MLF Angler, Cody Ryan Greaney, Preps for the Season

PartVu Xchange Talks Boating talked with Cody Ryan Greaney, a professional MFL angler. Cody also hosts the Outdoor Zone, Texas’s number-one-rated outdoor radio show.

We discussed his fishing career and dove into the inner workings of his successful radio show.

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Could you tell us a little about your tournament fishing experience over the years?

Cody: I started fishing when I was young. My parents divorced when I was pretty little, so my Dad was looking for something a father and son could do on the weekends. He landed on boating and fishing together, went to a boat show, and bought a bass boat. Out of that single purchase, we learned to fish together and eventually decided to fish in several local tournaments. We could have done better, but we continued to fish and eventually improved.

Right after I graduated from college, I was invited to fish as a partner out of the back of a friend’s boat. We did well in that tournament, which sparked my interest in continuing my tournament fishing journey as an MLF Angler.

What are your thoughts on the high school and college bass fishing scene?

Cody: College and high school bass fishing have propelled bass fishing to the forefront of many young anglers’ minds. It’s incredible to think that kids have the opportunity to get an education while someone pays for them to compete at a high level in fishing.

It’s also amazing to see how much information young anglers are equipped with at an early age. They are coming up with vast knowledge that translates into success.

What circuit of Major League Fishing will you be participating in?

Cody: I’ll be fishing the Major League Fishing Invitationals, but I may also jump into some of the Toyota Series events. I fished in the National Professional Fishing League for the last couple of years, which was an excellent experience. I’m also considering fishing again with them.

The interesting thing about this sport is that as an MLF angler (or a participant in any of the leagues), there is a significant “pay to play” component. It costs thirty to forty thousand dollars per trail to enter, plus substantial traveling expenses. So, I have to weigh my options very carefully.

My goal twenty years ago was to fish the FLW tour. A long time ago, I went to an FLW event where I saw a live weigh-in inside an arena with wrapped boats and fanfare. At that time, I decided I wanted to be a part of that kind of tournament experience.

Although different from twenty years ago, FLW is housed under the Major League Fishing brand and is now known as the Invitationals. So, it’s nostalgic for me to be able to compete in the circuit that I dreamed about so long ago.

What are your thoughts on the recent changes to the MLF tournament format?

Cody: The Bass Pro Tour changed from an “every fish counts” format to a five-fish limit, which was a considerable change. However, there were only minor changes to the circuit that I will fish in, and they don’t significantly affect me or my style of fishing.

There are arguments for both sides regarding the change from every fish count to five fish limits. At first glance, many people prefer a five-fish limit because it’s somewhat standard for the industry. Most competitive anglers relate to it.

However, MLF’s mission is to bring more eyes to the sport of fishing. For people that are less active in competitive fishing environments, the every fish counts format may be more appealing because they like seeing lots of fast action. In other words, most sports athletes or teams are rewarded based on the total number of points they score, so that’s what the casual audience is looking for.

How do nerves come into play during a tournament?

Cody: I have slowly been maturing as an angler and have become more confident with how I fish and what I do. That confidence has allowed me to loosen up and fish better. But, this sport is still nerve-wracking, to say the least. However, the pressure is what drives us to compete as tournament anglers.

I was talking with a friend the other day about taking time off to let the dust settle with all of the changes in the leagues to see how things would play out. He chuckled and said, “you’re a lifer, bro. You fish whatever you can, and that’s what you do.” My wife echoes his sentiment. She says I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t fish.

Do you have plans to modify your strategies for the upcoming season? As an MLF Angler, are any new tactics on the horizon?

Cody: I don’t plan to make significant changes as an MLF angler this season. I will gain confidence through a focused plan to get very good at what I do. I want to do my best to perfect my game and then let the cards fall where they may.

Can you tell us more about your radio show, the Outdoor Zone?

Cody: My father and I launched our show about twenty-five years ago. He started on his own via a local radio station from five to six in the morning, but the show was not super well known.

In my senior year of high school, I started going in every Saturday morning to do the show with him. Sometimes, he would be out, and I would do the show alone. The show wasn’t necessarily something to write home about, but it was a start. Then, I hosted news and weather-related segments in college on a local radio station, so I gained a lot of radio experience.

During that time, my Dad lost interest and dropped the show for a couple of years. After I graduated, we received a call asking if we would be interested in starting a new show, and we accepted the invitation. We’ve been hosting that show for about ten years now.

We brought in a new buddy who has organized us, so we are lined up with all major podcast platforms like Spotify, iheart Radio, Apple Podcasts, and others. Seeing the show’s growth as we’ve expanded across the country has been amazing.

I appreciate the weekly time I spend on the show with my Dad talking about all things outdoors. I relish the time we spend together, even though there are occasions when we don’t see eye to eye. We’ll keep it up for as long as it’s fun, and I’m certainly willing to continue for as long as he wants.

Our show is not a tips and tricks kind of thing. We’re more of a topical entertainment show where we share opinions like two guys sitting around a campfire. People like feeling like a fly on the wall listening to a couple of buddies share life. It’s an interesting dynamic that allows us to talk, share, agree, disagree, and converse. We have a lot of fun, and our audience enjoys the show’s unique perspective.