MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

If Captain America was a pro angler, his name might just be Davy Hite. Hite left a military career to chase his dream of pro angling and what a dream career it has been. Qualifying for 14 Bassmaster Classics, winning 2 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles and 9 major tournament victories - including the 1998 Forrest Wood Cup and 1999 Bassmaster Classic. In 2017, after a Hall of Fame career, Davy Hite retired from competition to join the Bassmaster broadcast team. This week, Davy joins the podcast and talks about the 2024 Bassmaster series, rules, rookies and real talk. 

You ever hear the joke about 3 Canadians walking into a bar? Us either but it sure makes for a great podcast. Cory Johnston doubled down in 2024 with 2 Elite Series victories. Not to be outdone, little bro Chris Johnston just became the first Canadian to EVER win the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

It was a huge year for both these hockey-playing brothers from north of the border. However it was not all highlights. There were some low lights including World War Gee at the St. Lawrance River. This week the Johnston brothers belly up to the bar to talk about all that and so, so much more on the Mercer podcast.

Just weeks before getting officially inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, Mark Zona rocked the fishing world by signing off of BassLive for the final time. The incredible off the wall personality of Z has painted pictures with his words for a generation of Bassmaster fans. Why is he stepping away from a position that is seemingly perfect for him? He answers that and so much more on this week’s Mercer Podcast. 

For the first time since his final walk across the Bassmaster Elite Series stage, 4 time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn finally speaks.

Robert Gee racked up an impressive 4 top fives in 2024. On top of that he went second, third and second on his last 3 events. Gee what a start to an Elite Series career! But many recently know him more as part of an on-the-water dispute we are calling World War Gee. 

Wes Logan is a Bassmaster Classic Qualifier and an Elite Series Champion. However, all those accolades seemed a long way off when he was riding in an ambulance after a scary boat wreck during last week’s Elite Series tournament on Lake Champlain. Many folks have talked about it but now you get to hear directly from Wes “What REALLY Happened”. Plus a whole lot more only on this week on Mercer Podcast.

Justin Hamner truly lets it ALL out on this week’s show - the good, the bad and some stuff that just makes him SICK. Hamner is the reigning and defending Bassmaster Classic Champion. With just two events left in the 2024 Bassmaster Elites he is the current leader in Progressive Bassmaster Angler Of The Year points. Can Justin Hamner make history and become only the 3rd angler to ever win the Classic and AOY in the same season? Proving that 2024 truly is Hamner Time!!!

Brett Hite is a 6 time Bassmaster Classic qualifier with 5 national tournament wins and almost 2 million dollars in tournament earnings. B Hite started his career as a west coast finesse angler but today you can’t talk about a bladed jig without mentioning his name. Brett Hite has arguably been more dominant with that technique than any other angler on earth. This week he joins the podcast to talk about that and a whole lot more. This is truly one of the most open and honest conversations we have ever had on this show.

You never know who will show up on this show. This week we kick things off with Pat Roach, AKA Randy from Trailer Park Boys. When Pat is not playing Randy the Assistant Trailer Park Supervisor at Sunnyvale Trailer Park he loves to fish. Pat joins the podcast to talk about his love for angling, the outdoors and life. But that’s not all. Then we are joined by YouTuber, social media super star and Bassmaster Pro Ben Milliken. As always Ben tells it like he sees it, including the good, the bad and the ugly of his first season on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Pack a lunch because this one is a fun one!

Joey Cifuentes is the reigning Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year. After winning two Elite Series tournaments and coming close to winning Angler of the Year in his first season. It looked like the Elites was child’s play for the cowboy. But that was last year, this year things are as different as a kaleidoscope. Call it a sophomore slump, call it what you want but Joey Cifuentes went from the top 5 in AOY standings to 102nd place. A year ago he literally had fish jumping in his boat, now they are jumping out of his livewell! How does that happen? The Cowboy joins us from the beach to answers that question as well as many more on this week’s Mercer Podcast.