08/07/2026
Some anglers discover fishing later in life. For Heather Nyen, it's been part of who she is since before she can remember.
In this episode, Heather shares her incredible journey—from growing up fishing with family, traveling the country as a competitive baton twirler, and even competing internationally in Hawaii, to finding her true passion on the water. After a sports injury ended her baton career, she attended Le Cordon Bleu and built an impressive culinary career, working everywhere from small-town bars to serving as a school district head chef. Today, she loves feeding 30–40 preschoolers every weekday, leaving her afternoons free to chase fish.
Heather talks about the Canadian fishing trip with her grandparents that changed everything, catching trophy fish before she was old enough to drive, and how moving to Le Sueur in 2020 sparked her obsession with the Minnesota River. What started as a desire to spend more time on the water led her to the Minnesota catfishing community, where she built lifelong friendships and developed into a successful tournament angler.
We also dive into her tournament experiences, including taking 1st Place in the Channel Catfish division in 2025, her love for the river, and why she'll never pass up an opportunity to fish—no matter the species or body of water.
Join us as Heather shares stories from the river, lessons learned along the way, and why the outdoors continues to shape her life. Whether you're a dedicated catfish angler or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind passionate fishermen and women, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
