Common Ground: Minnesota Fishing Museum & Al Baert

Season 5, Episode 16

From a 1902 electric trolling motor to a unique collection of fishing flies going back to the late 1800’s Common Ground uncovers them all as it takes viewers on a tour of the Minnesota Fishing Museum in Little Falls

The founder of the museum, Al Baert, shows viewers a very old lure fitted with propellers and a glass eye and explains how a person who was supposed to be appraising it offered him $3 for it. The lure turned out to be worth 30 times what the man offered! Baert says that event prompted him to start the museum. He tells of another man who was living in modest circumstances yet donated artifacts worth $3,800 because he wanted his stuff to be appreciated.

The museum has over 10,000 artifacts connected to fishing in Minnesota. The President of the museum’s Board of Directors, Jeff Doty, says these things are “too important to be sold at garage sales.” Doty tells viewers that the museum represents a significant part of Minnesota’s history.

Originally aired on February 13th at 7PM on Lakeland Prime.