New Year Fishing at the Riverbank: Sun-Kissed Crucians and Carp Make an Appearance

Okay, let’s kick this off—2024 started with a last-minute schedule swap, and I thought, “Why not chase some fish instead of waiting in a bank line?” Spoiler: It turned into a wild mix of patience, surprise, and a little gear fail. Let’s dive in!

My Last-Minute Fishing Setup (Because Banks Suck Sometimes)

First off, the gear I grabbed in a hurry—no fancy stuff, just what I keep in the truck for impromptu trips:

• Rod: Yiyi EX 4.5m (light, perfect for small crucians)
• Line setup: 1.0 main line + 0.4 fluorocarbon leader, Size 2 sleeve hook (tiny, but great for finicky winter fish)
• Bait: Western Wind Musk Rice Wine (a local favorite for cold water—smells like old socks, but fish love it)
• Main bait mix: No. 4 + No. 6 + Gangdan 2 + Tongsha Xiang + Sugong 3 (more on this later—total mess, but effective)

My original goal? Catch a few small crucians to kick off the year. Carp? Total afterthought. Oh, how wrong I was.

The Bank Fiasco That Led to Fishing (Thank Goodness)

Let’s set the scene: January 19, 2024. I had to get cash for New Year red envelopes, but the ATM was dead, and the counter line was longer than a cat’s nap. So I grabbed a number, thought, “Screw this—let’s drop a bait!”

Headed to the east side of the river (the square side is a mile walk, and I’m lazy). Threw two handfuls of musk rice wine into the water, plopped my tackle box down to “reserve” my spot, and booked it to grab breakfast. Smart move? Maybe. Rude to the bank? Definitely. Worth it? 100%.

Prepping Bait (And Realizing I Messed Up the Mix)

Before heading back, I mixed the bait at home. Wait—No. 4 + No. 6 + Gangdan 2 is way too fishy for sunny winter days. Oops. So I added 1.5 parts Tongsha Xiang (a sweet, fruity additive) to tone down the stench, then 1 part Sugong 3 to fluff it up for better floatation. Even with a little current, I wanted it to look natural, not like a soggy cereal bar.

Pro tip: Always adjust bait for the weather. Sunny days make fish less hungry for strong scents—duh, I should’ve remembered that earlier.

Afternoon on the River: Sun, Current, and a Sad Injured Carp

Got back around 1 PM, and the sun was perfect—not too hot, just warm enough to sit without a jacket. First order: Find the bottom. Water depth was 1.3-1.4 meters (about 4.5 feet)—shallow, but winter fish love warm, shallow spots.

Current was a problem, though. It came in waves, so I used a 1.7g float, set it to 5 eyes (float markers), and aimed for 4.5 eyes when fishing. That way, when the current pulled it down to 1.5 eyes, I could still see the bite. Worked like a charm—sort of.

Wait, there was a sad sight: A big carp floating near the surface, covered in sores. Looked like it got hurt by a hook or a predator. I left it alone—let the poor thing sunbathe in peace. No need to stress it out more.

Patience Pays Off (Sort Of)—First Bite, Then Nothing

I set up the net right away (shallow water = easy to lose big fish). First bite? A tiny minnow. Then… nothing. For an hour. Not even a minnow nibble. I thought, “Great—another blank day?”

Turns out, the minnows were all sunbathing on the surface too. Classic winter move—fish slow down when it’s warm, so you have to wait them out. I almost packed up, but then…

The Big Surprise: Carp #1 (0.4 Line vs. 2-Pound Carp)

BOOM—sudden black float (total bite). I lifted the rod gently, and BAM—something heavy took off. At first, I thought I snagged a big crucian, but then it pulled hard. Carp! Oh no—0.4 line is way too thin for a carp that size.

I didn’t panic. Just kept the rod up, let it run when it wanted, and reeled slowly when it slowed down. The bank was empty, so I had all the space to fight it. After 4-5 minutes, it tired out. Net time!

I ran home to grab a scale (yes, I’m that dork). With the net, it weighed a little over 2 pounds. The net is plastic and light, so the carp was probably around 1.8 pounds—still a win for 0.4 line!

Finally—The Target: A Small Crucian

Before grabbing the scale, I threw a little more bait in the water (carp eat a lot). When I got back, I cast again. The sun was in my eyes, so I squinted—then saw the float drop half an eye. Lifted the rod, and there it was: a tiny crucian! My original goal, done!

So far, crucian + carp = win. I was ready to call it a day—until…

Gear Fail: Hook Breaks, Carp #2 Gets Away

I was packing up the net when I glanced back. The float was moving sideways—fast! I grabbed the rod, lifted, and BAM—another heavy pull. This one was bigger than the first. I thought, “Hell yeah—two carp!”

But then… SNAP. The Size 2 sleeve hook broke. Ugh. The line was still intact (0.4 line is tough!), but the hook gave out. That carp was gone, and it probably spooked all the other fish in the area. So I packed up—no point staying now.

Final Catch and Wrap-Up

Let’s count the haul: Minnows? Threw them back (too tiny). Net had 1 carp and 1 crucian. Total: 2 fish. But that carp made my small bucket look full—so I’m counting it as a “bucket buster.”

2024’s first carp? Check. Original crucian goal? Check. Hook fail? Total bummer, but hey—fishing’s not perfect. I texted my friend Kunpeng (he’s been begging for a carp) and told him I caught one. He’s probably already planning his trip tomorrow. Sucker.

Headed home around 3:30 PM—had to get ready for dinner at a friend’s house. All in all, a weird, fun day. Started with a bank disaster, ended with a carp surprise. Can’t complain.

Oh, and to all you anglers out there: May your New Year be full of fish, not broken hooks. Tight lines!