My First Fishing Trip After Stomach Bug: Claiming Pit Champion at Sihai Fishing Park, Shunyi

Okay, let’s be real-this week was straight-up brutal. I was feeling totally fine, then my dumb self decided to chow down on a whole bowl of small hawthorns. Big mistake. Like, huge. Next thing I know, I’m throwing up everywhere, my stomach’s killing me for three whole days. I popped so many stomach meds, and finally, yesterday I started feeling normal again. So today? I was out the door before you could say “fishing rod” like a kid who just got a new toy. No way I was waiting another day to hit the water.

The Lowdown on Sihai Fishing Park: Spring’s First Big Drop

My destination? Sihai Fishing Park in Shunyi. Turns out this was their first big stocking of the spring-3,000 pounds of carp and 2,000 pounds of crucian carp (you know, those little guys that fight way harder than they look). The ticket price? 100 yuan. Wait, that’s a steal, right? Most places charge way more for that kind of stocking. They had a 4.5-meter rod limit, and no restrictions on bait-thank goodness, ’cause I wasn’t about to mess around with fancy recipes when I just felt alive again.

The place is massive, by the way. When I rolled up this morning, cars were lined up along the road waiting for the gates to open. I counted-probably 40 or 50 cars ahead of me. No assigned spots, which is both a blessing and a curse. Since I was late, I had to grab whatever spot was left… and let me tell you, that “leftover” spot ended up being my lucky charm. Total serendipity.

What the Crowd Looked Like: A Sea of Fishing Enthusiasts

Once the gates opened, it was chaos in the best way. I’m talking over 90 cars and 100 anglers-no joke, I counted during the slow times (more on that later). Some guys were hauling in big gear, others were rockin’ basic rods, but everyone had that same hungry look: “I’m gonna catch so many fish today.” I just hoped my late spot wouldn’t be a total dud.

The Fishing Grind: Slow Spots, Counting Cars, and a Lucky Break

I won’t bore you with every single cast-let’s just say the first few hours were… rough. I sat there watching other guys get bites, and I was just staring at my float like, “Hello? Any fish home?” I even started counting cars to pass the time (97, to be exact) and people-watching. There was this one guy with a neon hat who kept yelling every time he got a nibble-dude, calm down, we’re all jealous enough.

Midday Slump: When the Fish Ghosted Us

By midday? The bite died. Like, completely. Everyone was dragging their rods, checking their phones, or munching on snacks. I saw a guy fall asleep in his chair-no shame, I almost did too. The only excitement was when someone finally reeled in a small carp, and the whole crowd cheered like it was a championship win. Low bar, but we’ll take it.

Weigh-In Time: The Big Reveal (And My Shock)

Finally, it was time to pack up and weigh in. The rule was 3 yuan per pound for both carp and crucian carp-fair price, no complaints. Also, they had these little “marker fish” worth 20 yuan each, but I didn’t catch any (boo, me). I dragged my bucket over to the scale, and the guy hooked it up… 73 pounds. Wait, 73? I thought I’d barely hit 30! I was so shocked I almost dropped the bucket.

The Pit Champion News: My Jaw Hit the Ground

Then the owner walked over, looked at the scale, and said, “Hey, you’re the pit champion today.” Wait, WHAT? Me? The guy who was late, sat in the random spot, and almost fell asleep? I could barely speak. Then another guy came over-he had 60 pounds, but three marker fish (worth 60 yuan total). So he technically made more money, but still… I was the top weight. I was grinning like an idiot for, like, an hour straight. My friends would never believe this.

Why That Late Spot Was a Total Win: “Butt Decides Everything”

Let’s be clear-this wasn’t skill. Okay, maybe a little skill, but mostly luck with the spot. Every angler knows the rule: “Butt decides everything.” Meaning where you sit (your “butt spot”) is way more important than fancy bait or fancy rods. I was so mad I was late, but that random spot? It was like the fish were waiting just for me. Total proof that sometimes the best things happen when you don’t plan.

What I Learned (Again) About Fishing

• Always bring extra stomach meds-you never know when you’ll mess up with hawthorns.
• Don’t skip the late spots-they might be secret hotspots.
• Marker fish are cool, but being pit champion? That’s bragging rights for months.

Wrapping Up: Bragging Rights and Next Time Plans

So yeah, that’s my story. Stomach bug gone, first fishing trip back, pit champion at Sihai. I’m still walking on air a little. Tomorrow I’m gonna text all my fishing buddies and rub it in-they’ll hate me, but it’s worth it. Next time? I’m gonna get there a little earlier (maybe not too early, don’t want to jinx the “late spot luck”) and try to catch one of those marker fish. But for now? I’m just gonna enjoy the win. Who knew a bowl of hawthorns would lead to this?