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“ I’ ve definitely fallen short of some goals,” says Moynagh.“ I’ ve yet to win an Angler of the Year. I haven’ t won a tournament since that one on Minnetonka. I haven’ t quite hit the goals I set, you know. It really bugs me.”
His angst doesn’ t stop with fishing success. Most would think that having won $ 1 million and been backed by top-end sponsors, he’ d at least be set financially, living a lavish lifestyle and traveling often. Instead, Moynagh spends every night on the road sleeping in a 1994 truck bed camper, which he bought used for $ 3,000 a decade ago. He’ s“ done a few good things,” but he’ s never gone to Alaska to fish for salmon or gotten to travel the world. Heck, he had to get a part-time job at Gander Mountain this year to make ends meet, and he openly admits that had Bridgford not come along, it might’ ve been the end of his career.
It’ s not as if he lived a life of comfort in the beginning, either. Moynagh had a station wagon he slept in when he first started, and then he had a full-size van until 2007. Even after his big win, Moynagh says his ex-wife’ s income was necessary to keep them afloat through much of his career, especially during the lean years.
So why does he keep doing it? Because all the ambition that originally drove his competitive spirit still lingers. On the inside, Moynagh is still the young man he once was, the one who still gets just as excited about fishing – and winning – the next tournament as he did back then.
“ I still love the competition,” says Moynagh.“ I’ m still nervous and wound up the first day of every tournament. I’ m always excited, thinking I can win; thinking about the 20 rods I have rigged up and which one is going to be the one. I think‘ holy smokes, I hope I get a good catch today’ and what I have to do to do it.”
Then there are the goals he hasn’ t reached; the ones always in the back of his mind, fueling that competitive fire even more.
“ I still think I can reach them,” says Moynagh.“ At this point in my life, winning another tournament, or especially the Forrest Wood Cup, would help the most financially. But I’ d rather have the Angler of the Year title. Lightning can always strike once and you can win, but to win Angler of the Year you did pretty good all year long. That’ s what still drives me.”
And still keeps that old truck on the road, bound to the next tournament stop with a dream as a travel companion, pointing the way.