Fishing show features area

Columbia County and Clarks Hill Lake will be featured on a bass fishing show scheduled to air this winter on the Versus network.

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A crew of three cameramen, an editor and two host anglers wrapped up a three-day shoot Oct. 25. The crew Bass Edge filmed scenes along the Little River Bridge and Keg Creek for the second episode of the show's second season.

Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Beda Johnson said the show is a "win-win" for the area's fishing tourism industry and for the five-county Clarks Hill Partnership.

"The Clarks Hill Partnership is very fortunate to have a feature by Bass Edge," she said. "This multimedia marketing opportunity will bring not just national, but international attention to our lake and each of our counties."

Johnson said the hope is the show, which also appears on the Canada's Wild TV, will bring anglers from across North America.

Bass Edge is a departure from the traditional fishing show in that it is geared more to instruction and the total fishing experience, Bass Edge editor Steve Brigman said.

"We are not your typical bass fishing show," he said. "We really cater to ... both the experienced and the novice (angler) who wants to learn more in-depth about the sport."

Bass Edge, which will begin with new episodes in January, was seen by more than 1 million viewers in its first season, he said. Last season, the show highlighted bass fishing in spots across the nation, including Nashville, Tenn., south Texas, Kentucky and the Potomac River in Maryland.

Bass Edge also operates a Web site with podcasts and fishing tips. Brigman spent time traveling around the area with tourism officials for additional content for bassedge.com.

Despite the drought, host Aaron Martin said he could see why national tournaments, such as the annual Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Wildwood Park, are held at Thurmond Lake. Martin said the show not only teaches about fishing in certain situations, but also takes into account the amenities available.

"Our goal is when they finish watching, under similar conditions, they can expect similar results," he said.