I’m Nicole Stone. I fish for a living, I run a business, and I’m raising two kids in Minnesota. Some weeks all three happen in the same boat.
Where it started
I grew up on a small dairy farm in central Minnesota and I was fishing by six. Nobody had to drag me out of bed for it then and nobody has to now. Before I built a career online I worked as a meteorologist, which is why I’m still the one checking wind, fronts and pressure at 4 a.m. before a trip.
How fishing became my job
It started with posting fish I was proud of. Over time it turned into real work: filming trips, writing guides, testing gear, and partnering with lodges from Minnesota to Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Today fishing is part of how I make my living, and I’m an ambassador for brands I actually fish with, including St. Croix, DSG Outerwear, Lurenet and Piscifun.
That also means I fish a lot of water in a lot of conditions. Fall walleye on the Rainy River when the flows are right. Trophy walleye at Hecla. Suspended crappie under first ice. Lake trout at Kamuchawie. Some days forward-facing sonar makes it look easy and some days I’m back to trolling cranks because that’s what the fish want.
Life off the water
I own and run Central Lakes Digital, a web design and digital marketing agency, and help my husband with his business. Our two kids come fishing whenever they can, and on those days the goal isn’t a trophy. It’s steady bites, snacks, and a boat full of laughing kids.
Why I share it
Because good fishing info shouldn’t be a secret. I’ll tell you where the fish were, exactly what I tied on, what didn’t work, and which trips are worth your time off. If it won’t help you catch more fish, it’s not on here.
I read my messages and answer as many as I can. Got a question? Send me a message.
Work with me
Brands and lodges interested in working together can reach me here. For websites and digital marketing, that’s my agency, Central Lakes Digital.
