By Louie Stout

Bass fishing has undergone quite an evolution the past 50 years.

The Fish That Changed America by Steve PriceIn his new book released this month, “The Fish That Changed America,” author Steve Price provides insight as to how bass fishing rose to its current level of popularity and tells the story through the eyes of people who helped make it happen.

Price includes chapters that include interviews with lure designers, boat builders and legendary anglers as well as one with Ray Scott, the founder of B.A.S.S and arguably the man who triggered the evolution.

The book covers Michiana’s role, too, as Price outlines the Heddon Company’s development of bass lures. Heddon was founded in Dowagiac, Mich. and the first lure was tested at Mill Pond just outside of town.

An entire chapter was devoted to an interview with the late Trig Lund of Dowagiac, who served as vice president of Heddon for 23 years.

Lund shared his insight into the company’s lure development and workings from 1945 through the ‘60s before it was sold. There also are references to the Heddon Museum in Dowagiac.

It’s a good book and one I’d recommend. Price, a Hall of Fame journalist, is the perfect author; he’s witnessed much of the evolution as a Bassmaster Magazine Senior Writer and topnotch bass writer for decades.

The 320-page hard cover book, published by Skyhorse, is priced at $24.95 and available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.