Zhu Guan Village’s Small Pond: Winter Fishing for Wild Crucian Carp

Okay, let’s cut to the chase—my buddy Old Xu works at Weiqiao, and he’s basically my fishing spy (or “fish cam” as I like to joke). Dude’s been blowing up my phone lately, saying Zhu Guan Village’s wild river is loaded with crucian carp: 7-8 ounce behemoths, 1-2 ounce babies, all swarming like crazy. Half a day’s catch? Half a 30-pound bucket. I mean, come on—how could I NOT check this out? (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

Mapping the Mission: Is This Pond Worth the Ride?

First, I pulled up Google Maps (duh, can’t fish blind). Turns out it’s a tiny pond, not a big river like Old Xu hyped—but hey, winter fishing rules: if it’s not frozen, it’s a goldmine. That’s the winter angler’s gospel, right? (^0^)/

The Road Trip: 60 Minutes on a Scooter, 100% Worth It

Navigated a backroad shortcut from Mingji Wangshaotang to Diao Town—total 60 minutes on my little scooter. The sun was out, breeze was warm (for winter, anyway), and I was low-key geeking out. Country roads, baby—nothing beats it.૧(●´৺`●)૭

Winter’s Quiet Beauty (and Wildlife Surprises)

Northern China’s winter is… well, dull at first glance. Wheat fields are still dormant, no green, no color. But wait—wildlife’s everywhere! No one’s bothering them, so pheasants and wild pigeons are just chilling, pecking around like they own the place. Coolest part? I saw a whole flock of pheasants later, tearing up the fields for food. Nature’s little bonus. 😌

Approaching Zhu Guan Village: The Non-Frozen River = Good Omen

When I got close to the village, the river was still open—no ice, no nothing. That’s the best sign you can get in winter fishing. If water’s liquid, fish are active (well, more active than if they’re frozen solid). I booked it to the pond, already mentally prepping my setup. 😤

The Pond Reveal: Tiny, Clean, and Packed with Anglers

First thing I noticed: the village’s little shop looks like a tiny watchtower—so random, so cool. Then the pond: tiny, but water’s crystal clear. You could tell just by looking that the crucian carp action was gonna be fire. Early birds were already set up with their rod holders—classic “I got here first” angler move. I scanned for a spot…

Scoring the Perfect Spot: Old Rod Holder + Sun + Reeds

Boom—north bank, right by the road, a tree gap with an old rod holder. Flanked by reeds, facing the sun. That’s a textbook crucian carp spot. Reeds mean cover, sun means warmth (fish love that in winter), and the old holder means someone’s had success here before. I claimed it immediately. (^-^)

Baiting Up: Sweet Musk Rice + Red Worms = Fish Magnet

Got my bait ready: a handful of Fishing Home musk rice (smells so sweet—I even tasted it, no lie, it’s like candy for fish). Tossed in some red worms to amp it up. Then—splash—I heard fish popping up in the reeds. My heart started racing. This was gonna be good. 🎣

The Fishing Frenzy: Non-Stop Bites (and a Sneaky Carp Escape)

First cast—bam, bite. Then another, then another. Non-stop for an hour. It was a rod-bending party. Then, the fourth cast? I hooked something bigger. Turns out it was a carp—red tail, too. But my hook was too small (size 2 sleeve hook, way too tiny for carp). It popped off before I could land it. Ugh, total bummer. But hey—small carp escape = more room for crucian carp, right? (Silver linings, people.)

My setup: 3.6m rod, 0.6 main line, 0.4 leader, size 2 sleeve hook, two red worms per hook. Every time I dropped it in, blackout bite (that’s when the float disappears completely—chef’s kiss for crucian carp). They were hitting it so hard, I barely had time to rebait. 😂

When the Bite Slows: Switching to the Reed Edge

After an hour, the bite died down by the rod holder. So I moved to the reed edge—classic mistake, I should’ve done that earlier. Boom, bites started again. Rods bending, fish flying in. My small net was already full of squirming crucian carp. This is what fishing’s all about, man. 🎉

Wrap-Up: Cutting It Short (Winter Cold = No Fun After Dark)

By 3 PM, I knew I had to bounce. The ride back was 60 minutes, and winter dark hits fast. Plus, it gets freezing after 5 PM—no way I was sticking around for the “window” (that late-afternoon bite window, for non-anglers). Better to leave while I’m winning, right? My net was full, my hands were (sort of) warm, and I was already craving the catch for dinner. (~Q~;)

Dinner Prep: Fried Crucian Carp + Random Pork Find

Got home, fried up all those small crucian carp into a huge bowl. Crispy, golden, perfect. Then—plot twist—on the way back, I hit a small market and grabbed some pork belly. Made braised pork for dinner. Because why not? Fishing win + food win = best day ever. (^-^)

Random Market Stop: Pheasants + Pork = Bonus Joy

On the ride back, I saw a flock of pheasants tearing up the fields—so cool, they didn’t even care I was there. Then the market: fresh pork belly, cheap, and the vendor was super nice. Added that to my haul. Sometimes the best parts of fishing trips aren’t the fish—they’re the random stops and wildlife sightings. 🐦

Final Thoughts: Winter Fishing = Worth the Cold (No Excuses!)

So here’s the deal: Old Xu wasn’t lying (mostly—turns out it’s a pond, not a river, but who’s counting?). Zhu Guan Village’s tiny pond is a winter fishing gem. The crucian carp were thick, the ride was fun, and the dinner was chef’s kiss. Don’t let the cold stop you—winter fishing is where the real anglers separate from the fair-weather folks. 😎

Oh, and one last thing: if you go, hit the north bank’s reed edge. Trust me. And if you see a pheasant flock? Stop and watch—they’re wild. 🎣✨