>> YEAH, WE'RE BACK
IN THE STICKS HERE.
THE ROADS JUST KEEP GETTING
NARROWER AND NARROWER.
BUT WE'RE NOT THAT FAR
FROM WALKER, MINNESOTA.
GET UP IN THIS AREA,
OBVIOUSLY,
AND ALL ANYBODY EVER TALKS ABOUT
IS LEECH LAKE.
BUT YOU KNOW,
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
HERE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA,
THERE'S SOME TREMENDOUS
FISHING ON SOME
OF THESE SMALL LAKES,
PARTICULARLY FOR PANFISH
AND BASS.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW
THERE'S A 25 MILE AN HOUR WIND.
BEAUTY ABOUT THIS AREA IS
YOU CAN TUCK BACK
IN THESE LITTLE LAKES
BACK IN THE WOODS HERE
AND A LOT OF TIMES HAVE THEM
ALL TO YOURSELF.
>> WE'RE BACK IN NORTHERN
MINNESOTA BY WALKER
AND YOU KNOW,
YOU LOOK AT LEECH LAKE,
LEECH LAKE GETS A LOT
OF NOTORIETY.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST
WALLEYE FISHERIES
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
YOU KNOW,
WALLEYES ATTRACT
A LOT OF ATTENTION.
MINNESOTANS LOVE THEIR WALLEYES.
BUT YOU KNOW,
IN THIS AREA THE BASS OFTEN
GET OVERLOOKED AND LEECH LAKE
IS ONE OF THE BEST
LARGEMOUTH BASS LAKES AROUND.
BUT BESIDES LEECH LAKE,
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT
SMALL LAKES AROUND HERE TOO
THAT OFFER SOME TREMENDOUS
BASS FISHING.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THERE YOU GO.
BOY, HE'S DOING IT.
WONDERFUL.
>> THAT IS COOL, HUH?
>> IT'S A NICE FISH, JASE.
FOR A LEFT HANDER.
>>OHH YEAH NICE BASS.
>> NICE.
>> OH YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HE SUCKED IT IN.
>> BOY, LOOK AT THAT.
YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE FURY POP.
>> YEAH.
>> JUST SMOKED IT.
THAT IS COOL,
TOPWATER BASS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S
ANYTHING MORE EXCITING
THAN THAT RIGHT THERE.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S JUST A GORGEOUS FISH.
LOOK AT HOW MUCH THAT BAIT
IS BURIED.
THAT IS JUST SO COOL.
I WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF
CATCHING A FISH ON A POPPER.
THAT'S JUST GOOD STUFF.
>> LOVE THE SMELL OF BASS
ON THE HANDS IN THE MORNING.
(LAUGHTER)
>> YEP.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> PRETTY EXCITING.
(CHUCKLES)BOY,
THEY ARE PRETTY FISH.
>> SHE DEFINITELY ATE IT.
JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF SKIN.
NICE.
>> YOU KNOW,
I LOVE CATCHING BASS
ON TOPWATERS.
AND YOU KNOW,
TYPICALLY RIGHT AWAY
IN THE MORNING,
YOU KNOW,
AND THAT SUN'S STARTING
TO RISE,
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FOG
ON THE WATER,
THAT'S ONE OF MY
FAVORITE TIMES OF THE DAY,
ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES
TO BE FISHING AND I CAN'T
HELP MYSELF.
YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THROW
A TOPWATER DURING THAT TIME.
AND THAT WINDOW
MIGHT NOT BE VERY LONG,
YOU KNOW,
MAYBE HALF AN HOUR,
45 MINUTE WINDOW OF TOPS
AND THEN THAT SUN GETS A LITTLE
BIT HIGHER AND THOSE FISH
PULL DOWN IN THOSE WEEDS
A LITTLE MORE
WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT BE
ACCESSIBLE FOR TOPWATERS.
SO A LOT OF TIMES OUR
PRESENTATION'S CHANGING
THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHERE WE'LL
START OUT THROWING TOPWATERS
AND THEN AS THE DAY PROGRESSES,
MIGHT HAVE TO SWITCH TO SOFT
PLASTICS AND START SWITCHING
TO WEEDLESS PRESENTATIONS
WHERE WE CAN FISH MORE
IN THE WEEDS.
BUT THAT PRESENTATION CAN BE
A MOVING TARGET.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> GET BACK IN HERE.
>> GOOD FISH?
>> IT FEELS LIKE IT.
>> GONNA JUMP.
WHOA! DOGGIN' YA.
>> YEAH.
>> GONNA PULL US OUT HERE.
THAT'S WIND'S KIND OF
BLOWING US UP ON THE BANK HERE.
WANT ME TO REACH DOWN
AND GRAB HIM FOR YOU?
>> YEAH,
YOU'RE GONNA PLAY THE GAME
FOR ME.
>> THERE!
BOY, THESE FISH JUST HAVE NICE,
DARK, BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL COLOR, DON'T THEY?
>> BLACK, YEAH.
>> DARK FISH.
>> DARK.
WHAT I'M FISHING WITH HERE,
AS YOU CAN SEE,
IS A KALIN WAC-O-WORM AND
IT'S GOT A PERFECT WEIGHT TO IT.
IT'S BALANCED WITH A NICE,
WITH AN O-RING,
WHICH IS SLID ACROSS THE TOP.
AND THEN WE'RE USING
A GAMAKATSU CIRCLE HOOK ON HERE
WITH FLUOROCARBON LEADER
15 POUND ATTACHED TO IT.
AND IT REALLY GIVES IT A NICE,
NICE FLUTTER AND THE FISH
CAN'T RESIST IT.
AND THE TECHNIQUE
THAT I'M USING IS BASICALLY JUST
LETTING IT GO DOWN SLOW FIRST,
AND THEN GIVING IT A COUPLE
LITTLE FLICKS AND THEN PAUSE.
THEY CAN'T HANDLE THAT
AFTER THAT PAUSE.
SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHEN
THEY'RE WHACKING IT.
AND THEY'RE TAKING IT IN, BOY.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT
AND YOU'LL FEEL IT.
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE LONG LOVED
FISHING LEECH LAKE.
IT'S A PLACE I'VE BROUGHT
MY FAMILY TO.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT
THE MAINSTREAM WALKER
AND THERE'S JUST A LOT
OF NICE FAMILY RESORTS.
OBVIOUSLY,
LEECH LAKE IS A RENOWNED FISHERY
AND A LOT OF TIMES
WHEN I THINK OF LEECH LAKE,
I'M THINKING OF THE WALLEYE
FISHING AND WE'VE FILMED A LOT
OF WALLEYE SHOWS ON LEECH LAKE
OVER THE PAST.
THERE'S PHENOMENAL
MUSKIE FISHING,
THERE'S PANFISH.
WHAT OFTEN GOES UNSAID,
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST KEPT
SECRETS IN THE ENTIRE AREA IS
NOT JUST LEECH LAKE PROPER,
BUT ALL THE SMALL LAKES
ALL AROUND LEECH LAKE
THAT ARE WITHIN, SAY,
HALF HOUR DRIVE THAT ARE JUST
LOADED WITH REALLY QUALITY
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY FOR PANFISH
AND BASS.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> NICE.
>> WHAT IS IT?
OH, THERE'S ONE.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THAT'S A GOOD FISH.
>> THAT'S A BIG FISH, BIG FISH.
GET READY, COMING UP.
THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S THE ONE WE'RE
LOOKING FOR.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> BOY, THAT'S A GOOD,
HEAVY BASS RIGHT THERE.
>> THAT'S A HEAVY BASS.
THERE.
>> OH YEAH,
THAT'S A DANDY THERE.
LOOK AT THAT!
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS A DANDY THERE, AL.
>> THAT IS A PIG.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
RIGHT THERE.
>> GREAT FISH,
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS JUST A GORGEOUS BASS.
FOR MINNESOTA,
THAT IS JUST HUGE.
>> MAN,
THAT WAS A GOOD FIGHT.
>> OH, MAN.
BOY, WHEN YOU CAN FIT
A SOFTBALL IN THEIR MOUTH,
THAT'S JUST A HUGE FISH.
>> HEALTHY FISH TOO.
NOT BEAT UP AT ALL.
JUST PRETTY.
>> THEY ARE PRETTY.
GET THAT FISH IN THE WATER.
GREAT WORK, AL.
>> WE'LL TAKE IT.
>> COOL, AL.
>> THAT WAS ALL RIGHT.
>> THAT WAS COOL.
>> THAT'S WHAT I LIKE IS WHEN
THEY PULL THAT DRAG LIKE THAT.
>> YEAH.
(CHUCKLES)
>> KIND OF TELLS YOU
IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.
>> YEAH,
WHEN YOU CAN'T MOVE IT.
(CHUCKLES)
>> YEP, WELL, THE NICE THING
ABOUT UP HERE,
THERE'S SO MANY LAKES.
AND OTHER THAN LEECH LAKE,
WE'VE GOT THESE LITTLE LAKES
THAT DON'T GET TOUCHED
AND THESE BASS IN HERE HAVE GOT
ALL THE FOOD.
THEY'RE FULL OF BLUEGILLS,
CRAPPIES, YOU KNOW,
AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS
OF MINNOWS.
SO YOU'LL FIND QUALITY BASS
JUST LIKE YOU SAW RIGHT HERE.
A LOT OF THE LAKES UP HERE
RIGHT NOW ARE CATCH AND RELEASE,
MORE AND MORE ALL THE TIME.
AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW,
JUST LIKE ALL OVER IS THAT
GREAT BIG NUMBERS OF SMALLMOUTH
ARE STARTING TO COME OUT TOO.
THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE
ANY SMALLMOUTH IN IT,
BUT SOME OF THEM DO.
AND LEECH LAKE IS GOING
TO TURN OUT,
I THINK,
TO BE JUST LIKE A MILLE LACS
IN THE YEARS TO COME BECAUSE
IT'S, THE NUMBERS ARE REALLY,
REALLY BUILDING UP QUICK.
THE REASON I LIKE THE BASS IS
THE FIGHT.
THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT.
WHEN I THINK OF THE SMALLMOUTH,
PARTICULARLY,
THEY'RE REALLY FIESTY.
BUT THE LARGEMOUTH,
WHEN YOU GET INTO QUALITY FISH,
ABOUT A POUND,
TWO POUND FISH,
YOU GOT REALLY A GOOD BATTLE
AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE
YOU JUST REEL IN AND PUT IT
IN THE BOAT.
>> OH, THERE HE IS,
THERE HE IS.
WOW, THAT FISH JUST DRILLED IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
(CHUCKLES)OH YEAH.
THAT'S A CHUNK.
>> THAT IS A CHUNK OF A BASS
RIGHT THERE.
(SPLASHING)
>> LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS JUST A GREAT FISH
RIGHT THERE.
I'M JUST USING,
THAT'S JUST A KALIN'S
WAC-O-WORM JIG HOOK.
JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT OF
WEIGHT ON THERE,
SO I'M JUST GOING TO FISH
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
AL'S THROWING UP ALONG
THE SHALLOW BREAK,
I'M GOING TO FISH THE DEEP
BREAK HERE TILL WE SEE IF
WE CAN PUT A PATTERN TOGETHER.
BUT THAT IS JUST A TANK
OF A BASS RIGHT THERE.
>> NICE FISH.
>> YEAH,
JUST GET HER IN THE WATER HERE.
THANK YOU, THAT WAS FUN.
THAT WAS FUN.
YOU KNOW, I STARTED OUT
WITH A BABY BASS COLOR,
WHICH IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
KALIN'S COLORS AND IT SEEMS
TO WORK EVERYWHERE.
BUT CAUGHT A COUPLE FISH
ON THAT BLACK AND BLUE,
SO I SWITCHED UP TO A BLACK
AND BLUE AND JUST GOT HIT TOO.
AND SO HALF THE PATTERN EACH DAY
IS FIGURING OUT THE DEPTH,
YOU KNOW, THE TYPES OF SPOTS
THESE FISH ARE IN
AND THEN THE DETAILS
AND THE COLORS AND PRESENTATION.
BUT I THINK WE'RE STARTING
TO DIAL IT IN, AL.
>> YEAH,
PATTERN'S GOING GOOD.
BESIDES THAT, THE QUALITY IS
PRETTY DECENT RIGHT NOW.
STARTED OUT THERE A LITTLE SLOW
TO START WITH, BUT THOSE WORMS
ARE WORKING REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
>> YEAH, I JUST LOVE EXPLORING
THESE LITTLE LAKES HERE.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE LAKES
ARE PRETTY UNDEVELOPED.
THIS HERE LAKE IS SURROUNDED
BY A LOT OF STATE FOREST LAND,
AND SO YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN
SOME PRETTY NARROW ROADS
SOMETIMES AND THE BOAT RAMPS
MIGHT NOT BE MUCH.
IT'S REALLY PERFECT
FOR SMALL BOATS.
BUT BOY,
TALK ABOUT SOME TREMENDOUS,
TREMENDOUS FISHING IN THIS AREA.
YOU KNOW, THE BEAUTY OF IT IS
THESE LAKES DON'T
GET FISHED MUCH,
AND SO EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS
FISHY USUALLY HAS FISH.
IT'S JUST CLASSIC BASS FISHING,
YOU GOT LILY PADS,
YOU GOT WILD RICE, ALL KINDS
OF VEGETATION AND FISH.
THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT
OF FLOODED TIMBER IN SOME
OF THESE LAKES,
A LITTLE BIT OF TREES
LAYING DOWN IN THE WATER
AND SOME STUMPS TO FISH.
BUT IT'S JUST CLASSIC
BASS FISHING.
YOU CAN USE CAROLINA RIGS,
USE TEXAS RIGS,
WEEDLESS SPOONS,
SPINNERBAITS, FROGS, TOPWATERS.
JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS
TO CATCH FISH OUT HERE.
>> WHEN YOU COME UP TO OUR AREA
UP HERE IN THE LEECH LAKE AREA,
THERE'S SO MANY LAKES
AND SO MANY DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO.
LIKE TODAY,
WE REALLY HAVE A WIND
DEVELOPING NOW.
IT WAS SLOW THIS MORNING,
BUTNOW IT'S BUILDING UP.
BRING EVERYTHING.
AND WHAT WE MEAN THERE IS,
YOU KNOW, WITH THE SPOONS,
WITH TUBES, WITH WORMS.
LOTS OF TIMES YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO GO TOPWATER.
CRANKBAITS FOR THE EDGES
IN THOSE LAKES WHERE YOU GOT
A DISTINCT CABBAGE BREAK.
SO BRING IT ALL WITH.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.
AND THEN START WITH,
IN THE BOAT IF THERE'S
SEVERAL PEOPLE,
TWO DIFFERENT THINGS OR THREE
DIFFERENT THINGS TILL YOU
GET THAT PATTERN ESTABLISHED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE, NOW.
IT'S TAKEN US A WHILE HERE
TO FIGURE IT OUT,
BUT THINGS HAVE GONE
PRETTY WELL NOW.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT
WAYS YOU CAN WORK
THESE WAC-O-WORMS.
YOU CAN USE AN UNWEIGHTED HOOK.
THAT REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT
OF PATIENCE IN THE SENSE
YOU HAVE TO FISH A LITTLE SLOWER
AND LET IT FALL.
I'M FISHING A LITTLE FASTER HERE
AND LETTING IT FALL DOWN
THE BREAK A LITTLE FURTHER
WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT
ON THE JIG.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SEE
WHERE THESE FISH ARE POSITIONED.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY OFF THIS
WEEDLINE BREAK WHERE YOU GOT
SHALLOW WATER THAT JUST DROPS
OFF INTO DEEPER TEN FOOT WATER
RIGHT BEHIND THE BOAT
AND THEY'RE JUST ON THAT BREAK.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHERE THEY'RE POSITIONED,
WHICH THAT'S GOING TO BE
CHANGING THROUGHOUT THE DAY
AS THE SUN CHANGES.
THERE HE IS, AL.
>> GOOD SHOW.
>> OH YEAH, THERE WE GO.
GET A JUMP OUT OF HER.
>> YEAH.
SITTING ON THE EDGE.
YEAH, THERE WE GO.
>> YEAH.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> JUST LIFT HIM UP HERE.
(SPLASH)
>> COME ON UP HERE.
THESE FISH ARE JUST SO HEALTHY.
THEY DON'T LACK IN GIRTH,
DO THEY?
>> NO, NOT A BIT.
I KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT
A GREAT FOOD SUPPLY IN HERE,
JASON.
THEY'VE GOT LITTLE CRAPPIES,
BLUEGILLS,
AND THERE'S ALSO SPECIES
OF MINNOWS IN HERE.
SO THEY'RE DOING WELL.
>> THEY HAVEN'T MISSED
TOO MANY MEALS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL.
>> GOOD SHOW.
>> I THINK WE'RE
FIGURING THEM OUT.
>> ON THE EDGE AGAIN?
>> YEP.
>> LOOKED LIKE HE WAS
RIGHT THERE ON THE EDGE.
>> RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF SOME
OF THAT DOLLAR WEED.
>> YEAH.
WELL, WE FIGURED THAT OUT.
THEY WEREN'T IN THE SHALLOWS.
THE SMALLER FISH WERE
IN THERE SOME,
BUT THESE BIGGER FISH
ARE AROUND.
AND THEY'VE GOT NICE,
DEEP WATER, BOY,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS THING.
>> YEAH,
I THINK A LOT OF ANGLERS WOULD
BE FLOORED BY THE QUALITY
OF BASS FISHING IN A LOT
OF THESE PLACES HERE
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
AND YOU LOOK AT A LOT
OF THE WATER THAT'S AROUND
LEECH LAKE,
LEECH LAKE ITSELF IS
A RENOWNED BASS FISHERY
IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S JUST
THESE MASSIVE WILD RICE BEDS
THAT CAN REALLY HOLD
SOME REALLY BIG FISH.
THEN YOU LOOK AT ALL
THE SMALL WATER AND YOU KNOW,
IT JUST GIVES YOU MORE OPTIONS.
SO IF IT'S WINDY, YOU KNOW,
IF THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING,
YOU CAN JUST GO RIGHT DOWN
THE ROAD TEN MILES, FIVE MILES
AND FIND A WHOLE DIFFERENT LAKE
THAT HAS ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT PATTERNS
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS DUCK
OUT OF THE WIND,
YOU CAN DUCK OUT
OF THE WEATHER.
JUST THE OPTIONS ARE TREMENDOUS.
AND IF YOU'RE FLEXIBLE
AND JUST BEING AN OPPORTUNIST,
YOU CAN EXPERIENCE INCREDIBLE
FISHING IN THIS AREA.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> THERE'S ONE.
>> GOOD FISH, AL?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> OOH,
I JUST HAD ONE HIT ME TOO.
>> IT'S ACTING DIFFERENT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> GOOD FISH.
THAT'S A BIG FISH.
>> PROBABLY.
LITTLE BIT OF DRAG THERE.
OOH!
>> JUST WANT TO SEE IT.
>> YEAH, I DO TOO.
COME ON, GIRL,
COME ON UP.
COMING UP.
SAW A PART OF IT.
>> OH YEAH,
THAT'S A NICE FISH.
>> GOOD FISH?
>> YEAH, GOOD FISH.
>> I THINK SHE JUST
SUCKED IT IN.
>> OH BOY.
RIGHT IN THE CORNER.
THAT CIRCLE HOOK WORKS SO WELL
FOR THESE WAC-O-WORMS.
>> YEAH.
>> JUST A BIG, HEAVY HOOK
YOU CAN LAY THE WOOD TO.
YEAH, NICE WORK.
>> WE'LL TAKE HIM.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I THINK WE WILL.
>> NOTHING WRONG
WITH THAT BASS.
>> THE NICE THING WITH THIS
ROUTINE IS THIS CIRCULAR HOOK
AND THE O-RING,
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FISH
I'VE CAUGHT ON THIS THING,
BUT YOU DON'T LOSE THE WORM
EVERY TIME THE FISH BITES.
THAT'S THE NICE THING ABOUT IT.
AND THAT'LL STRETCH OUT
AND THEY'RE TAKING IT IN.
AND IF YOU NOTICED
THE LAST FISH,
HE WAS REALLY HOOKED
IN THE PROPER SPOT.
BUT THIS WORKS SLICK.
I BET YOU WE'VE CAUGHT
FIVE FISH,
SIX FISH ON THIS THING NOW
AND I HAVEN'T BEEN BIT OFF
AND THE WORM STILL LOOKS GOOD.
>> YOU KNOW,
FISHING SO OFTEN,
THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET.
IT'S JUST A PROCESS
OF ELIMINATION
WHERE YOU TRY SOMETHING.
IF THAT DOESN'T WORK,
YOU TRY SOMETHING ELSE.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
SO OFTEN WITH BASS FISHING,
WHEN THESE FISH ARE BURIED
IN THESE WEEDLINES,
THE SUN'S CHANGING ALL THE TIME
THOSE SHADOWS AND SHADE AREAS
ARE CHANGING ALL THE TIME.
AND SO WHERE THOSE FISH
ARE POSITIONED IN THAT WEED BED
IS CHANGING.
ON TOP OF THAT, YOU KNOW,
YOU MIGHT SPOOK SOME FISH
WITH THE BOAT.
YOU MIGHT GIVE SOME
OF THOSE FISH A LITTLE BIT
OF AN EDUCATION IN THE SENSE
THAT YOU MIGHT CATCH A FEW FISH
AND THESE FISH REMEMBER
CERTAIN LURES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE JUST TRYING DIFFERENT
THINGS AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE
THAT BAIT LOOK DIFFERENTLY
ALL THE TIME.
BUT AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB,
A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE JUST
TRYING TO FISH WEEDLESS
AND YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO THINK
WHERE THOSE FISH POSITION
AND HOW CAN I GET SOMETHING
IN FRONT OF THOSE FISH
WHERE IT'S NOT GETTING
FOULED OR WEEDED UP.
>> THAT'S THE ONE WE'VE BEEN
LOOKING FOR.
>> OH!
>> NICE, NICE.
>> WOW.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> I CAN HARDLY LIFT IT
OUT OF THERE.
>> LOOK AT THAT, YEAH,
ALL RIGHT.
>> KIND OF SWITCHED UP
WITH THE DROP SHOT HERE.
GETTING A LITTLE BIT LATER
IN THE DAY HERE.
I JUST WANTED TO COME UP
TO THIS BREAK HERE AND FOLLOW IT
DOWN A LITTLE MORE HERE
AND SEE IF THEY'RE HOLDING
A LITTLE DEEPER.
BOY, SHE IS BARELY HOOKED,
BARELY HOOKED.
OH! COME BACK.
GET MY THUMB IN HER JAW.
THERE WE GO, NICE.
LOOK AT THAT.
>> GOOD JOB.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH, SHE'S BARELY HOOKED.
JUST A SMALL TUNGSTEN WEIGHT,
THAT SAME WAC-O-WORM,
WACKY RIG.
JUST WORKING IT DEEPER
DOWN THE BREAK.
BEAUTIFUL FISH RIGHT THERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS DROP SHOT RIG IS
PRETTY SIMPLE.
IT'S 15 POUND FLUOROCARBON.
STILL LIKE THE PALOMAR KNOT
BETTER THAN ANYTHING.
THAT'S JUST A WIDE GAP
GAMAKATSU,
WACKY RIGGING THAT WAC-O-WORM.
AND THEN DOWN HERE,
THAT'S A TUNGSTEN WEIGHT.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU GET
IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION,
I DON'T KNOW IF THE TUNGSTEN'S
SUCH A BIG DEAL,
BUT WHENEVER YOU GET OVER
A HARD BOTTOM,
SAY WOOD OR ROCKS,
I THINK THAT TUNGSTEN'S
A LOT LOUDER THAN LEAD.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT TUNGSTEN WORKS SO WELL.
AND THEN THAT,
JUST FOR THE MASS,
IT'S HEAVIER THAN LEAD.
AND SO IT JUST MAKES
OUR PRESENTATION
A LOT MORE SENSITIVE.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE USING
PRESENTATIONS YOU CAN FISH IN
OR AROUND THE WEEDS,
WHETHER IT'S USING A DROP SHOT
ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OR USING
A WACKY WORM OR A TEXAS RIG
OR EVEN A CAROLINA RIG
AND FISHING WEEDLESS MORE
INTO THE WEEDS.
BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WEEDS,
AND MORE SPECIFICALLY,
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHADE
BECAUSE THESE FISH ARE
JUST IN THOSE DARK SPOTS.
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE
TRYING TO ENVISION WHERE
THAT SUN'S AT AND YOU'RE TRYING
TO ENVISION WHERE
THOSE SHADOW ARE,
WHERE THOSE DARK SPOTS ARE,
THAT THICK COVER.
THOSE FISH ARE GOING TO BE
RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM OF IT.
>> OH.
>> HERE SHE COMES.
(CHUCKLES)
>> SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
>> SOMEWHERE IN THAT PILE
OF WEEDS IS A NICE BASS.
>> YES, THERE IS.
>> BOY, LOOK AT ALL THAT.
OH! RESPECTABLE BASS.
>> NICE, YEAH.
>> IT'S A GORGEOUS FISH.
COULDN'T BUILD A HEALTHIER
LOOKING BASS THAN THAT
RIGHT THERE,
YOU KNOW IT?
>> YOU KNOW,
JASON, THERE'S NO DEVIATION
IN THE COLOR OF THESE FISH.
THEY'RE ALL SO DARK IN THE BACK,
EVERY ONE OF THEM.
THEY'RE BLENDING INTO THAT
MUCKY BOTTOM THAT WE GOT HERE.
>> YEAH, JUST TYPICAL BOG LAKE.
>> YEP, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> I'VE KNOWN AL MOSS FOR YEARS.
AND YOU KNOW,
WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP,
AL WAS ONE OF THE TOP GUIDES
IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND JUST
A GENTLEMAN ON TOP OF IT,
AND A GREAT FISHERMAN.
YOU KNOW WHAT AMAZES ME ABOUT
AL IS JUST HOW VERSATILE HE IS.
YOU KNOW, HE'S AT HOME
MUSKY FISHING,
HE CAN WALLEYE FISH WITH
THE BEST OF THEM AND LOVES
TO FISH FOR PANFISH AND BASS.
AND WE'VE OFTEN JOKED,
OBVIOUSLY IN NORTHERN
MINNESOTA IF YOU'RE
A FISHING GUIDE,
YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT
OF WALLEYE FISHING.
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY DAYS
WHERE I'VE TALKED TO AL
ON HIS DAY OFF OR IF HE WENT
OFF FISHING IN THE EVENING
AND JUST TOOK HIS WIFE OUT,
A LOT OF TIMES HE'LL BE
BASS FISHING.
AND WHY?
BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO MUCH FUN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AL, THAT IS A DANDY
RIGHT THERE.
NICE, THAT IS JUST
A GORGEOUS FISH.
LOOK AT THAT.
MINNESOTA HAS SOME TREMENDOUS
BASS FISHING,
DON'T IT?
>> YEAH, IT SURE DOES.
>> THERE.
>> NICE.
>> WOW,
THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
THAT IS IMPRESSIVE.
THESE ARE BIG FISH.
>> GOOD FIGHT OUT OF THAT ONE,
BOY, OH BOY.
>> THAT ONE, YOU WERE TELLING
THAT ONE WHAT TO DO.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A WEED.
(CHUCKLING)
