Women of Fishing
The fishing industry needs more women that fish! Women who fish now are exceptional role models for the next generation women of fishing - and we want to celebrate that! Meet today's fishing ladies as part of the Women In Angling blog series.
Amy Nesbitt
This weeks Women In Angling feature female angler is Amy Nesbitt! Amy has been a tournament angler since before most people even pick up a fishing rod and is an active member in the fishing community on many fronts. Check out her story!
"Hi everyone, my name is Amy Nesbitt. I'm a tournament angler, multi species enthusiast, and most importantly a mom! Despite my roots in West Nipissing I know reside in the Greater Sudbury area.
My dad was a huge influence for getting into fishing. He been competing in tournaments since the 80’s and so I grew up going to all the weigh ins until I got to fish my first bass tournament on Ramsey Lake in Sudbury, ON in 2001 at the ripe age of 8 years old and I’ve been hooked since! Since then fishing has taken me all over. I fish a variety of lakes but the waters I prefer to spend my time on are Simcoe, Georgian Bay, and Lake Nipissing where I also have a camp.
Since my tournament fishing debut I’ve had the opportunity to represent companies such as Shimano and Pure Fishing up until I had children in 2018 and 2020. Aside from tournament fishing I became a board member for Top 50 Pike Series in 2012 and Vice President for the Chelmsford Fish and Game Association in 2023. As part of the Top 50, I do a lot of social media and coordination between sponsors, host clubs and anglers with any questions or concerns. Our goal is to provide quality recreational and competitive angling experiences while preserving the fisheries for future generations. We also aim to support economic growth of our host communities, and provide charitable organizations the opportunity to raise much needed funds. As Vice Present/tournament director for the Chelmsford fish and game association, I organize a multitude of tournaments including a Family fishing tournament where we offer every kid a prize to encourage our local youth in angling as well as assist the president in any tasks including running and working the walleye hatchery. The goal for the fish and game is to focus on improving local area fishing and outdoor activities. We hold some fun contests such as the summer and winter contests. For more information on these contests, please check the Chelmsford fish and game Facebook page
Fishing is a constantly changing game. It's the constant challenge that keeps me coming back for more but on top of that it's the the peace it gives you… there is never a bad sunrise or sunset when you’re out on the lake! From my time in the industry it’s amazing to see how far the fishing industry has come and how inclusive to women and children it is also becoming. I'm no longer fully involved in the industry since becoming a mom, but I look forward to seeing this trend continue.
Many of my fondest memories and accomplishments have come from fishing. As a mom, watching my two daughters (4 and 5) absolutely obsess over the sport of fishing and fishing tournaments. They follow me to most tournaments, they watch fishing videos in their spare time, they BEG for fishing no matter the weather. Winning a classic with my dad along with multiple other top 5 finishes, fishing some of the biggest tournaments in Ontario and even being asked to write an article for Ontario Out of Doors, NeOntario magazine.
Despite these accomplishments one of the biggest challenges I’ve experienced as a female is people not taking me seriously as an angler from strangers. Most people never think you’re knowledgeable and it seems to be a lot harder to earn respect, but the right people always have a way of finding you eventually. Now as a single mother balancing the passion for fishing, my responsibilities to the boards I run, as well as my first love of competing in fishing tournaments is a balancing act that I have yet to figure out.
If there is one piece of advice I can give to the next generation of female anglers or those looking to get into the sport is to Stay true to who you are as a person. No one knows you better than you know yourself and at the end of the day its only about you and your passion for the sport not what they have to say or think.
Don’t be afraid to connect with other women in the sport for guidance, we LOVE helping people learn the sport. To connect with me search for Amy Nesbitt on Facebook or
@_outdoormama on instagram."
We would like to thank Amy for sharing her story, experience in the industry, & passion for fishing with us all. Amy is not just an ambassador for female anglers but fishing as a whole and is a role model for anyone to look up to. Her kids are very lucky to have a mom so passionate about the outdoors and we look forward to hearing about their tournament successes in the near future. Be sure to connect with her on social media for fishing women content!
Women Who Love Fishing
Thank you fishing ladies! All the women of fishing who has participated in the "Women in Angling" blog series as well as everyone who reads, likes, or shares the profiles is contributing to making the sport more inclusive.
If you know women who love fishing, is a great ambassador for Women In Angling, or simply the outdoors lifestyle, that deserves to be recognized please reach out to us on any of our social media platforms so we can get in touch with them.
Women And Fishing Resources
Additional "women and fishing" resources and links for female fishing enthusiasts to connect:
Fishing For Ladies
New Wave Fishing Academy is an educational platform for the recreational fishing industry that allows everyone to learn how to catch fish; virtually. Not catching fish on outings is a sure way to keep new anglers from coming back to the sport BUT most who go fishing have no idea where to start or how to find success without HOURS of trial and error on the water that nobody has. Before you ever get to the water you can learn how to turn fishing trips into catching trips with our online fishing educational resources.
Click the link to Learn How To Fish!
To experience a day of fishing on the water with us be sure to check out our YouTube channel at the link below.
Women In Angling History
When New Wave Fishing Academy was started it was based around the mission of helping everyone become more successful anglers and especially those who do not have the family, friends, or easily accessible opportunities to push them into the sport! From critics online challenging their skills as anglers, to talking down or belittling their accomplishments, there are a lot of unnecessary hurdles for women and young girls to get into fishing. These hurdles are not set up by those that represent the majority of the members in the industry but unfortunately they are often the loudest voice.
To combat this we started the "Women In Angling" blog series in 2022 to celebrate the women who love fishing, highlight female ambassadors and role models for the sport of fishing, and share their stories for those that just need a little push or someone to look towards to get into this sport we all love!
To read all of the amazing Women In Angling profiles click the link below:
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