MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

Justin Connell "Hate Is Tackling Fuel" on MERCER-209

Alabama pro angler Dustin Connell is a former Elite Series champion and Rookie of the Year. He has stacked up 5 MLF wins and has won 3 out of the last 4 Redcrest Championships. Clearly DC  is a force to be reckoned with no matter where he is fishing. Hot off his most recent Redcrest win, he joins the podcast to catch up and share his take on today's tournament anglers, the need to work towards the good and using the haters as nothing more than motivation or as he calls it “tackling fuel”. 

Kyle Welcher and Jake's Take on MERCER-208

Stone Cold Kyle Welcher is a 3 time Classic Qualifier and a 2 time Angler of the Year. He joins the podcast hot off his record-breaking victory on the Pasquotank River where he shattered the all-time win margin record by winning his first Elite Series tournament by 45lb 7oz. But that’s not all! We are then joined by bassmaster videographer, Jake Latendresse with the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes show, Jake’s Take.

Carl Jocumsen "Being Positive Is Nearly Impossible" on MERCER-207

Carl Jocumsen is a bassmaster elite series champion and a three time classic qualifier. His incredible power of positivity and confidence fuelled him to chase a dream that was literally on the other side of the world.  But none of that comes without work. Even the ultra optimistic Jocumsen will tell you being positive is nearly impossible. But that’s why he chooses it.

Lee Livesay "Cheating Is Stealing" on MERCER-206

Lee Livesay is a 4 time bassmaster winner and a 5 time classic qualifier with 2 bassmaster century belts.
Lee is a Busch Light drinking, Whiskey Myers listening, bass catching bad ass from the red dirt of Lake Fork that prides himself on being a straight shooter that plays the game the right way. In his eyes, cheating is stealing! 

Bassmaster Classic Champion Easton Fothergill - Easton to Beaston!! & Jake's Take on MERCER-205

Hot off his Historic Bassmaster Classic victory, Easton Fothergill joins the podcast. We discuss his incredible victory on Lake Ray Roberts. His inspiring story of overcoming horrific obstacles and a whole list of hot topics. But that’s not all! Then we are joined by bassmaster videographer, Jake Latendresse with the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes show, Jake’s Take. 

John Garrett "All Pro Anglers Lie" on MERCER-204

John Garrett is one of the brightest young stars in pro fishing. Not only is he a former College Bass Champion but he won an Elite Series title in only his 3rd event and finished his rookie season with a top 10 in Angler of the Year. Rookie luck? Not likely. This week he will compete in his second Bassmaster Classic and will do so as the current leader in Bassmaster Angler of the Year points. But first he stops by the podcast to talk about leading AOY, seeing a UFO, interrupting a drug deal and the fact that all pro anglers lie a little.

Seth Feider & Jake's Take "Anglers Who Read the Rules are Cheaters" on MERCER-203

Seth Feider is a 2-time Bassmaster winner and the 2021 Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year. Feider has built a legion of loyal fans that connect with his open, honest and down-to-earth attitude. This week he once again returns to the podcast and as always “the lama” tells it like he sees it. Right down to the fact that he believes if you study the rule book you are looking to cheat. But that’s not all, we also have Jake’s Take - the ultimate behind-the-scenes Bassmaster segment with Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse. Just back from shooting the Bassmaster Open on Kentucky Lake where he was on the boat with the newest Open champion, Yui Aoki.

Brandon Palaniuk, Bill Lowen and Jake's Take on MERCER-202

Buckle up and get ready for a mega show this week. We have the first two Bassmaster Elite Series Champions of 2025. Both Lake Okeechobee Champion Brandon Palaniuk & St Johns River Champion Bill Lowen join the show to celebrate their incredible victories. Then BASS Live videographer Jake Latendresse gives his take on the first two events of the season with the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes segment, Jake’s Take.

Ish Monroe Bought a Ferrari from Bass Fishing on MERCER-201

Ish Monroe is a 5-time Bassmaster winner and 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. Throughout his career he has definitely lived up to the moniker B.S.S. (Big Bass Specialist). However, Ish is not only a top competitor on the water but it seems he is a big wheel in the board room as well. His incredible work ethic and tireless drive has made him one of the best promoters in pro fishing. Don’t believe me? Ask yourself, how many pro anglers once owned a Ferrari? Well Ish did and he got is from fishing! 

Bill Dance - A Jitterbug to a Juggernaut on MERCER-200

Bill Dance has won 7 Bassmaster events, he is a 3 time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and he even has the honour of catching the first bass ever caught in a Bassmaster tournament! The crazy part is, he did all that before he was 40 years old. At 39 years old Bill Dance retired from competition and put his full time focus into TV. Since then, he has built an Outdoors empire, creating and producing, arguably, the most successful fishing shows in history. He is a member of every fishing Hall of Fame imaginable. He has a bridge named after him, he has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Tennessee and Luke Bryan has even wrote a hit song about him. His impact on fishing will be felt for generations. All of this was fuelled by a topwater fish he caught on a Jitterbug. Bill Dance went from a Jitterbug to a fishing industry Juggernaut! He joins the 200th episode of Mercer to talk about all that and so much more.