Jingchen “Tony” Zhu did well in his schooling in the Chicago area.
Part of his education came literally outside of a traditional college environment, and he became a true student of Chicago fishing.
Chu also holds a Dean's Citation from Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Arts Management last year. He recently graduated from Northwestern University with a Master's in Leadership for Creative Enterprises.
“More than the fish he caught, I think Tony did an incredible job of immersing himself in a completely different culture,” Quinn Unah messaged X. “He impacted the people he met, people from all different backgrounds. It's not all been smooth sailing or loose restrictions, but I'm very confident in the image of America he's bringing back to China – it's real, it's authentic, and it could only have been achieved here in Chicago.”
When asked about his most memorable fishing experience in Chicago, Chew responded via email: “I've had countless unforgettable fishing experiences in Chicago, but my most memorable was catching a Skamania in Burnham Harbor. I'd only been fishing for less than a year, and it was the first time I'd ever caught such a big fish, let alone seen one in the wild outside of an aquarium. It was a tough 15 minutes with the fish jumping around, trying to get away, diving under the pier, and jumping out of the water multiple times. With Quinn's help, I finally reeled the fish in. When I finally got it in, there were lots of high-fives and cheers, but my hands were shaking for a while afterwards.”
Jingcheng “Tony” Zhu quickly mastered the intricate methods of fishing for salmon from a boat.
Mentor Unah explained Chew's ability to learn new fisheries: “Tony has a rare patience that is lacking in fishing today. He has learned to study fish species rather than searching for magic spots. We have made many great memories over the years, including trips to the Northwoods, lake fishing on both sides of Lake Michigan, Tony's first White Sox game and many boring baseball games afterwards.”
“But the most memorable moment was when Tony's dad (Rui Zhu) came from China for my graduation. Tony took him fishing. It was kind of a full circle moment. Then he took him to a Red Sox game and we watched the free fireworks. (Sorry for the bad baseball introduction (Rui)). Tony fished for every salmonid in Lake Michigan. He fished all of them from the shore except for the salmon in the lake.”
Louis Zhu, father of Jing-Chen “Tony” Zhu, caught this largemouth bass at Ping Tom Memorial Park on May 16, 2023, while in Chicago to attend his son's graduation from Columbia University.
Other memorable catches also show what kind of young man Zhu is.
“Two moments stand out in my mind,” he replied via email. “The first was when I caught my first steelhead with a spoon. It was a morning in early September 2022. Quinn and I were casting spoons in Burnham Harbor, hoping to catch king salmon, but nothing was biting. So we switched to spoons with defoliants and started searching the surface. After a while, a fish struck as the spoon hit the surface. After a tough fight, I finally got it. With experience, instinct, and a bit of luck, I was the only one to catch a fish that morning.”
“Another memorable moment was when my father caught his first bass under my tutelage. In May 2023, my father came to Chicago for my undergraduate graduation. Although he is an avid angler, he had never tried bass fishing. I took him to Pin Tom Park, where he learned to bass fish for the first time. I taught him how to rig a drop shot, how to find fish, and how to handle them. Eventually, my father caught a largemouth bass. That moment was incredibly special. It reminded me of my childhood when my father patiently taught me to carp fish. Now, the tables were turned and I felt a deep sense of pride and emotion.”
Chu has many memorable moments from fishing in Chicago.
A personal best coho for Jingchen “Tony” Zhu.
“Fishing on Chicago's lakefront is a blast,” he said in an email. “The stunning urban scenery, great fishing spots, and above all, the friendly, welcoming community make for a unique experience. All the anglers I've met on the lakefront have been so kind, and I've learned so much from this community. I've also made lifelong friends who've helped me grow in so many ways and introduced me to the pure essence of the local culture. Without fishing on Chicago's lakefront, my three years in the U.S. would not have been as exciting and colorful.”
Zhu will share the video with the world.
“I recently started filming fishing videos and will continue to record my fishing adventures when I return to China,” he said in an email. “I also plan to share my fishing and life experiences in Chicago with Chinese audiences. I hope my videos can help more people learn about the sport of fishing and build a bridge for cultural exchange between China and the United States.”
Jingcheng “Tony” Zhu holds the first lake trout he caught from a boat, although most of his fishing has been from the shore.
