MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

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 the true good guys on tour, he still loves a good F-Bomb.

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 from the Mississippi River where he shared the boat with Trey McKinney & Tucker Smith.

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 Bassmaster Forward Facing rules. Some love them, some hate them but either way Chris Johnston does not care, he just wants to fish!

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 with Takumi Ito, Easton Fothergill and Brandon Palaniuk. Wait! There is more - Australian Bassmaster Open pro Tommy Wood stops by to let us know Where in the World is Tommy Wood.

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 much does he have to win to Silence the haters?

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 career “it’s hard not to smile”.

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 the scary story and much more.

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?”

Buddy Gross has had an incredible tour level career, amassing 4 FLW wins, 2 Bassmaster Elite Series wins and 3 trips across the Bassmaster Classic stage. However, for the first time in his career he is in a slump but Buddy is man enough to talk about it because in his words “he created his own slump”. But, the best thing about slumps is they don’t last forever and Buddy is working hard to put an end to his. This week he joins the podcast for a very real and revealing conversation where he addresses all that and much more!

Ed Loughran is a Bassmaster Classic Qualifier & an Elite Series Champion. However “The Barrister” does not live the life of an average pro angler because he is far from average. Ed is a full time lawyer that grew up dreaming of being a pro angler. A dream he wanted so bad that he was willing to lay it all on the line not once but twice. This week he joins the podcast to share his incredible story and his unique outlook because as he says “Life Happens”.

4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion, the legendary Rick Clunn​⁠ returns to the show. But this time it’s with a very different outlook and approach than before. He has been following and studying the sport this year and he shares just a few of his many Clunn-Clusions from Lake Tenkiller.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.

Wes Logan is a two-time Classic Qualifier and now a two-time Elite Series Champion. Hot off his incredible 1 oz victory at Lake Tenkiller “the little ball of hate” joins the podcast for his first interview since winning one of the most compelling events this season. But that’s not all! We are then joined by former bachelor, Bassmaster Classic qualifier and 3-time Bassmaster winner, Byron Velvick, with this month’s Byron Bunker segment.

Tucker Smith is a 3 time Bassmaster High School Champion, a former College Bass Champion and now one of the newest Bassmaster Elite Series winners. The 23year old Alabama pro has been successful at every level he has competed, but he is not simply driven by trophies and accomplishments. In his words he is “Just here to fish and have Fun”.

Dakota Ebare is a Bassmaster Elite Series rookie but he is no rookie. He is a former bullfighter that has 2 MLF wins and over a million dollars in earnings. He decided to risk it all and fish the Opens in a quest to qualify for the Bassmaster Elites and chase his Classic dream. This week Dakota joins the podcast for a very real and raw conversation about the state of the industry, chasing his dream, fishing the way you want and so much more.

4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion, the legendary Rick Clunn finally returns to the show. But this time it’s with a very different outlook and approach than before. He has been following and studying the sport this year and he shares just a few of his many Clunn-Clusions and a big announcement.

Pat Schlapper is a 4 time classic qualifier, a bass nation national champion and the newest Bassmaster Elite Series Champion. Hot off his emotional wire-to-wire win on the Sabine River, Schlapper joins the podcast and as always he tells it like he sees it. 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. 

John Cox is a pro angling anomaly. At a time where competitive fishing is dominated by technology he does not even have forward facing sonar on his boat. Cox is widely considered one of the greatest natural anglers in the history of the sport. This week he joins the show to talk about why he sees technology as a distraction, fishing dreams, shooting Bigfoot, finding fish and so much more. But that’s not all, then we are joined by former bachelor, Bassmaster Classic qualifier and 3 time Bassmaster winner Byron Velvick, with his first Byron Bunker segment. For more Facts of Fishing visit http://factsoffishing.com/or listen on:Apple iTunes@ast/mercer/id1564172169Amazon Music/Audible@s/a2fffdf9-2538-4716-87c8-817655e5ee73Alexa/TuneIn@s/Media--Entertainment-Podcasts/MERCER-p1422424/Boomplay@s/48822iHeartRadio@/269-mercer-81027990/Listen Notes@AZ_HPandora@/mercer-the-awkwardly-honest-fishing-podcast/PC:1000624172PlayerFM@mercer/mercer-episode-1PodBean@feed.xmlPodchaser@s/mercer-1871018Podcast Addict@/3303877Samsung:Available on Samsung DevicesSpotify@5i85dL7ZwEms1LlExY2cFacts of Fishing Social:Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveMercerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveMercersFactsofFishing/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/factsoffishing/#fishingpodcast #mercer #outdoors

Randy Howell is a 16 time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier, a 4 time Bassmaster winner and the 2014 Bassmaster Classic Champion. 2025 marks his return to the Elite Series and Lake Hartwell marked his return to the top 10. This week he joins the podcast to talk about why he returned to B.A.S.S., what drives him and how he caught 'em at Lake Hartwell. 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.