By Catie Cheshire | July 10, 2023

“Most other people who come fly-fishing or who guide are so focused on the fish and wanting to catch these big trophy fish…”

‘I Identify as an Angler’: Meet Erica Nelson, a Female, Indigenous Fly Fishing Guide

She hooks tree branches, slips on rocks, and shines a light on the topics nobody talks about in her sport.

By Mark Aiken | Feb. 19, 2022

Field & Stream by Ashley Stimpson | Published July 8, 2022

Nelson is Colorado's … female Indigenous fly fishing guide. She's also the host of the popular Awkward Angler Podcast

As outdoor companies work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, advocates say the hunting and fishing sector needs to catch up.

“Orvis has since signed the group’s Angling for All pledge, a commitment to identify and eliminate barriers to racial diversity in fishing, and hired Erica Nelson and Sydney Clark, co-founders of REAL Consulting, to help it evolve and reach new audiences in a meaningful way.”

By Christine Peterson | April 30, 2021

Erica Nelson, the host of the Awkward Angler podcast, brings a new perspective to fly fishing.

Field Guide at Public Lands, Fly Fishing with the Awkward Angler Erica Nelson

Nelson has been fly-fishing for five years and is completely self-taught; she recently became a professional guide. As an Indigenous woman, Nelson’s fly-fishing journey is special — she may be the first certified guide in the state who is a woman of color.”

By Caitlin Gleason | Fall 2021

Adventure Pro Magazine: Wild Voices by Morgan Tilton | Issue 19, Summer 2019

Nelson’s outdoor prowess is well-earned. The 36-year-old grew up in Kirtland, New Mexico, 9 miles west of Farmington. Before following her dreams as an outdoor leader, she worked as the room operations manager for Marriott Hotels in Portland, Oregon, for five years. In 2014, she quit the corporate path to become a river guide…

Duclos Magazine

Living in Hozho. An interview with Erica Nelson, the @AwkwardAngler

By Ryan Duclos | Vol 3 Autumn Angling

We set out with the project to start a dialogue among a global group of BIPOC outdoor enthusiasts, photographers and filmmakers, designers, color theorists, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion leaders (DEI), on how we can ensure more diverse perspectives in our marketing and messaging.

In this episode, we talk about the fishing in her part of the state, as well as why fishing should be welcoming to everyone and what can be done to make that happen.

The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast with Tom Rosenbauer

This week Orvis-endorsed guide Erica Nelson [36:12] is a guest on The Orvis Fly-Fishing Podcast with Tom Rosenbauer. Erica gives us tips on how to hire a guide, how to find the right guide, how to manage expectations with a guide, how to tip a guide, and what to do if your guide trip is a disaster.

So Fly Fishing Podcast

The So Fly Crew sit and chat with Indigenous guide and angler Erica Nelson. Erica is based in Ute Territory currently known as Crested Butte, Colorado. She is the co-founder of REAL Consulting, REAL standing for Reconcile, Evolve, Advance, and Lead. She’s an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing guide, and she’s the host of the Awkward Angler Podcast. The group chat about her fly fishing life, how she got into it, and where it has taken her. Oh, and there's much conversation around The Hills, and the one and only Heidi Montag. 

Check out Erica in the NYT

Outside by Design, THE PODCAST about the business of creativity in the outdoor industry.

"We're going to have conflict no matter what. So how can we communicate through that and how can we be emotionally intelligent working through that?"

This week we're joined by Erica Nelson, DEI consultant and Organizational Leadership Developer (and avid flyfisher). Erica talks about leadership vs management, how to determine your leadership style, and representation without tokenizing. Erica gives expert advice to brands and leaders and actionable steps to take to become more aware.

Episode 5.8 | May 27, 2020

Our Rivers Podcast

In the summer of 2020,  Brown Folks Fishing launched the Angling for All Pledge to address racism and inequality in the Fishing Industry. Casting for Recovery, which introduces women with breast cancer to the therapeutic sport of fly fishing, was one of the first organizations to sign up.

In this episode, Clark Tate of Forever Our Rivers talks to Erica Nelson of Brown Folks Fishing and Faye Nelson of Casting for Recovery about the pledge and why it's important now.

Women in Waders Podcast

Tune into this conversation with Brown Folks Fishing Ambassadors Erica Nelson and Cherilynn Tsosie to hear about the intersection of indigenous perspectives, feminism, conservation, and white supremacy.

Season 1 Episode 2 | July 25, 2020

50 Feminist States Podcast: Colorado

Learn about fly fishing for equity from Brown Folks Fishing ambassador and self-taught angler Erica Nelson! In her conversation with Amelia, they discuss how Erica learned to fish, how being Native shapes her relationship to the land she fishes on, and why all feminism needs to be intersectional.

Episode 29, part 1 - Colorado | Season 5: May 1, 2020

Success is Subjective Podcast: Helping parents of college students accept that dropping out is okay

Erica Nelson, a co-founder of REAL Consulting, an Orvis endorsed fly fishing guide in Colorado, and the host of the Awkward Angler Podcast, has really allowed herself to explore the idea of what limits her in life. Starting at the age of 18 Erica uprooted from New Mexico to Utah alone and hasn’t stopped saying yes to adventure ever since. Along the way, Erica had her fair share of corporate jobs and while they all brought their own experiences, some good and some bad…

Episode 94

KBUT community radio Diverse Voices with Erica Nelson with host Stephanie Maltarich

Today I’m joined by Erica Nelson, a member of the Navajo Nation. Erica is a fly fishing guide, host of the “Awkward Angler” podcast, and a contributor to the “Awkward & Clueless Beginning Fly Fishing” show on YouTube.

Welcome to Season 5 of "On The Job," a podcast about finding your life's work. A lot can change in a year – especially the kind of year we’ve all had. This season, we’re shining a light on folks who have chosen unique career paths – by necessity or by choice. You’ll hear surprising stories of people excelling in non-traditional roles, and meet folks who have put non-profit work front and center in their lives.

Published May 27, 2024

By Herb Miller | February 22, 2021

This story was originally titled “The Color of Fly Fishing: Promoting Diversity on our Waters.” It appeared in the Feb-Mar 2021 issue of Fly Fisherman.

By: Kelly Bastone | May 2020

Brown Folks Fishing builds community amongst non-white anglers online—and is pushing the fishing industry to cast a wider net.

Erica Nelson and Tom Rosenbauer discuss how to find fish, how to read the water, and more!

Monthly live show each first Thursday of the Month (2021)

Erica Nelson, fly-fishing guide for Orvis-Endorsed Willowfly Anglers in Almont, CO, and host of the Awkward Angler podcast, sits down with Caitie Caroleo from our Adventures team to discuss different aspects of life as a guide.

#InternationalWomensDay | March 8, 2022

In this weeks blog, Erica walks us through planning tips for your next fly fishing adventure.

Erica is a self-taught fly fisher who started the summer of 2016 when she moved to Lander, Wyoming, to become a NOLS whitewater instructor. Having moved to a new state, she started looking for new hobbies.

DEI in the Outdoors presented by local, Erica Nelson.

Erica spoke to Western undergraduate students and Outdoor Industry MBA students; sharing her journey of getting into the outdoor industry, along with many systemic and personal barriers she ran up against.

Inclusion in outdoor pursuits and our role in making a difference, with Erica Nelson, Nayeli Navarro Lasso, Alberto Rey, and Mike Pease, hosted by Julia Zema

(April 2022)

Erica shares insights for states on how to better connect with diverse audiences at the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation annual virtual state marketing workshop on 02/25/2021. Registration is closed.

Panel at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show hosted by American Fly Fishing Trade Association with Erica Nelson, Hilary Hutchenson, Christine Atkins, with moderator Joel Johnson

(October 2019)

Top Outdoor Issues panel at the Outdoor Writers of America Association mid-year virtual conference (February 2021)

The Past, the Future, the New, the Old, and Everything in Between on Fishing keynote speaker at the OWAA Conference at Jay Peak Resort, Vermont (October 2021)

Resilient Leadership keynote speaker at the University of Oregon, Resilient Leadership for Social Impact within the Lundquist College of Business

(August 2021)

BIPOC Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Within the Outdoor Industry, Conservation, Activism, and Accessibility keynote speaker at Arizona State University, Masters in Sustainability Leadership

(January 2022)

Whose Story Gets Told keynote speaker at DePauw University, Fishing in Literature

(January 2022)

By Tiffany Greene | Posted September 2, 2020 In Blog

Signing this pledge is just the beginning. With the help and guidance of our friends at Brown Folks Fishing we are committed to the following:

February 18, 2022

As part of the pledge process, Brown Folks Fishing partnered with REAL Consulting to create a foundational workshop that CalTrout pledgees took part in.

In the summer of 2020, Orvis became the first company to sign the Angling for All (AFA) Pledge. Created by Brown Folks Fishing, the pledge establishes a commitment and resource for the fishing industry to identify and eliminate barriers for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, creating a more inclusive and equitable sport and lasting change.