Non-Stop Crucian Carp Fishing in 38°C Heat: My Sweltering Yellow River Delta Adventure

Let me tell you—fishing in 38°C (that’s 100°F for my US pals) isn’t just a hobby. It’s a love letter to fish that’s written in sweat, sunburn, and way too many mosquito bites. Last month, I packed my rods, a cooler full of Gatorade, and zero common sense to head to the Liao Jia Wa Drainage Canal near Huanghua—part of the Yellow River Delta in China’s Hebei province. Spoiler: I caught more crucian carp than I could carry… and still came home complaining about mosquitoes. Let’s dive in.

The Great Drought: Why I Drove 40 Minutes for “Shallow” Water

First off, let’s set the scene. Cangzhou—my hometown—had been hit with a 40°C heatwave for weeks. Farmers were pumping every drop of water from rivers and ditches to save their crops, leaving most local spots bone-dry or just 40-50cm deep. That’s like wading in a kiddie pool at noon—sunlight bakes the water so fast, fish go into hiding. No way I was wasting my weekend there.

So I hopped in my beat-up SUV and headed to the Liao Jia Wa Drainage Canal, a spot I used to frequent last year but abandoned for the Nan Pai River this summer. When I arrived? The water level was down a full meter from 2023—now just 1.2-1.3m deep. “C’mon, it’s better than nothing,” I mumbled to myself, wiping sweat from my brow before I even unloaded my gear.

First Impression: A Sea of Silver (And My Dread)

As soon as I stepped to the water’s edge, a cloud of silver fish exploded from the surface—thousands of tiny (well, not *that* tiny) silver fish darting every which way. My heart sank. “Great,” I thought. “Just what I need: a bajillion silver bream (or whatever those are) ruining my day.” For anyone who fishes, silver fish swarming the surface usually means they’ll steal every bite before your hook even hits the bottom. I was already regretting skipping my morning iced coffee.

Setting Up Shop: Sweat, Sun, and a Disaster of a Bait Mix

I grabbed my go-to bait: a chaotic mix of Tong Sha Xing, Blue 7, Su Gong, and Jiu Yi Ba (if you’re a fellow angler, you know these Chinese bait brands—they’re everywhere). I dumped them in a bowl, added a splash of water, and mixed until it was… well, a sticky mess. Let’s be real: I’m not a pro at bait prep. It’s more “dump and pray” than “precision blending.”

Next, I set up my float, planted my umbrella (thank GOD I brought it—no way I’d survive without shade), and by the time I was done, my shirt was soaked through like I’d just jumped in the canal. It was only 7:30 AM, and the temperature gauge in my truck read 35°C. “Who does this?” I laughed at myself. “Only a fishing nut. Normal people are at home with AC and Netflix.”

I tossed in a handful of wine-flavored rice (a local trick to draw fish) and started casting. 1… 2… 10 casts later, the float twitched. Then it bobbed. Then it disappeared under the water. *Yes!*

The Shock: No Silver Fish? Just Crucian Carp?

I reeled in, expecting a tiny silver fish. Instead? A plump crucian carp—golden, shiny, and about the size of my palm. Wait, what? I cast again. Same thing. Another crucian. And another. For 20 minutes straight, I didn’t catch a single silver fish. That cloud of silver I saw earlier? They were nowhere near my bait.

Let me break down the weirdness:

• Silver fish were *everywhere* on the surface, but they didn’t touch my bait.
• Every cast brought in a crucian—no tiny “palm-sized” ones, either. Most were 1-2 ounces (30-60 grams), which is perfect for eating (though I ended up releasing them).
• When I *did* catch a silver fish? It was huge—like, palm-length, thick, and meaty. Not the annoying tiny ones that steal your bait. I even thought, “Maybe I should target these instead?” But crucian carp are my jam, so I stuck with them.

Two Rods, One Winner: Why Worms Lost to My Sticky Mess

I brought two rods: one with my chaotic bait mix, one with live worms (a classic for crucian carp). Let’s see how that went:

• Worm rod: Zilch. Nada. Not a single bite. I even switched to smaller worms, wiggled them more, nothing.
• Bait mix rod: *Non-stop action*. I could barely keep up. I’d cast, wait 10 seconds, the float would dive, I’d reel in a crucian, unhook it, and cast again. Rinse and repeat. And get this—double headers (two fish at once) were *common*. Like, every 5 casts or so. I’ve fished for years, and that’s rare in 38°C heat.

Those golden crucian carp were so pretty—their scales glinted in the sun, and they fought just enough to make it fun. I forgot about the heat for a minute… until a mosquito bit me through my sunscreen.

The Real Villain: Mosquitoes That Defy Physics

Let’s talk about the mosquitoes. Oh my GOD. These weren’t normal mosquitoes. These were *super mosquitoes*.

• They bit through my long-sleeve shirt.
• They bit through my fishing gloves.
• They even tried to bite my *nails*. I’m not kidding—one landed on my thumbnail and just… sat there, like it was waiting for a snack.

I swatted at them nonstop, used bug spray until my skin was sticky, and even waved my rod around like a madman. Nothing worked. By 10 AM, I had 15 bites on my arms alone. “Why do I do this?” I groaned, reeling in another crucian. “I could be at home eating ice cream.”

Midday Meltdown: When 38°C Becomes Unbearable

By 2 PM, the heat was brutal. My water bottle was empty (I’d drunk 3 liters already), my umbrella was barely keeping the sun off, and my skin felt like it was on fire. I looked at my bucket—full of crucian carp, probably 7-8 pounds (3-4 kg). I thought, “Okay, that’s enough.”

I packed up my rods, threw the bait mix in a bag (it was already molding from the heat), and loaded the bucket into my truck. As I drove home, I texted all my fishing buddies: “Got 8 pounds of crucian. Want any?” Crickets. No one replied. Turns out, everyone else was smart enough to stay inside. So I pulled over to a small pond near my house and dumped the whole bucket. “Go be free, little guys,” I said. “I don’t have the energy to clean you.”

Why Do We Do This? Fishing’s Weird, Beautiful Magic

Later that night, I sat on my couch with a cold beer, counting my mosquito bites (27, for the record), and thought: *Why do I put myself through this?* It’s not about the fish—half the time I release them. It’s not about the skill—anyone can catch crucian carp in that spot. It’s about the rush of the float diving, the way the sun hits the water, the quiet when you’re waiting for a bite (even if mosquitoes are attacking). It’s about doing something stupid and loving every second of it.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Next time, though? I’m bringing a mosquito net. And maybe a portable AC. And a case of Gatorade. And a friend who’s as crazy as me.

Oh, and if you’re ever in the Yellow River Delta and want to catch crucian carp in 38°C heat? Hit up the Liao Jia Wa Drainage Canal. Just watch out for the mosquitoes. They’re evil. And bring lots of water. And maybe a towel. Okay, just bring everything. You’ll need it.