Profile: Kayak angler Jody Queen

Ladson, SC (December 14, 2022) – For anglers who ply their craft so close to the current and the churn of the water—the crunch of the streambed always under foot—the pursuit of fish feels just a little different. Jody Queen is among those lifelong fishermen, intimately in tune with the fish and the river coursing through his back yard.

Immersed in the lifeblood of rivers for over 40 years, Queen is among those rare fishing renaissance men—artist, musician, observer and above all else, an intuitive angler who just happens to see the water from another angle. When Queen finally hopped aboard his first kayak, he was already 50 years old. But the move from waders to kayak also marked the beginning of what would soon become a legendary run of tournament wins—and an ongoing tour of America’s best bass water, Pennsylvania to Tennessee and Florida, and back to West Virginia’s magnificent New River, all over again. 

A Z-Man Fishing exclusive, Project Z: ProFileZ takes you on the water with the folks who count on Z-Man Fishing Products daily as tournament anglers, guides, and industry professionals. Take a trip to our ProZ’ home waters to learn their stories and how they’ve ended up where they are today—as well as why they rely on Z-Man baits day-in and day-out. 

In this episode, we’ll join pioneering kayak angler Jody Queen, as he reflects on a life well lived, in and around his beloved New River, West Virginia. Between battling spirited smallmouth bass, Queen shares unique perspectives on the river he calls home and the life of an angling artist.