MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

For most anglers, confidence comes and goes. For Kyle Patrick, it took getting literally slapped out of a slump during Mercer in the Morning to turn everything around. This week on The Mercer Podcast, Dave sits down with the two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and Bassmaster Open winner for one of the most honest conversations you’ll hear all season. Kyle opens up about the mental side of profes...

What really happens behind the scenes at the Bassmaster Elite Series? This week on the Mercer Podcast, Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse returns with another edition of Jake’s Take—the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at life on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Jake takes us onto the back deck of Jason Christie’s boat during his historic 10th Bassmaster victory on the Pasquotank River, sharing s...

Carl Jocumsen is one of the most passionate anglers in professional fishing… but this time he’s fired up. Carl is PISSED… and he’s finally ready to talk about it. On this episode of the Mercer Podcast, Carl opens up about what’s frustrating him, why he believes some things need to change, and the ever-evolving world of tournament bass fishing. From new rules and the future of the sport to the chal...

Jason Christie is back on The Mercer podcast hot off his second Elite Series victory of the season and his 10th Bassmaster win, Christie continues to prove why he is one of the greatest anglers to ever do it. But what separates a 10-time champion from everyone else? In this episode, Jason opens up about the mindset, confidence, preparation, and instincts that have made him one of the most consiste...

Some anglers blame the weather. Some blame the fish. Some blame everything around them. But according to Dakota Ebare… grumpy anglers don’t catch fish. This week on the Mercer Podcast, Dakota Ebare dives deep into the mental side of fishing and why staying positive under pressure might be one of the biggest keys to success. It’s a mindset that has currently helped him climb all the way to 3rd plac...

Ben Milliken returns to this week’s Mercer Podcast for a wide-open conversation about the highs, lows and everything in between. From building one of the biggest followings in fishing, to chasing his dream on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Ben’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode, he opens up about his legal problems in Texas, the challenges and lessons learned from his time com...

What really happens behind the scenes at the Bassmaster Elite Series? This week on the Mercer Podcast, Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse returns with another edition of Jake’s Take — the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes segment. Jake takes us inside the action from the back deck of Brandon Palaniuk’s boat during the Santee Cooper Elite Series event and gives an up-close look at life in...

Two champions on one show, is it even possible? Well, hell ya! This is the Mercer Podcast! In episode #263 Dave sits down with two of the hottest anglers in professional bass fishing-the two most recent Bassmaster Elite Series champions and talk winning stories, real talk, and some stuff nobody expected to talk about. Fresh off of his win at Lake Murray, Surge Squad member Paul Marks joins the sho...

What happens when a guy sneaks into the Bassmaster Classic… and suddenly becomes one of the most talked-about people at the event ? In this absolutely wild episode, internet superstar Buddy Jaron joins Mercer to tell the unbelievable behind-the-scenes story of how he infiltrated the Bassmaster Classic and somehow became the legendary “Boat 26.” From awkward encounters and security close calls to t...

Some anglers want attention… 2 time Bassmaster Elite champion Takumi Ito wants some stuff to stay secret. In this episode of the Mercer Podcast, Takumi Ito opens up like never before about the baits he refuses to show anyone, the strategy behind keeping secrets at the highest level, and why some techniques are better left unseen. But this conversation goes way deeper than tackle… Takumi talks abou...

What do pro anglers really say when the cameras are off? In this episode, 4-time Bassmaster champion Lee Livesay joins Mercer for a completely unfiltered conversation—no notes, no prep, and nothing off limits. From the rules shaping today’s tournaments to the rise of AI in fishing, Livesay opens up about where the sport is headed… and what’s really being said behind the scenes. We get into:    •  ...

What happens in the moments right after you win? In this episode of the Mercer Podcast, we sit down with three champions — Jacob Foutz, Drew Benton & Mike Iaconelli — immediately following their most recent victories. No scripts. No time to think. Just raw emotion, real reactions, and the truth that fans rarely get to see. From adrenaline highs to honest reflections, this is what winning actua...

Some of this...wasn't supposed to be said. Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse is back with another Jake's Take - and this time, he's pulling back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes at the highest level of professional fishing. The moments you don't see on TV and the reactions anglers hope never get caught. Jake is around it all - the wins, the pressure, the...

What happens when some of the best anglers on the planet ditch the script… and go back to where it all started? In this GGGiant episode of the Mercer Podcast, we’ve got an absolute all-star lineup: Mark Zona, Jason Christie, Mike Iaconelli, Chris Johnston, Drew Benton, Kyle Welcher, Drew Cook, Bryan New & Kyle Patrick And yeah… they’re definitely up to something. We break down “Tuesday Night L...

Fresh off his 9th Bassmaster win, Jason Christie sits down for one of his most honest conversations yet. This isn’t just about another trophy. Christie opens up about how bad breaks can turn into winning moments, the mindset it takes to survive the grind, and why sometimes the worst days on the water lead to the biggest victories. We also dive into what it really feels like when Championship Sunda...

The questions weren’t done… so neither is he. Bassmaster Classic Champion Dylan Nutt returns to the Mercer Podcast — and this time, nothing is off limits. More answers, more truth, and the follow-up everyone’s been waiting for. Then it gets CRAZY… For the first time ever, we go inside Berkley Labs for a world exclusive. Scientist Mark Sexton and product manager Nathan Ragsdale break down exactly w...

Dylan Nutt is fresh off his historic Bassmaster Classic win—and for the first time, he’s finally revealing the bait that made it all happen. In this exclusive conversation, Dylan breaks down the exact setup, how he used it, and why it was the difference-maker when the pressure was at its highest. No fluff. No holding back. We also dive into: • The moment he predicted winning the Classic • Outworki...

In this rare and revealing episode of the Mercer Podcast, former Bassmaster Tournament Director Trip Weldon sits down for one of his most candid conversations ever. Trip pulls back the curtain on the real pressure behind the scenes — the judgment calls that fans never see, the decisions that can change careers, and the moments that kept him up at night. From tournament controversies to rule violat...

Seth Feider is headed back to the Bassmaster Classic, and he’s doing it the only way he knows how… his way. In this episode of Mercer: The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, Seth sits down to talk about his big return to the Classic, lucky underwear & winning the Dirt Derby. But that’s just the start. Feider also reveals one of the strangest and least-known quirks in professional bass fishing…...

Four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn joins the Mercer Podcast alongside longtime Bassmaster cameraman Jake Latendresse for Clunn-Clusion & Jake’s Take with a behind-the-scenes breakdown of the first two Bassmaster Elite Series events of the season & a Bassmaster Classic preview. What really happened on the water? From momentum shifts and decision-making under pressure… to what...

For this special 250th edition of the Mercer Podcast, we brought in two men who know exactly what it feels like to hoist the trophy on bass fishing’s biggest stage — the two most recent Bassmaster Elite Series champions:🏆 Hank Cherry🏆 Fisher AnayaTwo champions. Two generations. Two very different paths to the top. In this milestone episode, we go beyond the winning moments and into the mindset i...

Arrested in Thailand. Thrown in a jail cell with the Googan Squad. And that’s just one of the many stories that get revealed. In this episode of the Mercer Podcast, Sam Sobi goes way beyond fishing. We talk about the dreams that built him, the setbacks that tested him, giant bass, bugling elk, true love… and the moments that shaped him But first we have the return of Jake’s Take. Bassmaster videog...

This is a real and raw conversation with Mike Iaconelli, one of the most iconic and influential anglers the sport has ever seen. In this episode, Ike looks back on the full arc of his career — the wins that defined him, the losses that shaped him, and the moments that forced him to grow. He opens up about how his mindset has evolved over time, especially as the sport continues to change and a new...

Matty Wong doesn’t hold back. In this episode of The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, Matty opens up about getting cut, the on-the-water confrontations no one talks about — including the day another pro completely lost it on him — and where he really stands with professional fishing today. No sugarcoating. No PR answers. Just real stories about pressure, ego, conflict, and what happens when the c...

No rundown. No prep. No safety net. Just Mark Zona doing what he does best—telling it exactly like it is. In this unfiltered, unscripted conversation, Zona dives headfirst into the real state of pro fishing, the stuff everyone talks about off camera, and why he still loves this sport as much as ever. No notes. No plan. And absolutely no apologies. Expect raw opinions, sharp humor, and classic Zona...