Nancy Koep

Inducted 2024

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Nancy Koep is no stranger to the fishing industry, she has had some great mentors in her life to guide her. Her Grandpa Paul Koep, her father and many uncles. Her interest in fishing started at an early age while working at the family resort on Spitzer Lake. After the resort she began working in the family businesses of bait shop’s and convenience stores.

 

In 1999 her family opened their last convenience store/bait shop in Glenwood. She has had 24 successful years of supporting the Glenwood community and continues supporting it today. Once she got to Glenwood is when she found a true passion, sharing her love for fishing with the younger generation. Nancy started out by helping Cabela’s with multiple Kids Fishing Clinics. She enjoyed it so much she decided to start conducting her own clinics. She spent many years teaching the younger generation not only about fishing, but water safety, fish identification, invasive species, rules, regulations and sportsmanship. It wasn’t long after this while fishing tournaments and guiding she found another passion, teaching women more about fishing.

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Nancy started hosting women’s event thru the MN DNR Becoming an Outdoor Women Program. She taught them everything she knew about fishing for ½ a day, then took them all out on the water to teach them what they learned. As a board member of Fishing with Vets, not only did she guide for the organization, but started conducting an all-female veteran event.

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Nancy has volunteered so much of her time and knowledge over the past 24 years. These events include: Viking Land Sportsman Youth Day and Trout Ice fishing event, coordinator for Let’s Go Fishing Youth, guide for Let’s Go Fishing Youth, American Angler Fishing League director in Pope County, Governor Dayton Youth Day naming May 12 th as ‘Youth Fishing Education Day, guide for Governor Waltz fishing opener. MN Aqua Educator for 11 years at the Minnewaska Middle School 5 th grade class, after her 8 weeks of in school teaching she then took the entire class ice fishing. Minnewaska High School Fishing coach for 8 years, Pope County Soil and Water Day, conducted kids and adults seminars at the Fargo Sport Show and Pope County expo, taught at the Knight Elementary class room in Randal then helped with the kids ice fishing event, volunteered as guide for Kamp KACE (Kids Against Cancer Everywhere), FM Walleyes veteran’s event, Fishing with Vets events, WAM (Women Anglers of MN) and conducted kids fishing clinics at Koep’s Walleye Challenge, Waterama, Glenwood’s Kids Youth Day, NWT tournaments, Minnewaska Lake Association Fishing Tournament, Pope County Fair and several different 4H groups.

 

She has helped do webinar’s for Minnesota Outdoor Skill & Stewardship program thru the DNR, and has done radio interviews as well as podcasts. As you can see Nancy has a true passion for sharing her love for fishing. She has spent countless hours volunteering to help people learn more about the sport.

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Accomplishments:

– MN Aqua Educator

– Becoming an Outdoor Women Instructor

– Recipient of the Lions Melvin Jones Award

– Featured on MN Bound and Fish Addictions TV

– Recognized in the Definitive Women Magazine covering 4 counties