MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

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.

Arrested in Thailand.Thrown in a jail cell with the Googan Squad. And that’s just one of the many stories that get revealed. In this episode of the Mercer Podcast, Sam Sobi goes way beyond fishing. We talk about the dreams that built him, the setbacks that tested him, giant bass, bugling elk, true love… and the moments that shaped him But first we have the return of Jake’s Take. Bassmaster videographer Jake Latendresse breaks down what really happened behind the scenes from inside the boat with eventual champion Hank Cherry, Trey McKinney, Bryant Smith, and Hunter Shryock. If you love the Elite Series but wish you could hear the stuff that never makes TV — this is it. Raw stories. Real laughs. Zero script & as always awkwardly honest!

Matty Wong doesn’t hold back.In this episode of The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, Matty opens up about getting cut, the on-the-water confrontations no one talks about — including the day another pro completely lost it on him — and where he really stands with professional fishing today.No sugarcoating. No PR answers. Just real stories about pressure, ego, conflict, and what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling.If you’ve ever wondered what life is actually like behind the scenes of pro fishing… this one’s for you.

What does it really take to build a fishing prodigy?On this episode of the Mercer Podcast , Brandon Palaniuk looks back at his own rise—and then flips the script. We reverse-engineer the process, breaking down the mindset, discipline, support system, and decisions required to build the next generation of elite anglers.Brandon dives into his personal history, the lessons learned the hard way, and how today’s young anglers face a completely different path than he did. We also get into the new Bassmaster rules, how they impact competition, and what they mean for the future of the sport.Plus, Brandon discusses his new leadership role as President of the Association of Bassmaster Anglers Professionals sharing his vision, priorities, and what anglers should expect moving forward.This is an awkwardly honest conversation about legacy, leadership, and how prodigies are actually made.