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/[email protected]@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. 

This past weekend two elite series champions had an incredible head-to-head battle on Lake Hartwell. It was a Sight Fishing Master, Drew Cook versus a Herring Master, Paul Marks. This unbelievable battle played out blow-for-blow on BassLive for the fishing world to see. Less than 24 hours after the tournament we sat down with both Drew Cook and Paul Marks to have a very real and raw conversation. The result is this week’s Mercer Podcast.

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”. 

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 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 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!

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 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.