Dave Mercer

What happens when tournament fishing meets new knees, old pain, and zero filter?
Gerald Swindle delivers exactly what fans expect—pain, punchlines, and brutal honesty.

In this episode, G opens up about knee surgery, the grind of rehab, and what it really takes to keep competing at the highest level while your body is screaming at you. From fishing through pain to adapting to new rules on tour, he doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. Along the way, he shares the kind of behind-the-scenes stories, laughs, and perspective that only come from decades on the water.

This is ‪@GeraldGMANSwindle‬ ; Pain, Punchlines & the Truth About Getting Older on Tour.

https://youtu.be/A9RYdx1vl_M?si=26O5C...

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23 hours ago | [YT] | 13

Dave Mercer

Bass don’t stop biting — they just change how they MUNCH.

In this episode of Facts of Fishing, we break down the exact moment bass move from explosive topwater strikes to crushing a bladed jig.

Most anglers miss this window.
The ones who don’t… catch more fish. Some wait too long, like Dave did in this episode.

👇 Watch this episode then comment: Do you stay topwater too long… or switch early?

https://youtu.be/b2bwoFiC86k?si=QB48z...

REMEMBER- We post a New Facts of Fishing episode every Monday at 6pm Eastern

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1 week ago | [YT] | 25

Dave Mercer

The truth about early season largemouth bass fishing isn’t what most anglers think.

In this episode of Facts of Fishing, Dave Mercer breaks down how largemouth bass actually behave early in the season—and why so many anglers overcomplicate it. From water temperature and location to decision-making and timing, this episode focuses on what really matters when bass are transitioning and the bite feels unpredictable.

No hype. No shortcuts. Just real fishing, real decisions, and real results on the water.

Whether you’re chasing your first spring bite or trying to turn a slow day into a productive one, this episode will change how you approach early season largemouth.

If you love honest fishing conversations, real-world lessons, and understanding why things work—not just what to throw—this one’s for you.

https://youtu.be/ji8Jc6lBBvo?si=9Ylvk...

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 25

Dave Mercer

Jason Christie hates losing. And in this episode of Mercer: The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, he doesn’t sugarcoat a single thing.

Jason sits down with Dave Mercer for a no-filter conversation about the mental obsession of competition, what losing really does to him, and why that edge has defined his career. He also breaks down his new YouTube series, what he’s trying to show fans what cameras usually miss, and how his mindset has evolved over time.

The conversation dives into the Bassmaster Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS) rule changes, Jason’s honest take on how they impact competition, and what adjustments anglers are really making behind the scenes. Along the way, Jason shares some of the weirdest things he’s experienced on the water, plus never-told stories from life on tour — including a prank gift from fellow pros

This is ‪@Christiefishing‬ unfiltered, honest, and exactly how he is away from the stage and spotlight.

If you love real conversations about pro fishing, competition, and the mental side of the sport — this episode delivers.

But that’s not all, then we are joined by legendary Bassmaster host Tommy Sanders for his annual reading of The Night Before Christmas. A holiday tradition like no other.

https://youtu.be/ORLhWEx_sMI?si=iE9it...

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 34

Dave Mercer

Get you’re 🍿ready because this is a good one! On this episode of Mercer : The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast, I sit down with the greatest angler of all time—Kevin VanDam—for one of his most open, honest, and wide-ranging conversations yet.

KVD dives deep into the future of professional bass fishing, sharing real, unfiltered thoughts on where the sport is headed, the changes he believes are coming, and what pro fishing must do to keep growing.

He also tackles the forward-facing sonar debate head-on, offering his true perspective on how the technology is shaping competition, influencing the next generation, and changing the way anglers think on the water. No politics, no sugarcoating—just Kevin’s authentic take.

As always, KVD brings the stories. He reveals behind-the-scenes moments from decades on tour—funny, chaotic, surprising, and honest glimpses into life at the highest level of the sport.

Kevin also weighs in on the youth invasion, discussing the hungry new talent shaking up the standings, whether the sport is harder or easier for young anglers today, and what separates the good from the great.

And perhaps most revealing of all, he reflects on what it was really like when he was a rookie—the pressure, the learning curve, the mistakes, the moments that fuelled him, and the early experiences that forged one of the most dominant careers in fishing history.

This is ‪@TheKevinVanDam‬ unfiltered, real, thoughtful & Awkwardly Honest!
A must-listen for every angler, fan, and follower of professional fishing.

https://youtu.be/0C0UTemLP7I?si=TzgJU...

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 24

Dave Mercer

4 years in the making & finally ‪@WheelerFishing‬ Returns!
Jacob Wheeler is the youngest angler ever to win the All American and the Forrest Wood Cup. He also won the first two Elite Series events he fished. But that was just the start. To date he has won 14 tour level events and he has won 4 out of the last 5 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year titles and he is only 35 years old.
But it has not always been easy. At one point in his childhood his family literally lost their home. But through that adversity Wheeler learned his endless motivation and tireless work ethic.
This week, he joins the podcast and talks about all that plus the future of pro fishing, confidence, career mistakes, building a brand, rookie scars, real life, raw emotion and turning haters into motivators by literally drinking your haters words for breakfast?

https://youtu.be/NAjj24VRuxg?si=M1eBM...

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1 month ago | [YT] | 40

Dave Mercer

We have an insane episode this week! First we are joined by an 8-time Classic qualifier, a 2-time Bassmaster winner, a 9-time FLW Tour winner, John Cox.
 
Then we have 2-time Classic qualifier, Logan Parks who bring with him a whole cast of characters from his recent NSANE Tournament. The winners, college angler Dalton Head and highschool angler Jackson Watts join in and tell us about their win and fishing the NSANE tournament.  Next Logan brings in the winner of his free boat from the same tournament, Jacob Jerrell!
 
All these guests make this an insane episode as we all talk fishing, slurpies, strange pets, NSANE tournament trends, winners, and all the behind-the-scenes you want to know. 

https://youtu.be/CMgzZkKkKuA?si=OOAnL...

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1 month ago | [YT] | 35

Dave Mercer

From the trailer park to the top of the pro fishing world, is the road Matt Robertson has traveled. He has qualified for 5 Bassmaster Classics and won a Bassmaster Open. But maybe more impressive is the loyal legion of fans he attracted along the way. This week he joins the podcast to talk about the frustration of not catching them, getting ripped off, how to catch 'em by not caring, breast milk for bodybuilders and the new Bassmaster rules. Plus, just about everything else because as he puts it “Ain’t nobody else gonna tell you the truth, so I may as well!”

https://youtu.be/JjuXRtaF9lc?si=CoGOy...

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1 month ago | [YT] | 30

Dave Mercer

In 1994 Bryan Kerchal became the only Bass Nation angler to ever win the Bassmaster Classic. Since then he has inspired countless Bass Nation anglers to try to do the same. This week we are joined by all three of the newest Bass Nation Classic qualifiers. Bass Nation National Champion Nick Trim, runner up Noah Winslow and 3rd place finisher Dylan Nutt will all fish the 2026 Bassmaster Classic but first they join the podcast to chat about who they are, how they qualified and how they plan to win the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.

https://youtu.be/yDDSOznAIEE?si=9hEsh...

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2 months ago | [YT] | 43

Dave Mercer

Tripp Berlinsky may just just be the perfect combination of Seth Feider, Shaggy from Scooby-Doo & Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The crazy part is Seth js most likely the only name on that list that Tripp has even heard of! The 20 year old Florida angler is a sophomore at The University of North Alabama. He recently won the Bassmaster Collage Classic bracket punching his ticket to the Super Bowl of bass fishing. This week he joins the podcast and you are not going to believe what this college angler just did!

https://youtu.be/Yu9MHbciPLo?si=fLUHf...

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2 months ago | [YT] | 15