Tracy Joseph, better known as Old Lady Angler, is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and aviation maintenance supervisor who has found her passion in kayak fishing. Her journey began in Florida, where she taught herself to kayak fish by watching YouTube videos, and has since grown into a social media sensation with a following of hundreds of thousands across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. What started as a way to share her fishing adventures with family back in Illinois has now become a full-time hobby-job, with Joseph managing all of her social media accounts and editing her own videos.
Joseph's love for fishing and the outdoors led her to Maine, where she discovered the state's outstanding bass fishing and the wild side of the Pine Tree State. She returned to Maine every year since her first visit in 2022, captivated by the state's clear lakes, fresh air, beautiful mountains, and friendly people. Her fishing setup is elaborate, with multiple cameras, a drone, and six fishing rods, and she primarily targets largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and other freshwater species.
One of the things that makes Maine's fishing different from anywhere else she's fished is the strength of the largemouth bass. In her words, a 5-pound Maine bass fights every bit as hard as an 8-pound Florida bass. She also praises the smallmouth and northern pike, which are not found in central Florida. The state's rivers, such as the Penobscot, Kennebec, and Androscoggin, are also a new and exciting experience for her.
Joseph's camper van, equipped with air conditioning, a bathroom, and solar power, has become her home on the road. She prefers camping in central Maine because of the great fishing in all directions. Her biggest catch in Maine so far is a 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass, and she has also caught some quality northern pike in the 32-inch range.
While Joseph primarily targets warm-water species, she has no interest in targeting Maine's cold-water species, such as brook trout, lake trout, or landlocked salmon. She prefers the challenge of bass on artificial lures and the thrill of figuring out what lure they're in the mood for. Her content has come a long way since she started her YouTube channel, and she has been able to reach millions of like-minded folks and share her love of fishing.
Looking back, Joseph's biggest accomplishment as an angler and content creator is being recognized as Angler of the Year for 2022 and 2024 by the Women's Fishing Federation organization. Her fishing goals for the future include catching a personal-best smallmouth in Maine and staying healthy, keeping traveling, and keeping kayak fishing. She also plans to participate in Maine kayak fishing events and the KBF State Challenge Series, where she is currently sitting in second place for the state of Maine.
