MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

What does it really take to build a fishing prodigy? On this episode of the Mercer Podcast , Brandon Palaniuk looks back at his own rise—and then flips the script. We reverse-engineer the process, breaking down the mindset, discipline, support system, and decisions required to build the next generation of elite anglers. Brandon dives into his personal history, the lessons learned the hard way, and...

What happens when tournament fishing meets new knees, old pain, and zero filter? Gerald Swindle delivers exactly what fans expect—pain, punchlines, and brutal honesty. In this episode, Swindle opens up about knee surgery, the grind of rehab, and what it really takes to keep competing at the highest level while your body is screaming at you. From fishing through pain to adapting to new rules on tou...

Jason Christie hates losing. And in this episode of Mercer: The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, he doesn’t sugarcoat a single thing. Jason sits down with Dave Mercer for a no-filter conversation about the mental obsession of competition, what losing really does to him, and why that edge has defined his career. He also breaks down his new YouTube series, what he’s trying to show fans what cameras...

On this episode of Mercer : The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, Dave Mercer sits down with the greatest angler of all time—Kevin VanDam—for one of his most open, honest, and wide-ranging conversations yet. KVD dives deep into the future of professional bass fishing, sharing real, unfiltered thoughts on where the sport is headed, the changes he believes are coming, and what pro fishing must do to...

Jacob Wheeler is the youngest angler ever to win the All American and the Forrest Wood Cup. He also won the first two Elite Series events he fished. But that was just the start. To date he has won 14 tour level events and he has won 4 out of the last 5 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year titles and he is only 35 years old. But it has not always been easy. At one point in his childhood his family lite...

Who the heck are these rookies joining the elite series and could they actually be a dream team of anglers?? Well, prepare to get some answers because we have all 10 of them ram-jam packed into this episode. That’s right! We thought it was a good idea to book Fisher Anaya, Russ Lane, Aaron Jagdfeld, Austin Cranford, Sam Hanggi, Matt Messer, Caleb Hudson, Tristan McCormick, Pake South, and Brock Re...

We have an insane episode this week! First we are joined by an 8-time Classic qualifier, a 2-time Bassmaster winner, a 9-time FLW Tour winner, John Cox. Then we have 2-time Classic qualifier, Logan Parks who bring with him a whole cast of characters from his recent NSANE Tournament. The winners, college angler Dalton Head and highschool angler Jackson Watts join in and tell us about their win and...

From the trailer park to the top of the pro fishing world, is the road Matt Robertson has traveled. He has qualified for 5 Bassmaster Classics and won a Bassmaster Open. But maybe more impressive is the loyal legion of fans he attracted along the way. This week he joins the podcast to talk about the frustration of not catching them, getting ripped off, how to catch 'em by not caring, breast mi...

In 1994 Bryan Kerchal became the only Bass Nation angler to ever win the Bassmaster Classic. Since then he has inspired countless Bass Nation anglers to try to do the same. This week we are joined by all three of the newest Bass Nation Classic qualifiers. Bass Nation National Champion Nick Trim, runner up Noah Winslow and 3rd place finisher Dylan Nutt will all fish the 2026 Bassmaster Classic but...

Tripp Berlinsky may just just be the perfect combination of Seth Feider, Shaggy from Scooby-Doo & Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The crazy part is Seth js most likely the only name on that list that Tripp has even heard of! The 20 year old Florida angler is a sophomore at The University of North Alabama. He recently won the Bassmaster Collage Classic bracket punching his ticket to...

It did not take Laker Howell, son of Bassmaster Classic champion Randy Howell long to make his own mark in pro fishing. In just his second year of Bassmaster Opens competition Laker doubled-down winning twice and double qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic. This week he joins the podcast to discuss his recent wins, growing up on tour, chasing his dreams and ultimately going from shooting squirrel...

At only 24 years old Tucker Smith has been successful at every level of fishing. He is a 3 time Bassmaster High School Champion, a former College Bass Champion, a Bassmaster Elite Series Champion and the reigning Elite Series Rookie of the Year. Before even making the tour, Tucker won a million dollars in the Johnny Morris U.S Open Team tournament. But even with a resume like that, some people try...

Todd Castledine does not call himself a professional angler, but with over 50 tournament wins he may be one of the most pure forms of a pro. When he is not competing, Castledine is a bait designer and a YouTuber that is never shy of sharing his opinion. So buckle up because this week he joins the podcast and proves he truly has something to say about EVERYTHING!

My friendship with Emil Wagner started at NASA. Sounds made up but it’s true. Emil is a former All-American Champion, a Bassmaster Classic Qualifier and most recently, the winner of the first Bassmaster EQ event in history. But that’s not his only first. He is also the first and only pro born in Denmark, naturally making him the Great Dane. This week, he joins the podcast to talk about all that an...

Dakota Ebare just wrapped up his first season on the Bassmaster Elite Series and qualified for his first Bassmaster Classic. He is far from a rookie with 2 MLF wins and over a million dollars in earnings. But nobody is immune to challenges in pro angling and Dakota had his share in 2025. This week, the Texas pro joins the podcast for a very real and raw conversation about overcoming the struggles...

Some call him Gussy, some know him as the Great Canadian Snow Leopard but if you know him you love him. Jeff Gustafson is a 6-time Classic qualifier, an Elite Series Champion and the 2023 Bassmaster Classic Champion. This week he joins the podcast and talks about his toughest season on tour, the new Bassmaster rules, his future, on the water respect and even though he is widely regarded as one of...

Don’t miss this one, it’s the final Clunn-Clusion & Jake’s Take of the season. 4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion, the legendary Rick Clunn​⁠ returns to the show and shares just a few of his many Clunn-Clusions on the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series. But that’s not all! We are also joined by Bassmaster videographer, Jake Latendresse with the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes show, Jake’s Take...

Roland Martin, Guido Hibdon and Kevin VanDam were the only people in history to ever win back to back Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles until last week, when Chris Johnston joined the club. Chris Johnston took a break from winning tournaments to join the podcast and discuss his historic season, the stress of competition, team fishing, fans, haters and of course his thoughts on the new Bassmaste...

Pat Schlapper is a 5 time classic qualifier, a former Bass Nation National champion and a 2 time Bassmaster Elite Series Champion. Hot off his second Elite Series victory in just a few months, Schlapper joins the podcast and talks about turning his season around by taking notes and kicking Bass!

4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion, the legendary Rick Clunn​⁠ returns to the show and shares just a few of his many Clunn-Clusions on the Angler of the Year race between Chris Johnston and Trey McKinney. But that’s not all! We are also joined by Bassmaster videographer, Jake Latendresse with the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes show, Jake’s Take from Lake St Clair where he shared the boat wi...

20 year old angling phenom, Trey McKinney just won his second Elite Series title in as many years. He is the reigning rookie of the year, he has ten top 10s, finished second at the Bassmaster Classic and is currently in a two-way tie for Angler of the Year. McKinney is one of the most scrutinized and polarizing pros on the water. He does nothing without eyeballs on him. The question is just how mu...

Shaw Grigsby was the host of an award winning TV show, he has qualified for 16 Bassmaster Classics and has won 9 tour level events. Regardless if its television or tournaments, Shaw is truly one of the most entertaining pros on the water. This week Grigsby stops by the podcast to discuss his career and his recent retirement. But this is no tear-jerker because as Shaw says, when he looks at his car...

Kyle Patrick is a 2-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier, a Bassmaster Open Champion and is currently sitting in 23rd in Angler of the Year points with just two events left in the 2025 season. However, Kyle’s season just came to a screeching halt all because of a tick bite that enlarged his heart, ended his season and left him happy that he is not dead. This week he joins the podcast to open up about...

Tommy Wood is the only Australian to ever win a Bassmaster Open but his goals and dreams are a lot bigger than that. Tommy wants to become the second Aussie on the Bassmaster Elite Series and he is willing to chase his dreams to the other side of the world and live in a van to achieve them. Fueled by passion and his addiction to angling, no matter where Tommy is it’s clear he is Frothing to Fish!

Bernie Schultz is a 9-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and truly one of the most complete pros in fishing-not just on the water but off. Schultz’s resume includes success as a writer, an illustrator, lure designer and an angling educator. However, the most important lesson in his life may have come in his early 20’s when he asked a friend, “Are you Happy?”