The legendary Rick Clunn has always seen fishing differently than everyone else, and this conversation is no exception.

It starts with the shocking quote, “Urchin baits turn me on” to a fascinating discussion about why the latest bait craze has captured anglers’ attention, Rick shares his unique perspective on what makes a lure truly special—and why history has a way of repeating itself.

We dive into the current Urchin bait phenomenon, compare it to some of the biggest lure crazes of the past, and explore how innovation continues to shape the sport. Along the way, Rick reflects on life after professional tournament fishing, how he’s adjusted to stepping away from competition, and what still fuels his passion for bass fishing every single day.

As always, Clunn-clusion is a conversation that goes far beyond fishing techniques. It’s about curiosity, perspective, and seeing the sport through the eyes of one of the greatest anglers of all time.

For most anglers, confidence comes and goes. For Kyle Patrick, it took getting literally slapped out of a slump during Mercer in the Morning to turn everything around.

This week on The Mercer Podcast, Dave sits down with the two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and Bassmaster Open winner for one of the most honest conversations you’ll hear all season.

Kyle opens up about the mental side of professional fishing, battling through tough stretches, rebuilding confidence, and why one unexpected moment became the reset he didn’t know he needed.

But that’s just the beginning.

The conversation dives into what it really takes to compete at the highest level of the sport, chasing a Bassmaster Classic title, handling the pressure of tournament fishing, the evolution of modern bass fishing, and the lessons that only come from living life on the road.

It’s funny, authentic, insightful, and packed with the kind of stories you only get when the cameras stop rolling… or when someone decides the best cure for a slump is an open-handed slap.

Whether you’re a tournament angler, a weekend fisherman, or simply love hearing what drives elite competitors, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

What really happens behind the scenes at the Bassmaster Elite Series?

This week on the Mercer Podcast, Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse returns with another edition of Jake’s Take—the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at life on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Jake takes us onto the back deck of Jason Christie’s boat during his historic 10th Bassmaster victory on the Pasquotank River, sharing stories and moments the cameras never showed. He also makes a shocking announcement, relives the unforgettable moment he took a seagull to the face during the tournament, and counts down the Top 5 craziest on-the-water accidents and bloopers he’s witnessed while filming the biggest names in professional bass fishing.

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens when Bassmaster LIVE isn’t rolling, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Carl Jocumsen is one of the most passionate anglers in professional fishing… but this time he’s fired up.

Carl is PISSED… and he’s finally ready to talk about it.

On this episode of the Mercer Podcast, Carl opens up about what’s frustrating him, why he believes some things need to change, and the ever-evolving world of tournament bass fishing. From new rules and the future of the sport to the challenges professional anglers face, Carl doesn’t hold back.

But this conversation isn’t just about fishing — it’s about making a difference.

Carl also shares the incredible story behind the Fear My Heart Worldwide Lake Clean Up, a movement he created to bring anglers together, protect our fisheries, and leave this world better than we found it.

Passion. Frustration. Change. Positivity.

This is Carl Jocumsen like you’ve never heard him before.

Jason Christie is back on The Mercer podcast hot off his second Elite Series victory of the season and his 10th Bassmaster win, Christie continues to prove why he is one of the greatest anglers to ever do it.

But what separates a 10-time champion from everyone else?

In this episode, Jason opens up about the mindset, confidence, preparation, and instincts that have made him one of the most consistent winners in professional bass fishing. From handling pressure, hating losing, making the right decisions on the water, and finding a way to win when everything is on the line — this is a rare look inside the mind of Jason Christie.

We also break down the winning bait that is dominating pro bass fishing. The Coike or Urchin style bait and why it has become such a powerful tool in Christie’s arsenal. Jason shares what makes this bait so effective, how he approaches fishing it, and why it continues to produce when the pressure is at its highest.

Plus, we dive into the stories behind another incredible season, what keeps him hungry after all these years, and why the best may still be yet to come.

This is Jason Christie: Inside the Mind of a 10-Time Bassmaster Champion.

Some anglers blame the weather. Some blame the fish. Some blame everything around them. But according to Dakota Ebare… grumpy anglers don’t catch fish.

This week on the Mercer Podcast, Dakota Ebare dives deep into the mental side of fishing and why staying positive under pressure might be one of the biggest keys to success. It’s a mindset that has currently helped him climb all the way to 3rd place in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

Dakota also gets real about:

-constantly changing debate around tournament rules

-The hottest new baits & techniques catching fish right now

- Why confidence and attitude matter more than most anglers realize.

But that’s not all…Former Bassmaster champion and ABC’s Bachelor Byron Velvick joins us for another edition of Byron’s Bunker — and he shares a never-before-told story about the unbelievable things professional anglers sometimes have to overcome on the water.

Fishing, stories, laughs and a reminder that sometimes the biggest battle isn’t with the bass… it’s between your ears.

Ben Milliken returns to this week’s Mercer Podcast for a wide-open conversation about the highs, lows and everything in between.

From building one of the biggest followings in fishing, to chasing his dream on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Ben’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode, he opens up about his legal problems in Texas, the challenges and lessons learned from his time competing against the best anglers in the world, and what life looks like after Bassmaster.

But that’s not all… we also take a dive deep into the future of fishing, his insane new property “The Fantasy Farm” and the one bait Ben believes could be the greatest bait ever made for catching a bass.

Ben Milliken has changed the fishing world and he has done it by being real, relatable and honest. So when Ben shows up, the Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast gets a lot more honest and even more awkward!

What really happens behind the scenes at the Bassmaster Elite Series?

This week on the Mercer Podcast, Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse returns with another edition of Jake’s Take — the ultimate Bassmaster behind-the-scenes segment.

Jake takes us inside the action from the back deck of Brandon Palaniuk’s boat during the Santee Cooper Elite Series event and gives an up-close look at life inside Tristan McCormick’s boat during the Wheeler Lake Bassmaster Open.

From the chaos you never see on camera… to the little details that separate the best anglers in the world… Jake shares stories and moments only a Bassmaster cameraman gets to witness.

But that’s not all…

Then we dive head first into the latest craze taking over pro fishing — the Urchin Bait — as Jake reveals his “5 Dirty Urchin Bait Tricks Pros Hide From the Camera.”

The sneaky retrieves.
The hidden modifications.
The little tricks anglers don’t want competitors noticing.

If you love Bassmaster behind-the-scenes stories, tournament insight, and awkwardly honest fishing talk… this episode is loaded to the gills!