db: Welcome to Sturgeon Bay

Don Barone explores the site of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin.

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Come on over to...
Come on over to…
...historic...
…historic…
...Sturgeon Bay and the...
…Sturgeon Bay and the…
...Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, so...
…Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, so…
...my several dozen bosses at B.A.S.S.
…my several dozen bosses at B.A.S.S. “suggested,” I get here in town a couple days early and drive around and meet the people, groove on the area, so I got me some sort of rental car, put on a new clean linen shirt, and went out to and fro-ing, climb in lets cruise.
I tell you I've never been here before, my first look, this is a land, an area bathed in beautiful sunsets, everywhere you look there is art in the sky and...
I tell you I’ve never been here before, my first look, this is a land, an area bathed in beautiful sunsets, everywhere you look there is art in the sky and…
...in the water.
…in the water.
It's a town proud of its history, embraces the past while also...
It’s a town proud of its history, embraces the past while also…
...accommodating the new.
…accommodating the new.
I found it to be filled with love...
I found it to be filled with love…
...with families beginning anew and...
…with families beginning anew and…
...and young families who have been here awhile. Mandy Beyer told me it's a great place to raise kids, good schools, very low crime, and her son there, Lance gets my vote for politician of the year with this quote of my season. Lance knew I was here to cover a fishing tournament and told me,
…and young families who have been here awhile. Mandy Beyer told me it’s a great place to raise kids, good schools, very low crime, and her son there, Lance gets my vote for politician of the year with this quote of my season. Lance knew I was here to cover a fishing tournament and told me, “This is a great place to fish, I don’t really fish, but if I did fish I would fish a lot.” I’d vote for him.
People are out and about everywhere here, especially down by the water and it's because...
People are out and about everywhere here, especially down by the water and it’s because…
...this town makes the water...accessible. God Bless you Sturgeon Bay for doing that. That is sweet water out there, clear blue fresh, and the easier it is for people to get to, the greater protection it will have. When you can touch it, you can appreciate it.
…this town makes the water…accessible. God Bless you Sturgeon Bay for doing that. That is sweet water out there, clear blue fresh, and the easier it is for people to get to, the greater protection it will have. When you can touch it, you can appreciate it.
This is a town that enjoys...
This is a town that enjoys…
...embraces the outside and...
…embraces the outside and…
...movies, I guess. Yeah, um, yeah, that's it. Movies...
…movies, I guess. Yeah, um, yeah, that’s it. Movies…
...but in many ways, it comes back to the water...both to use it...
…but in many ways, it comes back to the water…both to use it…
...and to guard it.
…and to guard it.
U.S. L H E...that's the United States Light House Establishment created in 1789 by the first Congress, in 1939 it was merged into the U.S. Coast Guard but it's nice that this huge weight is still around as is the...
U.S. L H E…that’s the United States Light House Establishment created in 1789 by the first Congress, in 1939 it was merged into the U.S. Coast Guard but it’s nice that this huge weight is still around as is the…
...old buoy next to it. Love the strength of these things, love the presence of the past.
…old buoy next to it. Love the strength of these things, love the presence of the past.
Had no idea this was going on but always dig hanging out with the B.A.S.S. Nation folks including...
Had no idea this was going on but always dig hanging out with the B.A.S.S. Nation folks including…
...this dude, Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Director, Kyle Carpenter.
…this dude, Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Director, Kyle Carpenter.
Bunch of folks came out to see the state championship Nation and from the looks of it...
Bunch of folks came out to see the state championship Nation and from the looks of it…
...the Wisconsin Bass guys, had a blast as well.
…the Wisconsin Bass guys, had a blast as well.
Back over the Steel Bridge, which by the way opened on the 4th of July in 1931 and is 1,400 plus feet of steel, hence the name, but I want to take a moment here to give a shout out to all the steel workers in America...Thank You, for building America. Back over the bridge to...
Back over the Steel Bridge, which by the way opened on the 4th of July in 1931 and is 1,400 plus feet of steel, hence the name, but I want to take a moment here to give a shout out to all the steel workers in America…Thank You, for building America. Back over the bridge to…
...here...
…here…
...downtown...
…downtown…
...Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin....
…Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin….
...and, yes, it is...here downtown and especially...
…and, yes, it is…here downtown and especially…
...here.
…here.
I have to tell you, I really dig this place, should have come here way long ago, and NO ONE is paying me to say that, but I truly feel at home in what seems to be...
I have to tell you, I really dig this place, should have come here way long ago, and NO ONE is paying me to say that, but I truly feel at home in what seems to be…
...an all American town, check it out...
…an all American town, check it out…
...how do you not love this, I have no idea who George is, but a tip of the hat to him for keeping the store like that, to me it's a sense of comfort as is...
…how do you not love this, I have no idea who George is, but a tip of the hat to him for keeping the store like that, to me it’s a sense of comfort as is…
...this, and I don't even have any money in there. I'm a bank built of stone fan...ARM's, not so much.
…this, and I don’t even have any money in there. I’m a bank built of stone fan…ARM’s, not so much.
But look around down here, there is...
But look around down here, there is…
...cool and...
…cool and…
...comfort everywhere you look and then there's this...
…comfort everywhere you look and then there’s this…
...very cool, I'd move here just to drive that...
…very cool, I’d move here just to drive that…
...not so much these, but as I said if you are into biking, this town is for you, but this...
…not so much these, but as I said if you are into biking, this town is for you, but this…
...is more my speed.
…is more my speed.
1932 it was called H. C. Prange, a few decades ago that sign came down, this sign went up, been there ever since, you can feel here a reverence...
1932 it was called H. C. Prange, a few decades ago that sign came down, this sign went up, been there ever since, you can feel here a reverence…
...for that which was once...
…for that which was once…
...but which still beckons...
…but which still beckons…
...new and old, back to back today.
…new and old, back to back today.
Trust me, I didn't shoot this because I'm in Door County, which in fact I am, but I shot it to say thanks to doors of wood. I have my entire life wanted a front door of wood, but could never afford it what with kids/college/taxes/new shirts, but I can't think of anything more inviting, more classy than the elegance of wood...
Trust me, I didn’t shoot this because I’m in Door County, which in fact I am, but I shot it to say thanks to doors of wood. I have my entire life wanted a front door of wood, but could never afford it what with kids/college/taxes/new shirts, but I can’t think of anything more inviting, more classy than the elegance of wood…
...and this here metal.
…and this here metal.
Now, Sturgeon Bay has my attention...
Now, Sturgeon Bay has my attention…
...my full attention.
…my full attention.
As a kid I played something like that on the right, wanted that on the left but...
As a kid I played something like that on the right, wanted that on the left but…
...and loved these, but I'm very serious here, this community puts on a gig each summer called the
…and loved these, but I’m very serious here, this community puts on a gig each summer called the “Steel Bridge Songfest,” and if you are within a few hundred miles of this town, be there for this gig. It features songwriting seminars and music from the greats like Jackson Browne and legendary, LEGENDARY Funk Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield, James Brown’s drummer. Dudes this IS something, and the money raised is used for preservation, if next summer I’m within a days drive of this place, I’m coming for it.
Okay so I leave downtown and head back to my hotel...and get lost...go north up Jefferson Street and come across hip coolness, if I didn't have a Connecticut house with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th mortgage on it...I'd move to this area of this place.
Okay so I leave downtown and head back to my hotel…and get lost…go north up Jefferson Street and come across hip coolness, if I didn’t have a Connecticut house with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th mortgage on it…I’d move to this area of this place.
It's an area of wonderful cottage and Sears & Roebuck Craftsmen homes and outdoor art mixed with...
It’s an area of wonderful cottage and Sears & Roebuck Craftsmen homes and outdoor art mixed with…
...boutiques...
…boutiques…
...the american entrepreneurial spirit...
…the american entrepreneurial spirit…
...more outside art...
…more outside art…
...and just flat out...
…and just flat out…
...cool.
…cool.
Any business can plug in a neon CLOSED sign, but
Any business can plug in a neon CLOSED sign, but “Gone,” is just flat out cool.
All roads here seem to lead to the water...
All roads here seem to lead to the water…
...and the irresistible draw to fish in it. Dave Zawojski, who lives around here says theres no place like it to fish, in fact I found him at his favorite secret perch catching spot, right in between
…and the irresistible draw to fish in it. Dave Zawojski, who lives around here says theres no place like it to fish, in fact I found him at his favorite secret perch catching spot, right in between “Somewhere,” and “My 3 Sons” boats. “Caught a 15 inch Perch here once, not an eating perch, a mounting perch, which I did with that 15 inch baby.” He said since I was writing for B.A.S.S. and not PERCH I could give up his spot knowing…
...that dudes like this won't come in on him for the perch to be found there. BTW...my next story up is with this guy, Bobby Lane who tells me,
…that dudes like this won’t come in on him for the perch to be found there. BTW…my next story up is with this guy, Bobby Lane who tells me, “Both me and my brother Chris are tied with 26 Top 10 finishes each, mainly because the loser between us always has to buy…” I did a stereo Lane story, interviewing both Lane boys at the same time, trust me, you are not going to want to miss that story.
But back here in Sturgeon Bay, this week is all about heading out there...
But back here in Sturgeon Bay, this week is all about heading out there…
...out there where the Bass live, where the dreams of the fishing the 2016 Bassmaster Classic will either come true, or end. Sturgeon Bay, thank you for your people, for your town, for your history, for your love of the sweet water that surrounds this peninsula that you live on. Cool digs man, cool digs. db
…out there where the Bass live, where the dreams of the fishing the 2016 Bassmaster Classic will either come true, or end. Sturgeon Bay, thank you for your people, for your town, for your history, for your love of the sweet water that surrounds this peninsula that you live on. Cool digs man, cool digs. db