When most people think of college sports, they picture basketball courts or football fields. But for Cody Huff, the real competition was out on the water. The Drury University graduate, once a standout on the school’s fishing team, has now turned his college hobby into a full blown professional career.

Cody grew up near Bull Shoals  lake in Arkansas and spent most of his weekends with a rod in his hand. What started as a simple love for fishing with his dad slowly grew into something bigger.

“I’ve always loved being outdoors,” Cody said, as he recalled his early mornings on the water. “It’s peaceful, but it’s also a challenge. Every day is different, you never know what you’re going to get.”

When it came time for college, Cody didn’t want to give up his passion. That’s when he discovered that Drury University actually had a competitive fishing team.

“I didn’t even know college fishing was a thing,” he admitted. “But when I found out Drury had a team, I knew I wanted to be part of it.”

At Drury, Cody quickly became one of the team’s most dedicated anglers. He balanced early morning practices on the water with a full load of classes, often getting up before sunrise to practice casting or scout new spots.

Coach Rick Emmit, who leads the Drury fishing team, remembers Cody’s determination well.

“Cody was the kind of student-athlete every coach hopes for, hardworking, humble, and passionate,” Emmit said. “He wasn’t just trying to catch fish; he was trying to learn the craft. You could tell he really cared about improving.”

Under Coach Emmitt’s guidance, the team competed in tournaments across the Midwest, often facing tough conditions and long travel days. But for Cody, it was all worth it. He and his teammates spent hours strategizing about bait, weather, and water temperature, all factors that could make or break a competition.

After graduating from Drury, Cody made the bold decision to go pro. It wasn’t an easy choice, and the path wasn’t always smooth. Professional fishing requires more than just skill; it demands time, money, and mental toughness. Cody entered his first professional series unsure of what to expect, but his dedication paid off when he started landing solid finishes in major tournaments.

“When I first joined the Drury team, I never imagined it would lead me here,” he said. “Those early mornings on Table Rock Lake taught me more than just fishing, they taught me discipline and patience. Now, being out here on the pro circuit, it feels like everything I learned in college is paying off.”

Behind every pro athlete is a support system, and for Cody, that starts with his family. Codys mom (one of his biggest supporters), remembers the early days of his fishing obsession vividly.

“When he told us he wanted to fish in college, I thought, ‘Is that even a thing?’” she said with a laugh. “But we supported him. Now, watching him travel and compete, it’s surreal. We used to pack sandwiches and drive to local tournaments  now he’s on TV.”

She still follows every event online, cheering from home when Cody weighs in his catches.

“It’s nerve-wracking sometimes,” she said. “You want your kid to do well, but you also just want them to be happy.”

”For Coach Emmit, seeing former students like Cody succeed on a professional level is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

“When one of our anglers goes pro, it shows what’s possible,” he said. “It proves that fishing can open doors, just like any other sport. Cody’s journey inspires our current team to keep pushing.”

As for Cody, he’s just getting started. Between competitions, he mentors younger anglers and occasionally visits Drury to talk with the team.

“I want them to know that it’s possible,” he said. “If you work hard and stay focused, you can turn something you love into a career.”

On a calm afternoon between tournaments, Cody sometimes returns to his old fishing spots, the same lakes where he practiced during college. Standing on the front deck of his boat, he watches the ripples spread across the water, the same way they did years ago.

“This is where it all started,“And honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing.”