MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

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”.