Is This Cody Meyer’s Year?
After close calls and disappointment, this Western superstar has all the pieces in place for an AOY run
Most anglers in his shoes would be saying, “Enough with the bridesmaid thing already.” But while coming close to wearing an AOY crown might have frustrated Walmart FLW Tour pro Cody Meyer in years past, the Western standout with the stellar resume knows that near misses have only served to tighten his aim and strengthen his resolve for the 2016 season.
From the Meyer stat sheet:
- 2016 is his seventh year on Tour
- 21 top-10 finishes
- Runner-up in the 2014 AOY race
- 7 consecutive Forrest Wood Cup appearances
- Runner-up at the 2010 Cup
- 3rd place at the 2009 Cup (his first appearance)
Meyer, who battled down to the wire with Andy Morgan in 2014 and came up short by nine points in one of the most impressive AOY duels of recent history, says it’s difficult to appreciate the enormity of such a potential achievement while running the race. Once the dust settled, though, the realization that he had gotten so close only stoked his competitive fire.
“It makes you want it that much more,” Meyer says. “Being in that race and that position, you gain so much experience. If I face that situation again – five years, 10 years, next year, whatever – I’ll understand how to go about it a little better.”
Like most, Meyer’s seasonal objective always includes a Cup qualification, but an AOY championship tops his hit list.
“My ultimate goal is AOY, for sure,” he says. “It would be awesome to win a Tour event or the Cup, but anyone could win an event. You could find the right fish and do well. Winning Angler of the Year means you’ve performed the best for the entire season.”
Managed Growth
Prior to his 2010 Tour debut, Meyer excelled in FLW Series Western Division tournaments. He topped the 2009 points race and took second in 2007 and 2008. In the former National Guard FLW Series Western Division (a Tour-level circuit), he finished second in the standings in 2010.
Along his path to the present, Meyer says he’s gleaned critical insight relevant to his profession. Each fish caught or lost is a lesson. Now, as a comfortably confident angler, he’s more concerned with refining the mental game.
“Just handling the pressure is a big part of this,” Meyer says. “When you go through that [the 2014 AOY race], there are a lot of distractions. I remember going to gas stations, and people would say, ‘Good luck. You’re going to win it.’ I guess that gets in your head. But now, I’ve learned not to let that distract me so much.”
Attractive Schedule
Looking at the 2016 Tour venues, Meyer says he sees a schedule ripe with opportunity.
“I really like the lakes. It’s kind of similar to the 2014 schedule, where I had that AOY run,” he says. “Not to say that’s going to happen, but I do like this season’s schedule.”
Meyer believes Lake Hartwell and Beaver Lake offer his best chances for strong finishes. He’s comfortable on both, and Hartwell, in particular, fishes similarly to his Western home waters.
“Champlain is probably the most enjoyable lake on the 2016 schedule,” Meyer adds. “I love catching largemouths and smallmouths there, and the lake is just so beautiful.”
He says his mixed results have him eyeing the season opener on Lake Okeechobee with trepidation.
“The first time I fished there in 2013 was the worst finish I’ve ever had – 118th – but the next year I finished fifth,” he says. “That lake can be tough that time of year because of the weather. If we get a cold front, those Florida bass shut down. They just do not bite.”
The Framework
Grounded and motivated by a solid family life with wife Kari and 1-year-old daughter Brooke Emily, Cody says he’ll enter 2016 with the best sponsor support of his career. Topping the list, he’ll sport a new Daiwa boat and truck wrap – a major piece of a critical formula.
“You don’t want to go to an event really stressed out and worrying about money or anything like that,” he says. “I want to have a clear head and know that, even if I don’t do well, I’m still going to be all right because I have great sponsors.”
Recalling his rookie Tour season, when missing a check cut meant struggling to get back home, Cody says his financial picture – supplemented by his work as a preowned vehicle broker – removes some of the common barriers confronting competitive anglers.
“I feel like it’s better now than ever,” he says. “I have family support, and all I have to do is go out there and focus on fishing. That’s really big.”
Moving Forward
Proceeding from a solid foundation, Meyer says he’ll approach the 2016 Tour season with a positive outlook and sky-high goals. But, once the show starts, his game plan will be one of incremental focus.
“I think you have to focus on what’s in front of you at the time before you can go on to the next one,” he says. “I’ll be focusing on one event at a time, one day at a time and one fish at a time. One bad day could ruin your whole year. A mechanical problem could ruin your day, and then that can ruin your year. So many things have to fall into place, but I feel that if it’s your time, it’s your time.”