MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

Some of this...wasn't supposed to be said.

Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse is back with another Jake's Take - and this time, he's pulling back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes at the highest level of professional fishing.

The moments you don't see on TV and the reactions anglers hope never get caught.

Jake is around it all - the wins, the pressure, the awkward moments...and everything in between.

And now, he's breaking down his Top 5 Things Pro Anglers Don't Want You Seeing.

Some are hilarious.
Some are uncomfortable.
And a few...might surprise you.

What happens when some of the best anglers on the planet ditch the script… and go back to where it all started?

In this GGGiant episode of the Mercer Podcast, we’ve got an absolute all-star lineup:
Mark Zona, Jason Christie, Mike Iaconelli, Chris Johnston, Drew Benton, Kyle Welcher, Drew Cook, Bryan New & Kyle Patrick

And yeah… they’re definitely up to something.

We break down “Tuesday Night Live” — a brand new, no-BS, throwback tournament where these Elite pros split into 2-man teams and battle it out in a 3-hour shootout inspired by the old-school weeknight derbies they grew up on.

No fluff. No filters. Just:
• Big bites
• Fast decisions
• Real pressure
• And a whole lot of friendly trash talk

This is fishing stripped down to its roots — where instincts take over, egos get tested, and anything can happen in 3 hours.

The best part is you can catch it all LIVE on April 21st, as Tuesday Night Live goes down in real time on Bassmaster.com, YouTube & Roku— with unfiltered & often unhinged play-by-play from Mark Zona and Dave Mercer. You do NOT want to miss this.

But first they all join the podcast to met their partners & make predictions in a free for all of fishing smack talk & story telling.

Fresh off his 9th Bassmaster win, Jason Christie sits down for one of his most honest conversations yet.

This isn’t just about another trophy.

Christie opens up about how bad breaks can turn into winning moments, the mindset it takes to survive the grind, and why sometimes the worst days on the water lead to the biggest victories.

We also dive into what it really feels like when Championship Sunday hits—and why Christie has become one of the most dangerous closers in professional fishing.

Plus… the stuff anglers don’t always admit:
   •   The superstitions he actually believes in
   •   The role of confidence when everything is on the line
   •   The mental switch that separates contenders from champions
   •   And the grey area of competition… including anglers pushing boundaries on “unwritten rules”—like following or spying on the live release boat.

No fluff. No filter. Just Jason Christie being brutally honest about winning, losing, and everything in between.

The questions weren’t done… so neither is he.

Bassmaster Classic Champion Dylan Nutt returns to the Mercer Podcast — and this time, nothing is off limits. More answers, more truth, and the follow-up everyone’s been waiting for.

Then it gets CRAZY…

For the first time ever, we go inside Berkley Labs for a world exclusive. Scientist Mark Sexton and product manager Nathan Ragsdale break down exactly what the Berkley Lab Series is… and how it played a role in winning the Bassmaster Classic.

And then… a moment you won’t forget.

4-time Classic Champion Rick Clunn delivers one of the most honest, raw, and moving conversations we’ve ever had on this show.

We close it out with Jake’s Take — the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at Bassmaster with videographer Jake Latendresse, who’s been in the boat for the moments you didn’t see.

This one has EVERYTHING — champions, secrets, science, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Dylan Nutt is fresh off his historic Bassmaster Classic win—and for the first time, he’s finally revealing the bait that made it all happen.
In this exclusive conversation, Dylan breaks down the exact setup, how he used it, and why it was the difference-maker when the pressure was at its highest. No fluff. No holding back.
We also dive into:
• The moment he predicted winning the Classic
• Outworking the field
• Hiding from the media
• On the water gamesmanship no one saw behind the scenes
This is the real story behind the win—and the bait everyone’s been trying to figure out.