Tom "Nelly" Nelson

"Well, we kept him off of the water until he was five weeks old" says Tom’s mother Marie. "Dad was a dentist in Marysville and he set his practice up so he only had to be in the office two days a week in the summer. The rest of the time our family was salmon fishing!" Indeed, Tom grew up thinking that everybody in the world fished hogline style for huge king salmon!

 Tom's education as a fisherman continued at the University of Washington's School of Fisheries, earning a Degree in Fisheries Biology. Nelly was subsequently employed by the school's Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I.) as a Research Assistant for several Alaskan salmon research projects allowing Tom to explore the Nushagak, Chignik, and Lake Illimna regions.

"Nelly's" fishing career has included guiding and writing for Salmon Trout Steelheader, Salmon and Steelhead Journal, Fishing & Hunting News, Washington Game & Fish, The REEL News as well as several websites.

 A fixture at the Seattle Boat Show and regional outdoor shows, "Nelly's" fishing PowerPoint presentations are very popular and well attended. Tom spent five years at the popular outdoor radio show "Northwest Wild Country" before leaving in March of 2009 for a chance to host his own outdoor show, "The Outdoor Line" at KIRO 710 ESPN Seattle.

Tom has also been featured in four episodes of Outdoor Channel's "Western Sportfishing" and an episode of "Hawg Quest" with Glenn Hall. Nelly’s fishing and media experience has caught the attention of several outdoor industry corporations and he currently serves on the Pro-Staff of: Evinrude Motors, Wooldridge Boats, Stabi-Craft Marine, Fetha Styx rods, Cannon Downriggers, Minn Kota motors and Lowrance electronics

Stabicraft Boats 

Wooldridge Boats