The Thrill of the Catch
Ontario Chinese Anglers celebrate 10th anniversary
LINDA WHITE
Special to Sun Media
More than 60 fish had been caught by the end of the day, including an eight-pound carp. But for the Ontario Chinese Anglers Association, the biggest catch of the day couldn’t be measured in weight rather, it was the smiles on the faces of young anglers as they experienced nature first-hand.
“For most kids, it was their first time fishing,” association chairman Raymond Zee says of the fifth annual event, held at a lake north of Toronto. It brought together 40 children from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of York and Girls Incorporated of York Region.
“Each child received a fishing rod donated from the Toronto Sportsmen Show.
A lot were hesitant about touching the fish at first, but it didn’t take long for them to become comfortable,” Zee says. “A few lost their rods when they left them on the dock to watch someone reel in a fish.”
Bragging rights went to eight-year-old Dylan Hall, a Little Brother who caught the eight-pound carp, along with sunfish and pike. “The fishing rod broke as he reeled in the carp,” says his mother Jennifer, who also attended the event. “He thought it was hilarious.” Dylan began fishing several years ago. “He’s busy with activities like soccer, but this is something we can do together,” says his mom. “After four hours of fishing, we were exhausted, but it was so relaxing and a nice way of enjoying the fresh air.”
The association organizes the event to introduce young people to the sport and help them develop their skills. Zee knows first-hand what the thrill of the catch means at that age. While growing up in Hong Kong, he wasn’t supposed to go near the water but often snuck out fishing with his older brother and friends.
“We used a handline that is made up of a fishing line and hook and sinker.
It’s still common in Asia.” Zee didn’t pick up a rod and reel until he was 19, when he moved to Canada to attend school in Peterborough. He so loved the sport that he even took up ice fishing, but never eats his catch.
Zee shares his passion for fishing through the association, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It has grown from 25 to 385 members aged about 25 to 70 years. About a third of members have their own boats. The association was officially registered as a Canadian non-profit organization in 2000 and enjoys full member status with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
The association promotes catch and release, and teaches members how to fish using lures, since many immigrant anglers are accustomed to live bait. As part of its commitment to helping members get their Pleasure Craft Operator Card, the association translated the boating manual and test questions into Chinese.
The association looks forward to monthly tournaments and participating in the family fishing weekend during the upcoming National Fishing Week, July 4
- 12. Visit the association online at www.ocaa.smartanglers.com.
Ontario Fishing Regulations are available in Traditional Chinese at www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/Publication/239746.html
During family fishing weekends, the association holds a ‘fishing clinic’ to teach children outdoor safety, how to set up their fishing rods, how to properly tie knots in a fishing line and how to catch and release.
