drinks
• Bait: just one type (no mixing 10 different recipes— thank god)

Even with that, it took me an hour to get everything ready. I was tired before I even left the house. Sigh— after 50, everything feels like more work. You just don’t have that same fire anymore. Life’s slowing down, and that’s okay… mostly.

Liu picked me up, and we hit the road— basically a spontaneous fishing trip. On the way, we talked bighead tactics and bragged about past trips. Spring to early summer is our bighead season— no roe, great fight, and let’s be honest: my son goes crazy for my spicy steamed bighead. Worth it? Maybe. But bighead fishing is expensive. I had 7 packs of bait left from last year, so I bought 10 more. Yeah, that sounds like a lot, but it’s only 6-7 trips. Don’t believe me? Check my order history later— all bighead bait.

Bait Drama: Price Hikes and Discount Wins

Oh, and let’s rant about bait prices. Tianyuan bait used to be 16 yuan a pack— now it’s 18. Ugh, but it works, so I have to buy it. But wait— the store had a promotion: buy 10 packs, get a free Yiwei float (you can pick the model!). Calculating it out, each pack was under 15 yuan. Score! Call it opportunistic, call it a steal— whatever. If they’re giving a discount, why not take it? I need the bait anyway— better to save a buck when I can.

Arriving at the Spot: The Vibe Shift

Before we knew it, we were at the river. Wow— fresh air, green trees, water glinting in the sun. All my stress? Gone. All the prep hassle? Worth it. Sometimes, fishing’s not about catching— it’s about being there. Let me share a pic of the spot— pure bliss.

Fishing Day: The Highs, Lows, and Total Air

We set up, mixed bait, adjusted floats. Bighead fishing is all about frequency— cast, wait for the float to settle, reel in, repeat. We started at 1m deep, casting 3 times a minute. Half an hour later? Nada. Zilch. Not a single bite. So we dropped the float 20cm— still nothing. I was just casting with my left hand, pinching bait with my right— nonstop. Tired? Hell yes. And the only thing we “caught” was a few snagged silver minnows. Three packs of bait gone, and no bighead in sight. Ugh.

So we switched gears. Found the bottom— almost 6m deep! Mixed sweet potato-flavored grains with carp bait for chum, then used the “old three” (commercial carp bait mix) plus Luo Li No. 2. Sat there all afternoon. Not a single proper bite. Nada. Zip. We were done. Packed up, headed home. Three guys, all day— and we caught… basically nothing. Half a catch? Yeah, that’s what I’m calling it.

Air Force One (Me) and the Aftermath

I wiped down my rods, put them back in storage. My low mood? Even lower. I wasn’t that hyped to begin with, and this? Total gut punch. Plus, the weather’s been all over the place— one day hot, one day cold. Even the fish are confused. I don’t feel like talking about it— air days are like being broke: no confidence to brag. But hey, the scenery was top-tier. Fresh air, quiet— that’s a win in my book. Let me show you another pic of the spot— you’ll get it.

Wrap-Up: Fishing, Life, and Not Catching Fish

At the end of the day, it’s not about the catch. Yeah, I wanted a bighead for my son’s favorite meal. Yeah, I wanted to feel that fight again. But sometimes, you just need to get out of the house, hang with a buddy, and breathe. The river’s still there, the rods are still clean, and next time? Maybe the fish will be biting. Until then? I’m just gonna enjoy the memory of the fresh air and the bad jokes with Liu. Catch you on the water— or not, if the fish are being jerks.