Editor’s note: This article was written before the final Bassmaster Open was moved to Alabama’s Lake Martin.
For Cody Meyer, the final Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifier tournament of 2024 can’t come soon enough.
“I just want it over,” the 41-year-old pro from Eagle, Idaho, said. “Why can’t it just be right now, today?”
It’s not because the former MLF pro isn’t performing well. Meyer stands two modest limits away from qualifying for the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series. After a lengthy season, he’s just anxious for the shot to finally seal the deal.
The St. Croix Rods Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN series began its nine-event run on Feb. 1. Some 8 1/2 months later, it culminates Oct. 10-12 at Lake Martin — ongoing issues caused by Hurricane Helene forced the tournament to move to Alabama.
“Holy cow, mentally, physically a little bit, what a long year,” he said. “You know bass fishing is fun. It’s my passion. I’m lucky to make a living at it. But I want (this season) to be over with.”
Long asked when he would try to make the Elites, Meyer pointed to format changes as his reason for switching circuits. Among the most decorated EQ entrants, Meyers has been loyal to FLW and the Bass Pro Tour, where in the past two decades he’s had 33 Top 10s and earned $1.5 million.
There were 152 pros who entered the EQs this year with the hopes of being among the top nine who advance to the Elites. In most tournaments, local pros vying for the win-and-in provision to the Bassmaster Classic ballooned the fields close to capacity of 225.
This year’s field is considered as strong as last year’s that saw all nine Elite rookies make the Classic via the point standings and two win Elite titles.
Among the Top 10 most of the year, Meyer has had friends reach out to tell him he’s making it look easy.
“It’s not. It’s anything but,” he said. “It’s harder than ever. The young talent now, it’s unbelievable. There was never this talent when I was growing up.
“And it’s just a ton of pressure. Not sure if it’s fair or not, but everyone expected me to do good. But it’s hard to catch them. Nothing’s guaranteed.”
And Meyer could do way more than just punch his Elite ticket. He stands second in the points, 27 back of Easton Fothergill. While Meyer said it’s unlikely Fothergill slips and he overcomes that deficit, winning the Tackle Warehouse EQ Angler of the Year title remains on his radar.
“The goal to start the year was to make the Elites,” Meyer said. “Now that I have a chance at AOY, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to get that.
“The problem is Easton has been so good. I don’t think he could finish worse than 28th. That’s a tough ask for sure. It’s my ultimate goal, but either way I’m going to enjoy it. I’m thrilled to death to have this opportunity to be where I’m at.”
While close to the top, Meyer knows a bad event could spell doom. With three Top 10 finishes and only missing one check (45th or better), Meyer has accumulated 1,394 points, a short cast from the projected qualifying total of 1,445.
Meyer could make it with a stumble, but perhaps not a complete bomb. He’s 109 points ahead of two anglers tied for the final qualifying spot, so even a lousy finish around 150th could do the trick. Already receiving congratulations from peers, Meyer said hold on, don’t put the cart before the horse.
“Dude, they haven’t handed me the invitation yet. Again, nothing is guaranteed,” he said. “I have a bit of a cushion. If I catch limit each day, I should be fine. I know it’s realistic to think about it now, but (the stress) is not enjoyable.”
Third-place Tucker Smith (1,350 points), Emil Wagner (1,331) and Andrew Loberg (1,327) have decent cushions as well, but Meyer doesn’t envy the sixth through 10th anglers. All will be sweating the event.
“I think it’s a four-spot race for five guys,” he said. “I think that’s an absolutely unenjoyable position to be in. That’s going to be a battle.”
Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga., should be happy to be in the mix. He stood 19th before three consecutive finishes above 12th propelled him to sixth with 1,319 points.
Dakota Ebare has moved the other way. The Brookeland, Texas, pro, who has also won more than $1 million at MLF, held second for four events before a 94th at Leech Lake knocked him down. He goes into Hartwell seventh with 1,296 points.
Canada’s Evan Kung started hot, never finishing below 22nd and holding the EQ lead after four events. A 95th at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula then and 86th at La Crosse dropped him to eighth with 1,290 points.
Alabama’s Matt Adams and Arkansas’ Beau Browning are tied for the final qualifying spot with 1,285 points. Florida’s Bobby Bakewell is 68 points behind them in 11th, and former Elite Garrett Paquette is another eight points back.
All will be fishing under high-stakes pressure, Meyer said, as a bad finale can ruin what otherwise has been a successful season. The prospect of falling out of Elite contention will weigh heavily.
“That thought is probably really horrible,” he said. “I’m sure they’re out on Hartwell right now until the off limits.”
That’s where Meyer was when contacted, gathering updated intel. Growing up in northern California, Meyer first visited Hartwell in 2014, but the fishery has changed in the past decade.
“I haven’t made a cast, just idling around, marking a bunch of stuff to have things to throw at when we come back,” he said. “I’ve had several really strong finishes here, Top 10s, and a couple not-so-good ones. I’ve never been here this time of the year, and I haven’t been here since it’s been this pressured.
“It used to be pretty easy to catch them. I think now there’s a ton of tournaments and a ton of pressure. At least I don’t have what those last several guys do.”
Meyer planned to park his boat and fly home for a couple weeks to be with his wife and two children and relax a bit. He admits that might be difficult with the anticipation to finish his quest. Meyer knows the heat of a tight race, finishing nine points behind Andy Morgan for FLW AOY. This time, realistically, the task before him is basically a tap-in.
“Just get one more good finish, a decent finish and we’re good,” he said. “To finally kind of jump in and I might be able to do it, it’s really cool.”
