MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

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 squirrels to hoisting trophies.

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 to write off his skills and success to forward facing sonar. But that was before this past weekend when he won half a million dollars winning the Ultimate Angler World Championship on Lake Guntersville where forward facing sonar was not allowed. Now it’s got many folks wondering what the TUCK the haters are going to say about him now???

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 and so much more, including our history together at NASA.

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 of his rookie season and a recent rules infraction that he self-reported and openly admits he broke the rule, but it leaves him wondering if the is the rule broken. 

Link to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Auction:

https://one.bidpal.net/bfhof/browse/all

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.