By Claudio Alberto Cortes on April 10, 2010

Feature photo by swanksalot

Take a walk down Ashland avenue past Cermak road and you will come to what appears to be the land that time forgot. Industrial buildings surround you on all sides and there is no sidewalk to speak of , that is until you get to the Chicago River. For some reason There is a park divided by Ashland on the bank of the river, I discovered this oasis one day while walking to the Orange line from 18th street because I was too impatient to wait for the bus. I saw it and told myself , this looks like a nice spot to go fishing, its isolated  yet hidden in plain view. I had only previously gone fishing as a child camping with my uncles, but something that day prompted me to want to try this activity in an urban setting. I went back a week later fishing pole and tackle box in hand. This may come as a surprise to many but I do enjoy fishing , Ive never actually caught anything and given the make up of the Chicago river I really wouldn’t want to, but the cathartic nature of the activity appealed to me. The sun shining down  on the water gives the green river a natural shimmer , and hope that fish still live under there.  The occasional tug boat breaks the stillness , and the manicured grass on which you sit provides you with a soft ass cushion . Some people go on long bike rides , others play frisbee in the park , But I , I go fishin. There is an old saying that I read on some placard in a bait shop, “give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day , teach a man to fish and he’ll drink beer on a boat” this stuck with me, as folksy as it may seem. Consider this an invitation to any and all readers of this article when its nice out join me on the river for a few brews good, conversation, and some good old fashioned fishing.