Bass Edge News

Bass Edge boys head north

The Bass Edge crew headed north last month to shoot a couple of episodes for its 2009 season. Elite pro Kurt Dove joined Aaron on the Woman Chain of lakes in central Minnesota, and then it was north to Vermilion. Jonathon VanDam, Collegiate Bass Anglers Association member and competitor in the B.A.S.S. Southern Opens, joined Aaron for some incredible smallmouth fishing.

“That is some of the fastest action we have on camera,” Aaron said. “And the size of the fish was amazing. Minnesota was good to us.”

Aaron and Kurt were treated to some great fishing on a small lake called Inguadona. The guys fished over the wild rice with frogs for some explosive action. Field producers Kurt Warner and Jeremy Drowne have some very special shots of fish hitting these baits.

The lake was near its more famous big brother, Leech Lake. The Leech Lake Tourism Bureau folks were perfect hosts to us and Hiawatha Beach Lodge was a gorgeous setting for our three days there. We dined outside in perfect weather, on a deck above the beach, just feet from the beautiful lake. We also saw a lot of folks bringing in big ol’ “toothy critters.”

Fishing on a vegetation-filled lakes in central Minnesota meant that there were toothy critters in the water. Neither Aaron nor Kurt had enjoyed a great deal of experience handling northern pike or muskellunge, and it was quite likely that they would hook into a few tooth-filled jaws.

These were the home waters of our own Dr. Fish, Dr. Jay McNamara, and he was along for the shoot – as a consultant, and to get in a little fishing of his own. When asked about the deeper vegetation, Dr. Jay said something like: “You’re guaranteed to catch a pike out there.”

The guys had made an agreement that whoever caught the toothy critter, the other would unhook it. After a long spell, Kurt Dove picked up a spinnerbait and hurled it into the deeper stuff.

“Oh no you don’t,” Aaron playfully objected.

Kurt actually caught a couple of bass pretty quick, but he did get that toothy critter and Aaron did his duty. In fact, the guys caught several toothy critters.

Minnesota will go down as one of the crew’s favorite stops. There were a lot of fish and the scenery was beautiful. Bass Edge viewers are in for a treat.