Women on the Water: Annie Nagel

What’s your name, where are you from, what do you do for a living and where do you currently live?

My name is Annie Nagel, and I am from Sonoma County, California. I currently live in a smaller town called Rohnert Park where I was born and raised. I am the Senior School Secretary at a Junior High. I have a background in dog training and enjoy training puppies on the side every now and then. Last year, I hosted my first virtual fishing challenge aimed at getting more women on the water fishing! I had almost 40 competitors and over 330 fish submitted by an incredible group of women (and a couple guys who dressed like women) from California, Oregon, and Florida. I hope to keep growing it and hope to get more kayak anglers involved in the next challenge. The original plan was to make it a kayak fishing tournament and I can’t wait to make that happen in the next couple years! Follow @scalesinmynails and @anniesfishtales on Instagram if you are interested in learning more!

How long have you been on the Old Town pro staff?

I made it official with Old Town’s sister company, Ocean Kayak, in November, 2015. The following summer I worked the iCast and Outdoor Retailer show for Johnson Outdoors Watercraft during the exciting launch of the Old Town Predator PDL. Being a part of the Johnson Outdoors Watercraft family, I was lucky to be given the opportunity to make a smooth transition to Old Town and represent both brands for the last 5 years. 

How did you get into kayak fishing, and how long have you been doing it?

Kayak fishing filled a huge void in my life. On my 18th birthday, I was involved in a solo high-speed car crash flipping tail over head and continuing to roll sideways several times. Somehow I managed to crawl out of the wreckage pretty unscathed, but life as I knew it would never be the same. There was a huge disconnect from the new me to the childhood me. Growing up I was a competitive go-getter, who held her own with the neighborhood boys and was always covered in scrapes and bruises. I was constantly on the hunt for the next adrenaline rush. I loved animals more than anything and spent a ton of time outside in nature. After my car accident, it was as if I had built a strong tolerance to adrenaline and nothing could get my blood going.

Then I met my boyfriend, Nick, and long story short, he introduced me to fishing.  It started on the bank and it was love at first bite. He later got me an 8-foot kayak which we added a trolling motor to, and I had a blast on that thing. I remember so clearly my first time trolling around a small lake and catching my first rainbow trout from the kayak. Reeling in that acrobatic little fish filled my veins with adrenaline, and I felt the high throughout my body. I wanted more. We eventually started fishing the salt and found it to be the most rewarding and ultimate experience, but fishing from an 8-foot kayak and the SUP weren’t the safest options. So Nick got us each ocean worthy kayaks and from that moment on we were full-blown kayak fishing junkies. I’ve been a kayak fishing addict for 8 or 9 years now. 

Fishing out of northern California, do you have a preference between saltwater or freshwater?

I definitely prefer the salt. I’m drawn to the unpredictability of the sea and find the risks to be well worth the rewards. I like to eat what I catch, and the tastiest fish come from the ocean. On my stretch of remote coastline, there’s no cell service, stores and gas stations are few and far between, and the handful of people you do run into out there all share the same passion for the ocean and everything it has to offer. Windy roads, breathtaking views, cliffy beaches, foggy cold weather, fifty-degree waters...It’s a remarkable and unique place. I absolutely love being out there in my kayak. Feeling the water’s constant energy just inches below. The vulnerability of being out there, floating on a 13-foot piece of plastic with just the essentials on board, gives me a whole new appreciation for life.  

Ultimately, my favorite thing about the salt is the wildlife. I’ve seen spectacular shows put on by breaching humpback whales, ospreys whom come swooping down just feet away from my kayak, porpoises passing by with smiling faces, fearless sea lions playing tug of war with my fish on the line, schools of mola mola waving hello from beneath my kayak in waters they rarely venture into, and countless others. These experiences cannot be duplicated and provide me with memories I will cherish forever. I’m able to understand and appreciate wild animals in a one on one personal way that I’d never have the opportunity to be a part of any other way. It’s like national geographic, but instead of viewing it from the comfort of my home, I get to live it and experience it from the comfort of my Ocean Kayak Trident 13 or OldTown Sportsman BigWater PDL. I fish the outskirts of the famous “Red Triangle.” People always ask if I’m afraid of the sharks and while I think it’s important to have a healthy fear of the ocean, the sharks are far less scary than hypothermia and cold water shock, which have a higher probability of happening to us in our waters. I love the way the ocean challenges me and keeps me on my toes. There is so much life and unknown out there, I can’t help but want to just be in the middle of it all. 

What is your favorite species and why?

FIshing the ocean for King Salmon is undoubtedly my favorite. California is pretty strict as far as fishing regulations go and you must use barbless hooks and specific set-ups and techniques when targeting king salmon in the ocean. I love the challenge of salmon fishing in general and to add the complexity of catching one from the kayak just makes me feel super accomplished at the end of the day. To be able to find these schools of fish from the kayak isn’t as easy as you think. We are limited to the area we launch near and can’t just pick up and motor 10 or 20 miles down the coast to chase radio fish. We have to work with what we’ve got and there may only be a few fish in the area which makes it that much more rewarding when you do find them on the kayak. Getting up to the optimal speed with pedal power and keeping it consistent is something I enjoy being tasked with. Fishing from a boat, it’s exciting to see the rod go off. From a kayak, you FEEL the rod go off whether it’s in your hands or in a rodholder. I love getting rocked by a big salmon and turning around to see my rod doubled over.  Netting a salmon is difficult when you’re on a boat doing it for someone else, so being on a kayak and netting your own salmon caught on a barbless hook, is the most heart pumping part of the experience. We have to use very large deep nets because salmon are notorious for squirming out of anything too shallow, which just adds another layer of difficulty when it comes to landing these fish. They are uniquely beautiful and colorful when you first land them, which I appreciate so much more from the kayak.  I really enjoy learning about this spectacular species in its entirety and figuring out their patterns year after year. 

What is your kayak of choice and how have you customized it?

I love the Old Town Sportsman BIGWATER PDL. I have customized it with a Humminbird Helix 5 DI fish finder, although lately I’ve been going electronics free. I have a Plano box I attach to the back with 3 extra Rodrunner rod holders for my gaff, net, rods and occasionally a GoPro. I love having the tracks cut into the mounting plates because I can really customize it to suit my needs depending on the situation. Sometimes I add rod holders or gopro mounts. I’ve also set my kayak up with a quick release anchor, so I have a cleat that is easy to reach to release the anchor rope if needed. When I go out before the sun goes up, I use a Scotty light and mount it on the kayak. For the most part I keep it pretty simple.

What is one place you haven’t fished that’s on your bucket list?

I really want to fish the Hawaiian Islands! There’s something so enticing about the island life. I’ve only been to Kauai so based on my experience I would love to fish there. But I think fishing any of the islands would be epic. Ultimately, I’d love to spend some time at each of them. I really want to catch wahoo and ahi from the kayak in Hawaii!

Do you fish tournaments?

I noncompetitively fish tournaments mostly because how many opportunities do you get to be on the water with 100+ of your kayak angler buddies on the same day? No matter which way you look you’re just surrounded by happy, passionate anglers. I have a lot of fun at tourneys. I don’t think I’m the best and most technical angler, and even though I love a dose of healthy competition, I just want to be out there fishing with everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to win. But my intentions are just hanging with the homies and having a good time. Most of the tournaments I enter are fundraisers, and I like supporting a good cause. The best part for me is getting solid time on the water with my kayak fishing family, the potlucks, and the parties that ensue! I try to stay away from the big money tournaments.

If you could give any advice to someone who is starting to kayak fish what would it be?

I would advise everyone to learn and know your limits. Safety always comes first. Fishing gear and kayaks are replaceable, but you are not. Practice self-rescue, have the proper gear, go with a buddy, and learn all you can about the waters you are fishing. Always dress for immersion and know the water conditions and weather forecast. 

What’s one small or large goal/accomplishment you would like to concur in 2021?

I’m determined to land a tarpon in the kayak. I’ve had two jumps from an approximate 80 pounder and I am itching for another opportunity. Maybe 2021 will be the year?!

What do you think is special and unique about who you are and how you fish?

There’s something incredibly special about sitting so low on the water and forming this pure connection with nature. Kayak fishing allows me to be more present in the moment than I’ve ever been before. It’s simplistic, yet when you hook a fish it turns beautifully chaotic, and I live for that. There are so many opportunities to grow, and I learn so much about myself through kayak fishing - my strengths, my weaknesses, my capabilities, my worth. I’m constantly challenging myself and reaching new heights. I love that it allows me to be completely self-reliant and independent. Exploring new places, living an active lifestyle, harvesting my own meat, up-close encounters with wild animals, and experiencing the exotic and raw beauty nature has to offer are just a few of the highlights for me. Kayak fishing is therapeutic and keeps me sane. It connects me to my roots, and I truly believe it saved me.

I think it’s cool that I push myself to get the job done. Kayak fishing is definitely not a glamorous sport, and I’ve had some serious ups and downs. I’ve been pushed to my limits physically and mentally. But I keep going back and never give up. I crack myself up thinking of memories on the water. I get a fish on and my legs go flailing, I stop thinking straight, something almost always goes wrong, I practically will dive in after a fish to land it, and I just go to all lengths to accomplish what I came there for. I just love that I manage to catch my fish in the most hilarious manner. The true dorky Annie comes out and it never goes as smoothly as I wish it would, but that’s why I love kayak fishing. I get to just be myself, by myself, and do it for myself and nothing in the world can bring me down. Kayak fishing is incredibly empowering and has greatly boosted my confidence and if more women tried it, I think they’d get similar results.