What do pro anglers really say when the cameras are off?
In this episode, 4-time Bassmaster champion Lee Livesay joins Mercer for a completely unfiltered conversation—no notes, no prep, and nothing off limits.
From the rules shaping today’s tournaments to the rise of AI in fishing, Livesay opens up about where the sport is headed… and what’s really being said behind the scenes.
We get into:
• The real conversations happening behind the scenes
• How rules & technology are changing the game
• The truth about fishing Lake Fork and the “Fork Factor”
• The topics every angler wants to talk about—but usually won’t
• And why Livesay continues to perform at the highest level
Lee has always called it like he sees it—and this episode is no different: honest, raw, and straight up.
If you love real talk, big bass, and the truth about where fishing is going… this one’s for you.
For more Facts of Fishing visit http://factsoffishing.com/
or listen on:
Apple iTunes
@ast/mercer/id1564172169
Amazon Music/Audible
@s/a2fffdf9-2538-4716-87c8-817655e5ee73
Alexa/TuneIn
@s/Media–Entertainment-Podcasts/MERCER-p1422424/
Boomplay
@s/48822
iHeartRadio
@/269-mercer-81027990/
Listen Notes
@AZ_H
Pandora
@/mercer-the-awkwardly-honest-fishing-podcast/PC:1000624172
PlayerFM
@mercer/mercer-episode-1
PodBean
@feed.xml
Podchaser
@s/mercer-1871018
Podcast Addict
@/3303877
Samsung:
Available on Samsung Devices
Spotify
@5i85dL7ZwEms1LlExY2c
Facts of Fishing Social:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveMercer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveMercersFactsofFishing/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/factsoffishing/
#fishingpodcast #mercer #leelivesay
You're slacking Dave. 😆 JK. We know you've been bust. Keep up the great work.
Legends team would be awesome the way you described it. I think the Tuesday nighters should be 4 regular shows a year and maybe 1 championship fish off.
The Tuesday nighter was great. It’s so much like our local nighter tournys. I say just have more of them with different teams each time. And a great legend team that just shows up would be KVD and Rick Clunn. Or yourself and Z fishing together! Great talk with Lee tonight. He keeps it real
Absolutely loved the Tuesday Night Live
10 events with the classic. Make it truly 50/50. 5 with 5 without.
I wanna drink a beer with Lee.
As a viewer. Watching a fisherman stare at a screen no matter what they catch is like watching paint dry. And you loose a lot the technique of how they fish with lures conditions and personalities.
Another great show Dave! Lee is the man!! Keep up the great work!! Thanks for the midweek break. Loyal Humper!!
Being from Texas, I am a little partial to Livesay. Great interview and really insightful. Thanks Dave. Another great show.
FFS fatigue is real. Tired of hearing about
Why not single coin flip the classic
Using all My Hype's on your Man tonight Sarah❤
One if my favorites
Ffs…Keep flipping coin on regular schedule and rotate on classic
Awesome Podcast this week Dave ❤
Your Friend, Cody "AKA" HOSER!!
It's called the classic for a reason…if your gonna use it in the classic change the name because it isn't a classic with it…if you dont understand that look up the definition of classic
Like I said years ago, Lee is the real life "Wreck it Ralph"
The Tuesday night live was so popular that the locals came to the boat launch for the weigh ins.. Lets not have that go unnoticed !! Great work from Dave and Zona too
The Tuesday nighter was really good! You might even be able to slide it into the ground breaking folder. Lee is very cool! A friend and I were staying at the Bridgeview at the SLR a few years ago and he came over and said hi to us, Cory Johnston did the same and gave us some Daiwa stuff. Both really cool human beings!
Curious if you know there is a Mercer museum in Pennsylvania.
Loved the Tuesday nighter. Sorry my kid left you hanging in the booth. 🤦🏼♂️ he had a Zona fishing card…and he was dialed in on getting that signed 🤷🏻♂️. Much love Mercer.
I seen the ol Busch light rig in zavalla Saturday morning 🔨
Classic means Traditional style .
Another great podcast! Gotta love Lee! Coin flip the 1st 2 days of classic! One with one without then half championship day angler gets to choose first or second half. Just my opinion as a bass fishing fanatic!! I love catching and watching with or without FFS but believe that is fairest way since season was half with and half without. Keep em coming Dave🎣🎣
Love the show Mercer always great guest and Bass talks 👍
The Peoples Champ is always the best!
I had a blast watching the Tuesday night live tourney. Really enjoyed it. Also love hearing from lee. That man is a wealth of knowledge
Another great podcast Dave. Lee is top of my list
The high number of century belts tells you everything you need to know about what FFS does to fishing pressure
I think it would be cool to do 4 TNLs and then have a championship of the 4 teams that won. It's a great way to showcase smaller lakes that could never hold the 100+ angler field
I fangirled so hard over Lee a few months back when we just happened to stumble across him at the ramp. He pulled up beside us while we were waiting on someone to unload and just talked shop and he is so nice.
David moris
Love the Tuesday Night Live, we need more. 🐫🐫
Flip a coin at Classic …every other year is cool
Another great episode.
I watched the Tuesday night live. It was absolutely awesome. Such a great idea and I hope there are more to come in the future. Lee is always great to listen to and he calls it the way he sees it. What a great Angler. What a go…Dave. You nailed it again buddy. Well done! 👍 💪💪
Here is what I’d like to see with FFS on the Elites. You can use it in every tournament. But you can’t use it on Championship Sunday’s. The top 10 can’t use it. I think this would be very good to see and how the Anglers approach the final day for $100k with no FFS.
Love me some Lee! Always a good time in his boat…hell of a dude! …and Tuesday nite was “Da Bomb…awesome!”
Good stuff gang.
👍
Legend! Lee is a gift to the sport! LFG
TNL was awesome. Definitely need it to be a regular occurrence, either after each regular Elite event, or once a month. An unannounced Legends team would be great, and I really like the idea of "beat the winner" format, with 3-4 new teams going up against whoever won it last.
Thanks for keeping up with all the great content Dave, I can only imagine how busy your schedule is, and sitting down to post content has to feel like the least fun part of it all. I'm sure many of us appreciate it, so keep being you, because you're awesome!
#Freedom55
Can't wait for the day that guys can decide what technology they want to use or don't. The ffs conversation is so old man. Allow it or don't but from a new fans persepective wich im not, this mixing it up and nobody knowing next years rules makes it all look very unprofessional.