Summer is always a fishing filled part of the year for me. This past Summer I had a blast fishing but the highlight for me was being able to meet up again with one of my best friends from childhood, his name is Junior Robinson aka "Studda' Rap". The two of us go back like "Michael Jackson and Jerry Curls", lol! I remember when Studda'/Junior used to wear his red and black Michael Jackson jacket just to take out the garbage, I hope Junior doesn't read this, lol! The teachers at school always tried to split us up on field trips and in class due to how we had a little too much fun when we teamed up, lol! When we got in trouble we always took the blame for one another and always stuck together.

Anyway now that you know how "old school" we are lets get on to the fishing part of this blog. We used to fish a together when we were in grade school but back then we didn't have much but a worm and a bobber. We used to take the street car or ride our bikes to local fishing spots in Toronto to try and catch anything that swims. Here we were almost 10 year later! We hadn't seen each other since high school ( the world can blame Facebook for reuniting "Double Trouble", lol! ). This time it was great to get out fishing in a nice boat with Studda'. I think it was his first time fishing out of a boat so I could tell he was pretty excited. It was hilarious jumping three foot waves and seeing my old school brother laughing and freaking out.

On this day we got out at about 6pm and fished until dark. We fished out of Ashbridges Bay on Lake Ontario. We ended up with five Chinook and one Rainbow with the biggest being 24lbs. It was awesome seeing Studda' fighting these beasts, I think the last fish he fought was a Sunfish so it was a big difference from what he was used to, lmao! All the fish were caught on flasher and flies in different hues of green.

On that night we both looked at the city from the lake and agreed that it would be great if more kids from inner city could have chance to see the streets from a new angle while fishing. We both both grew up as "troubled youth", Studda' Rap was from the Oak Street buildings in Regent Park (Toronto) and I lived on top of a store on Parliament Street (Toronto), for those of you who don't know these areas, they were/are hot spots for trouble. Many of our friends from our childhood are locked up or dead. I use to hang out at the arcade down the street now and then but luckily I was fishing most of the time when my friends were getting into it with the police. Being a fishing addict at a young age has definitely changed my life for the better. When my friends were chasing street money I was chasing big fish. The inner city can be a trap for kids because they see the older guys/street hustlers with the flashy cars clothes and jewelery. They don't have a chance to get outside out of that. I was fortunate to have a Grandmother who took me fishing. From my experience I believe fishing can help kids see life in a different light and to get out of the trap. If someone came up to me right now or even back then and offered me ten million dollars to quit fishing I would tell them to take a hike. More kids need to see there are more important things like fishing that are more valuable than material things. When I say "Get Fish Or Die Tryin'!" what I'm trying to say is live by you passion or die tryin'!, whatever that may be.

When I saw this pic that Junior posted on Facebook his comment on it really got to me, it read

"When we were smaller we said they could never tear down Regent Park because it was too big, too much crime, too much people and too many 'bad mun'. After the project is done in around 2017 I want to have a better position with the contractor Daniels, buy a condo from them, have a family, be a better person and never look back."

My brother Junior made me really think and go back in time with this one. We need to get kids fishing period!!! If you are reading this please take a kid fishing, it could change their life!

Here is a video/song link dedicated to my brother Junior/"Studda" from our Rap Traxx days, lol!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IBRbzf3Fws

Gotta' bounce for now and Get Fish Or Die Tryin'!

Peace,

T

http://fishcitytours.com