About Blake
The Man on the Lake
Blake Nelsen
I’m pretty sure you’ve figured out by now that I really enjoy being on the lake. So much, in fact, that I turned it into an honest living. I’m not the most educated person – I dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and from there took an interest in computers and how they worked. I went off to community college to pursue a career in information technology which I also dropped out of after 3 semesters. Later I landed a job fixing computers and circuit boards for various school districts in the surrounding Atlanta area, I worked there for 3 years. My career ambitions outgrew my company, and I was struggling with what to do next in the IT field. As my fishing ambitions grew, I soon figured out that IT wasn't where I wanted to be anyway, so why not combine the two and make a passion into a career? With no expectation as to how it would go, I started taking friends and people I met on Facebook out on the lake while I was still working full time. I started to get in trouble at work as my attendance wasn't the greatest, and from then on, I became the man known as Blake on the Lake.
Present
2019
Everyone asks me how I got into fishing, and it’s always hard to answer that because to be honest, I don’t know. None of my family took to fishing or the outdoors as much as I did with the exception of one of my brothers and my uncle. My brother and I would pond hop for bass every now and again when I was really young, and whenever we would visit family in Florida, my uncle would take us out on his boat. I got attached to the experience because I went by myself most of the time, and over time, I came to recognize fishing as an outlet for exploration. I eventually grew to love it, bought a 1436 jon boat for 800 bucks on Facebook Marketplace, and slapped a hitch on my Nissan Altima to pull it around. I kept getting more and more ambitious with where I fished and what I fished for, going from bank fishing on golf course ponds and other small bodies of water to small lakes that only allowed kayaks or electric motors to all the major lakes and reservoirs in Georgia.
I've always loved exploring and learning new information, especially about fishing, but the one thing that was always missing was people to share it with. I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. It became harder and harder to go alone, so I started inviting both my friends and strangers I met fishing on the bank next to the boat ramps I put in at, just to share what made me happy in the hope that it would make other people happy. I hope I’m able to share that kind of joy with whoever is reading this and tell you it’s not always about how many or how big of a fish you catch, but who you get to share those memories with. I also hope to encourage those who fish with me that a high school and college dropout can still make something of their life, regardless of whatever circumstance they might be in or situation they might come from. If there’s anything I’ve learned from all the hardships and struggles, it’s this: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’” (Mark 10:27, NIV)
2023
Lake Sinclair
Georgia
3 years of big lake experience
I’ve been fishing major lakes in Georgia for 5 years now, ranging from Allatoona to Lanier to Oconee and other various reservoirs. My all time favorite is Lake Sinclair for more than one reason.
It’s a gorgeous lake – the scenery is always beautiful, and of course, there's an abundance of not just big catfish, but a variety of other fish species and wildlife. I see all kinds of birds and other animals, including deer, along the banks, and I’ve even seen a few beavers swimming around. I can’t think of any negative experiences I’ve had on Sinclair, and it’s well worth the 2-hour commute. Even if it’s a far drive, I always tell people, “The fish ain’t coming to you!”
I’ve been fishing one area of the lake more than any other and have spent 3 years in this one area. I've guided on it for over a year, studied it, and learned fish behavior and patterns based on weather conditions and the seasons. I've spent time mapping the bottom, studying depth charts, and finding every spot I can to reel a fish out of. I learn something new on every trip, and I consider this lake to be another home.
