Fishing at Liangshui River Again on Saturday Night: Everything’s Great Except the Fish Refuse to Bite

Ugh, let me tell you about my latest fishing trip—one that had all the right vibes but zero fish cooperation. I hit up Liangshui River at Yulizhuang Bridge again on Saturday night, and man, was it a rollercoaster of hope and disappointment. Let’s break it down, from the gear I used to the weirdly quiet bite (or lack thereof).

Where, When, and What I Brough

Location: Yulizhuang Bridge, Liangshui River

First off, the spot: Yulizhuang Bridge over Liangshui River. I’ve fished here before, so I know the water—slow, a bit murky, and full of those sneaky little carp and crucian carp that love to test my patience. But this time? Even the usual “spot” vibes felt off. When I rolled up around 7:30 PM, the few guys already there were shaking their heads. “No bites all afternoon,” one old timer grumbled. Great start, right?

Timing: Night vs. Early Morning

I planned to fish from 7:30 PM Saturday to midnight, but I was so frustrated I got up at 4:30 AM the next day to go back. Spoiler: The morning was slightly better, but not by much. Let’s just say sleep is overrated when you’re chasing fish.

Gear Setup: Tackling the Current

Since the river has a steady current, I went with my go-to for moving water: the Zhulu Classic 5.4m rod. For line, I used 1.5lb mainline with 0.8lb fluorocarbon leader—light enough for finicky fish, but strong enough if a bigger one hits. Hooks? Size 4 barbless sleeves (they’re easier on the fish, and I don’t want to yank out lips).
Now, the current here is no joke, so I used a short leader, big running sinker setup. Every time I cast full, I’d pull the rod back a little to keep the leader tight. That way, if a fish nibbles, I feel it instantly. And honestly? That part worked—when there was a bite, I almost always hooked up. Too bad there were barely any bites.

Bait & Rig: Why I Thought This Would Work

Fresh Shrimp Bait + Musk Wine: My “Sure Thing” Recipe

Here’s the thing—I swear by fresh shrimp for crucian carp. I made a shrimp-based dough (mashed shrimp, some flour, a dash of salt) and added 3 drops of musk wine. Musk is supposed to be a fish attractant, right? I also mixed in some rice wine (fermented rice, not the drinking kind) to the bait and the chum. For chum, I used a stiffer dough with extra rice wine to make it sink slowly and release scent.
I even added a handful of corn and small worms to the chum ball—just to cover all bases. But looking back, maybe the musk was too strong? Or the water temp was too cold? Who knows. The fish just weren’t having it.

Photos of My Bait & Setup

Check out how I prepped the bait: I mixed the shrimp dough until it was just sticky enough to pull into little balls. The musk wine gave it a subtle, earthy smell—nothing too overpowering, I thought.

Here’s my rod set up on the bank: The Zhulu Classic 5.4m rod leaned against the bridge railing, with the running sinker sliding down the mainline. You can see the short leader (only about 30cm) to keep it tight in the current.

The Night Shift: Zero Bites, Zero Vibes

Let’s get to the boring part—Saturday night’s fishing. I cast, waited, cast again. The float sat there, motionless, like a statue. The guys next to me were packing up by 10 PM. “Save your energy,” one said. “The fish are hibernating or something.”
I stuck it out until 10:43 PM, and that’s when—FINALLY—something happened. The float dipped just a tiny bit, then pulled under. I set the hook, and felt a little tug. A small crucian carp! Maybe 10cm long. That was the first bite in three hours.
I kept going until midnight, and only landed three more tiny ones. Total: 4 fish. Four. For four and a half hours of fishing. I was so mad I didn’t even take a good photo of the first catch. Wait, no—here’s the sad little haul from Saturday night.

What the Other Anglers Said

By 11 PM, the bridge was almost empty. The last guy left said, “I’ve fished here for 20 years, and this is the quietest I’ve ever seen it. Must be the weather.” Oh, right—the weather. It was a cool 12°C (54°F) that night, with a light breeze. Maybe the water temp dropped too fast? Fish are cold-blooded, so they slow down when it’s chilly. That makes sense, but still—frustrating.

Early Morning Redemption? Barely

I couldn’t sleep. At 4:30 AM, I rolled out of bed, grabbed my gear, and drove back to the river. The sun was just starting to peek over the trees, and the water was glassy calm. A few new anglers were there, but most were still quiet.
This time, I changed things up a little: I used a smaller sinker (to make the bait drift slower) and added a pinch of garlic powder to the bait (some say garlic attracts crucian carp). Did it help? Maybe a tiny bit.
By 9 AM, I had 12 small crucian carp. That’s better than 4, but still—nothing to brag about. Here’s the morning haul:

Why the Morning Was Slightly Better

My guess? The water temp warmed up a few degrees as the sun came up. Fish are more active when it’s a bit warmer. Also, the current slowed down at dawn—maybe the bait stayed in the strike zone longer. I noticed that when I cast near the bridge piling (where the current eddies), I got more bites. So maybe the fish were hiding in the calmer water?
Check out this photo of the river at dawn: The sun was hitting the water just right, and the bridge looked so peaceful. Too bad the fish didn’t care.

Lessons Learned (The Hard Way)

Let’s be real—this trip taught me a few things, even if I didn’t catch many fish.
First: Weather matters more than you think. Even if the spot is good, if the water temp is too cold or the wind is too strong, the fish will shut down. I should’ve checked the water temp before going.
Second: Don’t be afraid to switch up your bait. I stuck with shrimp all night, but maybe worms or corn would’ve worked better? Next time, I’ll bring a variety.
Third: Short leaders are key in current. My setup worked when there were bites—so that part was a win. The running sinker let the bait drift naturally, which is important for crucian carp.
Fourth: Early morning is better than night in cool weather. Duh, right? But I needed to learn that the hard way.

Photos of My “Lessons” in Action

Here’s a close-up of the small crucian carp I caught in the morning—you can see the tiny hook in its mouth. Barbless hooks are great because they’re easy to remove without hurting the fish.

And here’s my bait bucket at the end of the morning—still half full of shrimp dough. Next time, I’ll make less, or bring different baits.

What’s Next? Better Weather, Better Bait

I’m not giving up on Liangshui River. It’s a beautiful spot, and I know the fish are there—they just weren’t in the mood this time. Next time, I’ll wait for a warmer day (maybe 15°C or higher) and try:

• Worms instead of shrimp (crucian carp love live bait)
• A lighter leader (0.6lb instead of 0.8lb) for finicky fish
• Chumming with corn and rice wine the night before (to draw fish in)

Also, I’ll get there at dawn instead of night—no more staying up late for zero bites.
Check out this photo of the river at noon the next day (I went back to take pics): The water was warmer, and a few anglers were catching small carp. Maybe I should’ve stayed longer?

All in all, this trip was a mix of frustration and fun. I love being by the water, even when the fish aren’t biting. And hey—next time, I’ll bring more snacks. Because nothing makes a bad fishing day better than a cold soda and a bag of chips.
Oh, and here’s one last photo of my gear after the trip—covered in mud, but ready for next time.

Have you ever had a fishing trip where everything was perfect except the fish? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your horror stories (or success stories, if you’re lucky). And stay tuned—next time I hit Liangshui River, I’ll bring a camera and a better game plan. Fingers crossed for more bites!