Dr. Liz Colsen’s Journey with Women Anglers of Minnesota
Liz’s journey to the water began not in childhood, but through love. Growing up in Nebraska, she was no stranger to the outdoors — hunting and land-based activities were part of her upbringing — but fishing wasn’t on her radar. It was her husband, Jeremy, who introduced her to the sport when they moved to Bloomington. Their first adventure was ice fishing, and Liz was immediately hooked by its accessibility. “You didn’t need to have a boat; you could drive your car onto the ice,” she recalls. That simple introduction sparked a passion so intense that after renting a boat just twice the following summer, they purchased their own. Now they each have their own boat, and Liz spends every weekend she’s not on call at their Lake Osakis cabin.
For someone who has mastered the demanding field of surgery — completing her residency at the University of Minnesota and fellowships in critical care and bariatric surgery — Liz finds a unique joy in being a novice on the water. “Every day in my field as a surgeon, I operate at the highest level,” she explains. “I have mastered my craft, but I am a novice on the lake when it comes to knowing everything.” This learning curve energizes her, offering a challenge that complements her professional expertise while providing the peaceful respite she needs to recharge.
The connection to WAM came through Jeremy’s involvement with “Fishing with Vets,” when a board member invited Liz to her first WAM event. That first open-water tournament on Lake Osakis changed everything. Fishing with Nancy Koep and Victoria Bailey in her husband’s Lund boat, Liz may not have placed in the competition, but she won something far more valuable: a sense of belonging and pure joy. The experience was so transformative that when the tournament returned to Lake Osakis the following year, Liz and Jeremy decided to pre-fish the area. Within a year, they had fallen so in love with the lake that they purchased their cabin there, completely changing their lifestyle.
What began as a casual invitation has evolved into a deep commitment to an organization that has grown from 150 members a decade ago to over 1,100 today. As vice president, Liz has witnessed and contributed to WAM’s remarkable expansion, but what moves her most are the individual moments: a girl on the barge catching her first sturgeon, or watching women hold their heads high as they discover their own fishing prowess. She calls it the “WAMily” — the chosen family of bonds that form between members.
The parallels between surgery and fishing might seem unlikely, but Liz finds surprising connections. Beyond the obvious knottying skills, she notes that while surgery demands her perfectionist, Type A personality, fishing allows her more flexible Type B side to emerge. “Surgery is by the book — same way every time,” she reflects. “Fishing lets me find my flow and be more flexible — not in control.” This balance between precision and adaptability has become essential to her well-being.
Her colleagues’ reactions to her fishing passion are telling. They’re surprised to learn she’s a “fisherwoman,” but they know it’s real when she starts talking about her own boat. This surprise speaks to broader assumptions about women in fishing — assumptions that WAM continues to challenge. “We are just as good as the boys — sometimes even better,” Liz asserts. “Women have a natural aptitude when it comes to fishing.”
For women hesitant to join a fishing organization, Liz’s advice is simple: “Just show up. Once you come, you’ll be diving right in.” WAM creates a safe space where novices fish alongside experts, where knowledge is shared freely and where the only requirement is enthusiasm for the sport.
As she looks toward this year’s goals — improving her bass fishing skills and catching more master angler-sized fish on Lake Osakis — Liz continues to give back through education, teaching ice-fishing classes and organizing tournaments. Her story exemplifies what WAM represents: a 48-year-old nonprofit that has evolved into a vibrant community of over 1,100 members, all united by their love of fishing and commitment to supporting one another.
In a world where women sometimes still face barriers to outdoor recreation, WAM stands as proof that the water belongs to everyone willing to cast a line and join the family.
