Kyle Patrick "I Am Happy I'm Not Dead!" on MERCER-223

Kyle Patrick is a 2-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier, a Bassmaster Open Champion and is currently sitting in 23rd in Angler of the Year points with just two events left in the 2025 season. However, Kyle’s season just came to a screeching halt all because of a tick bite that enlarged his heart, ended his season and left him happy that he is not dead. This week he joins the podcast to open up about the scary story and much more.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
He's a two time Bassmaster Classic qualifier.
He's a Bassmaster Open champion.Unfortunately, his 2025 Elite
Series career came to a screeching halt due to a tick
bite that caused heart problems.To talk about all that and more,
Kyle Patrick joins me this week.I'm Bob Cobb for the Bassmaster.

(00:31):
Welcome to Mercer. Welcome on Welcome all friends,
family, freeloaders, fishing freaks, and of course you, my
humpers. Happy hump day to all of you and
welcome into the awkwardly honest fishing podcast that goes
by my last name, which is Mercer.
This is the 223rd edition of theMercer podcast and I hope
wherever you're watching or listening from that life is

(00:53):
treating you well. It is a wonderful week.
And next week we're right back to things in the Elite series.
So for the last few weeks, I have been super busy, run around
shooting shows and shooting tonsof underwater footage, swimming
with the fishes, and I've been really enjoying it.

(01:15):
And Speaking of which, if you haven't heard, we made a post
last week in social media. I got to thank you guys.
Half a billion views on YouTube.That's right.
Half a billion, over 500 millionviews.
I think it was 505,000,000 at last I checked.

(01:35):
But I'm so thankful to all of you for tuning in to anything we
do in YouTube, whether it's facts efficient, whether it's
this podcast, whether it's the underwater shorts that we post.
Thank you, thank you. It's unfathomable, unbelievable.
I never would have imagined thatthat many people would ever tune
into this channel, but I'm thankful for you because because

(01:58):
of you guys, you guys give me the extra motivation to continue
to go swim with the fishes and shoot the content that we do
because, well, you guys are are watching.
So it really gives me an excuse to do what I love and I'm so
thankful for that. Speaking of doing what you love,

(02:18):
if you're in that situation, you're a very lucky person.
One of those people is Kyle. Patrick chased his dream of
making the Bassmaster Elite Series and it's been going
really well. I mean, last year finished 16th
in Angler of the Year. This year, he's currently in
23rd. I mean, he's qualified for a
couple of classics. He's won an open for all

(02:40):
intensive purposes. His career is on a great
trajectory. He's very marketable.
He's a great personality. He's things just going really,
really good until he got bit by a tick and then things started
going really bad really quickly.He spent about a week in the

(03:04):
hospital and now finds himself wearing a defibrillator for the
next three months and under doctor orders cannot raise his
heartbeat at all. Has totally changed his life.
What seemed like so important toget to Lake Saint Clair for the

(03:24):
next Elite series event that could literally kill him.
And it's so shocking. But we're all reminded over and
over again of how everything canchange at the blink of an eye.
And this is just another exampleof that.
And I thank Kyle for choosing this podcast and for being

(03:45):
willing to come on here and talkabout what's going on because
it's not easy. I mean, trust me, he is so
thankful to be alive. He is so thankful this didn't
turn out worse. But to be in his situation, to
be 28 years old and to be going to two fisheries, you should do
very well with trying to qualifyfor your third classic in a row

(04:09):
and to feel totally fine, but beput in a situation that somebody
says if you do what you love, you could die.
It's pretty tough, pretty scary.And he is very honest and very
open about how things are going,how's he dealing with them and,

(04:29):
and how he got himself in this situation.
I could talk about it for a longtime, but I think we'd rather
just jump right into it and I'llwelcome him right now.
Kyle Patrick. Kyle Patrick, This is not the
conversation I would have imagined we'd be having.
This conversation I don't want to have Dave, honestly.

(04:53):
Sorry. I'm stress eating.
I've been stress eating all for a long time now.
For two weeks. I think I've actually gained 5
lbs. But anyway, yeah, like it's this
weird thing where it doesn't feel real yet because I haven't.
Like, I wasn't supposed to leaveuntil probably Friday.

(05:14):
Yeah, but like seeing people post on Instagram like, you
know, your classic, like forgot the boat rigged when we're
headed north, It's like, Oh my God.
Like it is, it's a little depressing.
I think that's why I'm eating somuch because I'm just like I'm,
I can't do anything and I'm up here and I'm just stuffing my

(05:36):
face watching Instagram pulp post trying to stay hydrated
with my coconut water with pulp in it.
Is that important? Is it?
I, it isn't I, I actually, they said like you really need to
like stay hydrated, try to like not be out in the sun for
extended periods of time. I mean, you wouldn't believe

(05:57):
what I can't do. Like I can't even talk about on
this podcast what I can't do. I mean, I can't do a lot.
Of things, I still can't do that.
Cannot do that. Wow.
And I won't say 100% listen to that like I hack Oh it it's I'm
sorry, like that's just. You're in love.

(06:18):
That. It's kind of engaged.
I mean no. No, that has not happened yet.
Oh. The other thing, because I just,
I'm like, I, I'm up here and I'mbored.
I'm eating and I'm, you know, bymyself.
Caroline's at work. Oh what?
In a weird direction, but sure, hey.

(06:40):
Anyway, I, I, I'm technically not allowed to have coffee and
that's what we're talking about.And I did have a cup of coffee
this morning. You had coffee?
No, no, no. Yeah, I know.
No. Yeah, I gotcha.
I gotcha. I gotcha.
No zins. Nothing.
You no enjoying yourself. Yeah, I've been.

(07:03):
I'll tell you what, I go throughone of these a day, a full one
of these gums, Mentos. Yeah, no gum.
It's like, it's like gum. I go through so much gum a day
because I'm used to putting in zins every once in a while,
every once in a while, a lot. And now that I don't have zins
or caffeine or anything, like I have to be chewing gum or else

(07:25):
I'll eat and I actually should put that down.
I, I'm trying to eat on the podcast.
I never do that. Yeah, well, but yourself, well,
you really are a spaz with a So before we go with your I mean,
and I hate to laugh during the subject because, dude, me and
you spent several hours on the phone when all this was going
down. This is and I and I want you to

(07:48):
bring us through that because for a lot of people, they just
saw your announcement and they don't really understand what
you've been through. But this was also a really not a
tough, a tough decision for you to make because you really were
contemplating phishing against doctor's orders and everything.
But how did, how did we get here?

(08:09):
What happened? Well, basically, I mean, so this
scared me initially because it was a scary situation.
I thought I was over this tick bite because people are like,
oh, it's from a tick bite. Well, it's kind of from a tick
bite. Basically the tick bit me.

(08:30):
It gave me anaplasmosis, which is a tick borne illness that,
you know, people get. And mostly like Brock Mosley
texted me and said dude, anaplasmosis when I was in the
hospital. He's like, dude, anaplasmosis, I
have to deal with that in my cattle or whatever.
So that's it. It's antiplasmosis I guess is

(08:51):
more prevalent in like livestockand deer and stuff obviously.
But luckily I had symptoms. So the week before I cast I had
gotten really sick. I had like aches and and 104°
fever like in bed done. So I called I went to the

(09:12):
doctors and they started me on doxycycline which is the
antibiotics you take for tick borne illnesses.
So I got on that early. So by Friday of that week and I
got tested and said I had anaplasmosis by Friday of that
week I felt fine. So I went tournament fishing and

(09:34):
I, you know, I mean, I won't, I'll make this short.
Basically Saturday was fine. On Cayuga Sunday, I went to a
little lake called Cross Lake. I started having chest pains in
the morning as I'm running down the lake, You know, because your
heart's racing like you're, it doesn't matter if you're fishing
a 20 boat tournament or whatever.
My heart's racing and I'm, I'm feeling like chest pain and I'm

(09:55):
like, gosh, that's weird. I must have just slept on it
wrong. You can't assume that I have an
issue. I'm 28 years old, I'm healthy,
so I whatever, kind of ignored it and went away.
Then Monday morning, I got wokenup at 3:00 AM with like 50
knives stabbing me in the chest.And I was like, all right, this
is not normal. And I got in the car and raced

(10:19):
to the ER. But what was then that that's
where I'm getting to this. It scared me because they were
like, you really are lucky that you didn't like had to go into
cardiac arrest like so lucky, Matt.
And, and, and this is after they, they were like, like,
what's wrong? And then they got my troponin

(10:41):
levels for my blood work and they like slapped these
defibrillator things on my chestin the yarn And I'm like, Oh my
God, what's happening? But then after that, I kind of
like was like, OK, maybe it's anisolated incident, like
whatever. And so I called a ton of doctors

(11:03):
and they were just like, you know, you have myocarditis.
My heart was 1/3 bigger than it should be and, you know, and the
lining around it as well. And they said, look, if, if you
have to wear a defibrillator forthree months and you know, you
can't do all these things, like,you know, it's just not worth

(11:28):
risking your life to fish because you're, if you get your
heart rate up, it can cause a life threatening arrhythmia.
Like a high probability. Not like, oh, like there's a 2%
chance it could cause an arrhythmia that could kill you.
Like, no, it was like, you know,like 20% and I'm like 20%'s a
little high. That's like a little bit on the
high side for me to, to risk. But then I what really did it

(11:51):
was I called my dad's friend who's a cardiologist and he was
like, man, how much like how much does this affect your
career? Like it is it detrimental to
your long term career? Like in a big way?
Like are you going to get kickedoff the tour or are you going to

(12:14):
not be able to fish again or notget sponsors for 10-15 years?
I'm like, no, not at all. Like, this is how it's laid out.
And he's like, man, it'd be the dumbest thing ever for you to go
fish. And I was like, that kind of is
it then? Like, yeah, it sucks, Mr.
Classic. And I would like to have done a

(12:35):
bunch in a row without missing one.
But I'd also like to fish next year and not be dead.
Yeah, well, me and you talked about it.
You know, we kind of said, I mean, it's one of those things
that if you do it and nothing happens, you're like, oh, glad I
did that. But if you're in an ambulance on

(12:55):
your way to the hospital or worse, right, And you look at
the doctor and you look, but I'mtrying to make the classic, man.
I mean, you just feel like an idiot. 100%.
So. Frustrating because I feel fine.
Like right now I feel like I could run out of my fiance's

(13:19):
apartment or our apartment, get in my truck and drive to Saint
Clair and fish and compete and be crazy and do what I want.
But I know I can't and that's what bugs me.
It would be better. Harder to deal with if you felt
like crap and you were stuck in bed.

(13:40):
You're like, well, I can't get my head off the pillow.
I feel like crap, but because you feel fine.
Yeah. And like my my.
Energy. Like.
I can't do anything. I can't run.
I can't. Do.
Anything but like I'm mentally totally fine, don't have any,
I'm not hurting or anything likethat.

(14:02):
And it's just like a, it's just a shock.
Like I wake up every morning andI'm like, Oh my gosh, I can't do
anything today. Nothing I can you know, and I
can I can do some computer work and watch some TV, but like I
don't like doing that like I want to be fishing like it's

(14:25):
it's July 30th. Upstate New York is the best
fishing in the country and I wake up in the best, but I'm I'm
not complaining because I am alive and that could it could
have been ugly, like actually soso you're.
You're wearing basically a defibrillator right now, right?

(14:47):
Like a, somebody's going to screen grab this for sure.
And that's fine. A little nip slip?
No, But this? Is what it looks like.
Seriously, look. I have.
No, no problem showing you. So.
This literally has to be in my pocket or.

(15:12):
Wow, that. It's in my and it's heavy and
annoying. This is in my like this is like
probably two and a half 3 lbs and it's meant to go on like a
strap that like sits right here and I'm like, no, no, no, it's
going in my pocket because I'm not wearing a like I get the

(15:34):
brochure and there's like 297 year olds on the front like live
your life. And I'm like, Oh my, this wire
comes up and goes underneath andthen there's like little, you
know, sensors back here. And I don't know if you can see

(15:57):
it, but. Basically.
Things with gel in them. OK.
And so if I have a cardiac eventor like arrhythmia.
It. Senses it and then all the gel
packets in here like explode andthen it shocks me.
Wow, dude. I don't.

(16:17):
I still am having a hard time comprehending.
Even. Now, talking about it like this
is the first time I've talked about it like that.
And it's so weird because I never, and it's really made me
appreciate the Elite series, what I do for a living.

(16:41):
And I've always appreciated, andI've said that to you on stage
before, like I just am happy to be here when it's true.
I am but. It.
All happened so quickly and whenyou look back on things that you
don't really appreciate, like dude, I, I literally get to go
out and fish for a living and I don't have to go into an office

(17:01):
and work or I don't have to, youknow, I, I get, I have
flexibility with my schedule. You know, I wake up in the
morning and I, I'm like, oh, what do I want to do today?
I'll just organize a tackle and then I'll go fish.
I'll just go fish today and do little like I can choose
whatever I want. And when I woke up like today,

(17:24):
I'm like, I can't do anything. I I, there's like I, it makes me
appreciate what I had and what Iwill have in three months, 10
times more, 10 times more, 100 times more.
It makes your, it makes problemsnot seem like a like.
And luckily this is not permanent.

(17:45):
So like I, I, I'm in the moment,I'm like, Oh my God, this is the
worst thing ever. But I'll come out of this and
I'll be like, wow, that was crazy.
But right now? It's.
Very intriguing to have such limitations in my life that it,
it makes me appreciate what I have and what I will have and

(18:05):
what all these guys have right now.
So I don't know if I'm probably sliding off topic, but no.
It's. It's, it's mentally taxing.
It really is like for someone like me especially who like has
a really hard time staying relaxed and chill because man, I

(18:27):
think about it like I'll be on the couch and like I'll be
watching, you know, like a bass master clip or something or
whatever. Like I'll be walking through and
like something happens. Maybe it scares me and I feel my
heart rate get a little bit, youknow, I can feel like my heart
rate get a little up and I'm like, Oh my God, stop.

(18:48):
OK. Like mentally it's it's
challenging to think about something so vital that goes
like if you're if you're. If you haven't.
Had an issue you're never going to think about your heart rate
right you don't think about it every day but I'm now thinking
about every day like staying calm staying relaxed not having

(19:13):
and it's that's mentally draining too honestly well and
you're. Also, like if I had to write
down on the list like who are the most jacked elite pros like
that are wired every time you see them, you'd be #1 dude.
Like you also are not a person who runs at a very calm level.

(19:38):
So like, I, I mean, you threw some words at me there of what
you got. So how did this?
How does a tick bite cause like how does it cause your heart to
have issues? I like, I've done research and
I've asked. They said it's just really rare.

(20:00):
It basically gets into your blood and it somehow targeted my
heart for some reason. They don't.
They said it's happened a few times in in anaplasmosis cases,
but they are like, hey, can you we have your consent to put you
in a medical journal. I was like.
Yeah, sure. What did I get paid?

(20:20):
And they were like, no. And I'm like, yeah, that's about
right. That's fine.
And it's just really, it's a rare thing.
I think tick borne illnesses people don't realize they like
are bad news, like Lyme's disease, the the effects of
Lyme's disease from a tick. People don't realize like the

(20:41):
damage. When I was in the ICU, there was
another the the doctor was like,look, I know you've got it bad
because I was kind of like. I was.
Stressing out right because I'm in there.
I just told you, I'm now I'm in the ICU for whatever five days
because of the heart palpitations.
And they're like, look. This is.

(21:05):
You've got it. You got a rare one, but we
caught it and you're going to beOK, I think.
But like there are people that now have like they can't go to
the bathroom. They have a bag now because of
anaplasmosis. It got their whatever intestine
or something like it targets it.It can go anywhere if you don't
catch it early or if you're justunlucky like I am.

(21:27):
And then like Lyme's disease, like bone issues.
So like, I don't think people understand like when people say
check for ticks, they actually mean like check for ticks
because it can ruin your life. Fast and it.
Almost killed me. Like if I had just not woken up
on that Monday morning and I wasjust like, it hurts but

(21:49):
whatever. Like I could have died right
there, like from a tick bite. Wow.
Which is. Crazy to think about because
they're everywhere. Everywhere.
Ticks are everywhere. Did you?
Even know you had the tick bite,Like did you find a tick on you?
Do you know where it came from? No.

(22:10):
Idea it was one of those things,but anaplasmosis you could only
get it from a tick or a blood transfusion, but I haven't had
any blood transfusions in the last ever.
So it came from a tick bite. And what's funny is I haven't
said that I had haven't told youthis.
My dad got anaplasmosis the weekbefore I did and had the same

(22:35):
symptoms. Got on Doxy, nothing happened to
him. Wow.
That's. Actually, the reason that I
called and got called, I did like a telemed thing where you
like, go on. I'm like I need to be prescribed
doxycycline. Which is.

(22:55):
For the tick borne illnesses. Then I went in, so I actually
got on the antibiotics early. In.
My, you know, in my, my symptoms, because my dad had it
and he said I recommend just geton them just in case it is then
go get tested. If it comes back negative, then
you can just get off them. And so I did everything right,

(23:18):
Dave, everything. And it still got to my heart.
Wow, it's it's an. Epidemic, if you look throughout
New York right now, it's anaplasmosis is running a
rampant and it's there's, I mean, people with like, you
know, underlying conditions, it's killing them.
I didn't really realize it because you don't until it

(23:39):
happens to you, you know? That's the truth in life though,
sadly, you don't until it happens.
To you. And that's how it should be
though you. Don't want to be worried about
all kinds of things that are going on or you know, like I
don't need to be worried about anaplasmosis, you know, if I'm
just trying to hang out in a field, like I'm walking through

(24:03):
a field, I don't want to have all these crazy thoughts in my
brain that make it hard for me to just live my life, you know?
But how do? You not, because honestly, while
you're telling the story, I was.I spent the last three or four
days in New York shooting underwater footage where I'm
climbing through oh so. And literally while you're
telling the story, I'm without even thinking about it.

(24:24):
I'm itching like I'm sorry. You start, you start.
So how is there anything you would do different?
No, you. Can't if you didn't know where
you got. It or what am I going to?
So I parked my boat at my parents' house.

(24:44):
You know, this is 3 weeks ago, 4weeks ago.
And my mom has she like she really likes to keep the field.
She's a field and she just likesto keep it high, not mowed.
And my dad's like, Steph, can weplease mowed this field?
And my mom's like, no, I like it.
It looks pretty. I'm like, OK, I park my boat out

(25:06):
there when I visit my parents. And my mom's now deathly afraid
that like the field was where I got the tick.
So she mowed the whole thing. But like, seriously like that,
Like, oh, there's great boat parking.
I'm going to go park in that field.
Like, I can't, I'm not going to stop parking in fields or in

(25:29):
grass because I'm worried about a tick.
But like, you do need to check you, you, you need to get in the
habit of like if you walk in grass that's above your ankle,
you just need to like, at least do a peek.
Be like, OK, look, yeah, there. But what's crazy is I never
found one on me. Yeah.
I didn't. Pull one out of me I didn't

(25:51):
like. It was just all of a sudden I
had anaplasmosis from a tick bite and I never saw a tick on
me. So weird.
Just so. It's such a weird, unlucky
thing, but whatever. I mean, what are you going to
do? I'm going to work on next year
and hopefully, you know, have a good 26 season.

(26:14):
And I will give Bassmaster credit.
Yeah, it stinks that I won't be in the Classic, but the the AOY
average is such a big deal that they do a good job with that
medical hardship or whatever passed halfway through the
season. I think that is a really good
rule. So you'll be fine AOY average

(26:39):
points wise it's not going to affect you, it's just going to
take the classic from you. Right, to be honest.
If they. Didn't have so for I, I guess
all the listeners like I didn't know how this worked until I
asked Lisa, but basically if youare more than halfway through
the year, which we have 9 events, which means 4 events

(27:02):
left, I believe is how it works.There's four events left, and
you have a dire medical situation like I did.
Bassmaster Will take you out of the AOY race with your current
average or with your current AOYplace.
So I'm in 23rd. They will take that out.

(27:23):
And now that's my average for the year of 2025, which is huge
because for me, being my second year, averages matter a lot
more. I mean, Dave, you know this, but
I'm explaining it to everyone. So I have a 16th in AOY from
last year and then now since I took the hardship, a 23rd from

(27:45):
this year. So I have like a 19 average
overall, which is like really important because the more years
you get, the harder your it is for your average to fall or go
up. So you want to start with a high
average because you know, and they get the rest.
Basically it goes to that if youhave a rough year, but if they

(28:06):
didn't have that in place, I might risk my health to finish
the year truly because that likewhat if they were just like, OK,
so you're going to 0 for the next two events?
I'd be like, no, I'm going and I'm not going far, but I'm going
and fishing right in front of the ramp just to.

(28:26):
Give it a. Shot I can't just take two zeros
on the year and finish 48th in the AOI.
Not that that's a bad finish, but it matters from the AOI
perspective. Could could cost you your career
down the road down the. Road Yeah.
Aveco. Not only makes incredible
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(28:49):
10% of the company's profits to conservation and making fishing
better. Now back to the show.
When we had talked last week youwere like I'm not making the
decision till the last minute and then obviously you ended up
making the decision probably a week early if you were going by

(29:10):
last minute standards. Why did you choose to do that?
It's a good question. It's because I didn't trust
myself to make the right decision.
But like, I was so on the fence that finally I was just like, I
need to post a video and go public with it so that I don't

(29:31):
make a bad decision. You know, like I, I almost had
to tell people that I was like, man.
I. I almost had to tell people that
I was making this decision so that I would make this decision.
To protect you from yourself, yes.
Yeah. Yeah, since.

(29:51):
Making that decision, has it been a sigh of relief or is it
just it's? Kind of just like this is what
it is. I'm I'm just bummed about the
classic. Like now it wouldn't be as bad
if it was like my first classic or something like that, but I

(30:15):
just like, I just love competingin the classic so much.
And that's what everyone that's like the, you know, like the
classic and it just bugs me because I'd worked really hard.
Like I had a brutal start to theyear 96 at St.
John's. Like bad.

(30:36):
That's a bad tournament. That's a really bad tournament.
And I was down and out and I waslike, all right, I want to make
the I got to make the classic this year.
Like I I need to come back and catch them.
And I grinded my way back. I had a 30th and I'm like a
whatever. I don't know even what I have.
But it was like a slow, like it wasn't as go to the season as

(30:58):
last year, Like I didn't just start out crushing it and I was
proud of myself that I I like mentally because I was ruined
after the St. John's and then I was I I
climbed out and I'm like, all right, I'm here.
I can make the classic. Then I, you know, top 10 pass
with tank and I was like, all right, you know, I'm on and and
then to have it end so abruptly and like not on my terms or you

(31:24):
know, it, it's just a bummer. But.
Looking at it positively, like you said, I work the work, the
classic make the sponsors happy.I hopefully that's the only time
I will be at any of their boothsany of the days.

(31:44):
And at the end of the day, it ismy health.
And that's the thing that is what's making it easier is like
I all I, I really like my life outside of fishing and there's
not much of it because I fished.So like fishing takes up so much
of my life, but I like my life alot.

(32:04):
And it's not worth, like you said, like, hey, grandpa, like
why did, why are you permanentlyin a defibrillator?
Oh, well, I, I wanted to fish the bass master classic.
Well, what's the bass master classic?
It's like, Oh well, I it's like this, you know, you know,
because if you don't know fishing, let's face it, like the

(32:24):
bass master classic. You don't.
Know you don't know it. It's like saying you know the
Daytona 500. Someone doesn't know racing.
They're they probably don't knowwhat the Daytona 500 is.
It's not worth my life. And that's not a shot at
Bassmaster. That's just a shot.
No, that's just the truth. It's the truth, like, but your

(32:47):
situation's a little tougher in the way that you had to make the
decision. You know, like, and and like if
you God forbid we're in a car wreck and your arms were broken,
you're like, well, I can't cast.I don't have a choice here.
Like there's no but to feel fineand have to make the decision.

(33:07):
I know it probably sucks. And what was it like?
What were those five days in thehospital like?
Was it? Was it scary you?
Know it's funny. It wasn't like it was scary, but
I was like, I just have this thing and that's why this
decision was so hard. I have this weird thing where

(33:31):
I'm like, I'm fine, I'm fine. Like this is crazy.
Like I am like in my brain. I'm like, I'm totally fine.
I'm 28. I do whatever I want.
I've run around. This is.
This is out of control, you know, like this is like almost
fate. So the whole time I'm in the
hospital, I'm you know, I'm lying.
I'm tired because like when yourheart gets big and like.

(33:56):
The. My ejection fraction or
whatever, which I believe is like how much output, how much
blood is like getting pumped by your heart.
It was lower. So I was tired and I'm like more
like even still like I'm a little more out of breath, but

(34:19):
I'm still sitting in there just like, man, I'll be fine.
Like this is all I got. Like this sucks, but like, I'm
going to be in, you know, in a week I'm going to be out fishing
and I'll be fine. So I never was like scared.
The only time I was scared was when I was in the ER and they
were freaking out in there. I was like, OK, this is.

(34:39):
But then they were like, OK, it's everything's fine.
Like we're going to put you in, we're going to admit you.
And, you know, they kind of calmed down because they had
everything situated. And then I was like, OK,
they'll, they'll probably just tell me to go home in like a
couple days. So I, I, I just have this sense

(35:01):
of, and I think everyone does until something bad happens to
you, you get this sense of like,oh, that's never going to happen
to me. It's like car crashes.
They're like wearing your seat belt is the perfect example.
They're like, dude, wear your seat belt.
It was like, dude, I'm 5 minutesfrom home.
I make this drive all the time. And then you get in a car crash
and kill your friend or something like that.
And that's real. Like my a guy I know, a guy I

(35:24):
know and grew up with, he it's super sad.
He. Just he was at.
The beach, he dove in the water.Like.
Dove in the water and there was a sandbar that he didn't see hit
his head. Killed him literally last
Saturday. Dead 29 like dead.

(35:49):
He got to the hospital and they was in a coma forever so they
pulled the plug. They're his family.
So like it can happen to anyone and you.
That's why that's that's why I'msaying you can't live your life
in fear. But you also do need to do
simple things like just check for a tick.
It it's so easy, so easy and I'mnot saying it.

(36:14):
I like that didn't that wouldn'thave helped me, but it can help
you because I've, I don't know if you've read any of the
comments like on Bathmaster stuff or anything.
People are coming out and they're like, yeah, my buddy got
a tick bite. And now the amount of people
that have DM D me and said, yeah, I got a tick bite and it
completely has ruined my life. Like my bones are, are brittle.
I can't do anything because I didn't catch the lion or

(36:36):
whatever. And I'm like, man, it's pretty.
It's a lot more serious than people you know make it out to
be. Does that help give you some
perspective? I mean, you're you're shut down
for three months. You're missing some stuff,
you're missing the classic. But this shouldn't be long term.

(36:57):
I mean, yeah, it could have beenlike there's, it could have
been. Yeah.
And and if I don't rest and and don't keep my heart rate down,
it could be long term, but it's not going to be because of what
my decision that I made. But having someone I knew like

(37:17):
die and people having all like, you know, and all of this, I'm
like. All right.
It's not the end of the world. It's really not like I can still
talk to you. I can still talk to, you know,
do a podcast. Like I can still work on stuff
for next year. And like I said, it makes

(37:41):
perspective is is the biggest thing that's sort of it's given
me is because I went from doing whatever I want to now not doing
whatever I want, but also realizing that I'm not dead or,
you know, permanently injured. I mean, I don't know how I would
be able to live if they were like, yeah, you can't fish
again. You know, like you, you can't,
your heart is too weak to go outon the boat and fish again.

(38:05):
So all thinking about that the decision was pretty easy at when
I started it. When I.
Talked and had that sort of. You know, aha.
Moment I was like, yeah, that's not, that's not going to happen.
So the other scary moment, maybeeven the scariest moment in this

(38:27):
was when you're laying in bed and you're feeling chest pains
and how bad, Like if you hadn't gone to the hospital that day,
that morning, I think I would have died.
But my. Heart was.
It was. Getting bigger, like you can

(38:48):
only get so your your heart can only get so big.
Like it was a third bigger. So like if that's your heart, my
heart was like that, you know what I mean?
Like a third bigger. So man, that was see because the

(39:09):
Sunday, so remember I got anaplasmosis.
I had it. I know, I knew I had it.
I was on doxycycline Friday thatwhole week leading up to Icast
Friday I felt I was sick. Friday I felt better.
I went and fisted tournament on Cayuga on Saturday, totally

(39:29):
fine. Sunday I fished A tournament in
the morning. I had like minor chest pains
that felt weird, but at in my myage, I can't consider that a
heart attack or something. Yeah, it's like, OK, I slept on
it weird. And then Monday was when when I
woke up having remembered my chest pain I had on Sunday when

(39:53):
I woke up and I had that amount of pain like in right here, I
was like, man, this can't be good.
And I started putting it together like I was like
anaplasmosis infection, chest pain like that, that's probably

(40:14):
bad. And I knew it was bad because I
got up and. I didn't even wake Caroline up
because Caroline rolled over andwas like, God, you're being
dramatic again. Like go back to sleep or
something. Oh God.
Well, like sometimes like I'll just, she know like.
She will never say that for the rest of your life.

(40:35):
Now I know. Never again.
I know. And I was like.
No, I actually like this hurts like this actually really hurts.
And she's like, OK, do you want me to do anything about it?
And I'm like, no, no, it's OK. Go back to sleep.
And then I got up and I was like, I leaned over.
I remember this is 3 AMI leaned over the table upstairs in my

(41:02):
underwear. And I was like, I tried to like
move in a position where it didn't hurt.
And I was like, man, this, this is bad.
And I just put a shirt on pants and got in my car and drove so
fast to the ER. And you're not supposed to do
that. Like I'm probably supposed to
have someone drive me. But I didn't care because I was

(41:23):
I was actually scared. I was really scared because I
knew in that moment that the chest pain was heart related.
100%. They didn't need to diagnose it.
Like I was like, this is bad because there's no you don't.
You don't just get that amount of pain in your chest unless you

(41:43):
have like a blunt trauma or you have a heart issue.
When they say chest pain, they mean it like you're gonna know
because every this is what's so weird about this situation.
If you haven't had that when people say if you have chest
pains, like make sure like you're, it's kind of it's a
foreign idea because you're like, I don't even know what

(42:05):
that means or feels like. Like I'm gonna tell you right
now, you're going to know if it's bad enough, you're going to
know. You're going to be like, all
right, I need to go to the hospital immediately.
I should have gone Sunday. Looking back, I should have
gone. I should have turned the boat
around in that tournament and gone straight to the hospital.
And I wonder if it would have been, if I, if the if it would

(42:28):
have turned out differently. Because looking back on that
Sunday, I was driving down the lake in my boat with my buddy
and. I had.
That chest pain and I was, I waslike kind of short of breath a
little bit, but I'm like what? You you.

(42:48):
It's hard to you start. Thinking you're thinking it
even. Probably, yeah.
Yeah, it's just a weird and I'm down on the boat like like
trying to breathe and stuff. And he's like, dude, you good.
I'm just like, look, I said you need to call 911 if anything
happens to me and not go back. I said this to him.
I said if, if anything happens to me right now on this boat,

(43:12):
this is when we got to our firstspot.
He was rattled. I'll be honest, I, I kind of
scared him, but I was like, you need to call.
You need to not try to drive this boat back to the ramp.
You just need to call 911 and goto the bank like that's what you
need to do. And he was like, dude, you're
right. I'm like, dude, forget I even
said it, but just remember that for the rest of the day because
I, like I said, I knew somethingwas off to the point where I was

(43:36):
like, I'm in a tournament, but I'm 28, I'm fine.
So. I don't know.
That's something to be That's another thing if you if you feel
that chest pain, you don't want to mess with it, even if it's
nothing, go to the ER doctors orwhatever because oh student, it

(43:59):
scared me. That was a scary thing.
Well, now. You need to rebuild and focus on
the positive, and that's what you're trying to do in between
eating right. Caroline hates me.
She buys these. Yeah.

(44:20):
Oh, it's I have an eating. I have an eating problem.
I think it's I, it's seriously, it's bad.
It's so bad. And, and I don't know how I
think Caroline said I need to see a therapist for my eating.
That's how bad it is. Because like, I will eat and it
chill buy to go to the grocery store and buy a bag of chips,

(44:43):
some pretzels, a bunch of yogurts.
And like I eat the, I eat them all in a day.
Like I'll eat the entire bag of chips, the entire bag of
pretzels and like 5 of the 10 yogurts.
And she comes home and she's like Kyle and I'm like, no, I
know I'm and I'm like bloated and I feel gross but I'm so.

(45:03):
Bored. But like I'm full, but I keep
eating and and it's this is whathappens when I don't have
fishing. Dave, I well, I don't have to
tell you so the. New ad campaign for the elite
series should not be like it's not just So what it gives you.
It's it's what it stops you frombecoming meat on the Elite

(45:23):
series stops me from having an eating disorder.
And not an eating disorder like you would think, like I am
overeating, like I actually havean eating.
I think it's, I don't know you're binging.
You're just not purging. I'm binge eating badly.

(45:46):
Like, it's taken a lot of strength for me not to eat that
whole bag of crackers while we've been on this podcast.
Feel. Free to eat, feel free to eat, I
mean. Why are you?
Why are you telling me that? I I don't know.
I just I. Want you to be natural I I don't
I mean I I don't want to put anypressure on you you feel feel

(46:08):
free to do whatever you want youshowed us your nipples I mean,
what else I. Didn't show the nipples, but you
know what's good about this thing?
Back to this. This.
Gives me like an understanding the.
Reminder yes. Yeah, gives me the reminder
because I kept, I actually was bothering my cardiologist.

(46:30):
I can't believe I have a cardiologist, but I feel like
I'm 87. But I I kept buying and I'm
like, dude, is this thing reallynecessary?
Like my troponin levels, everything's normalized except
my heart's a little bigger. And he's like, look, I'm not
telling you that you have to wear it, but if you have a

(46:51):
sudden cardiac death and you're not wearing it, you're going to
die. And if you are wearing it,
you're going to live. So just take that consideration,
figure it out. Like I, I, I don't know what to
tell you. Like, 'cause I asked him like 10
times. And so that's sort of is why I'm
continuing to wear it, 'cause I,I want to live.

(47:12):
Yeah. Well.
Now, I don't think it's going tohappen.
Because. He said like, you know, you are
young, you're going. It's not like you're dealing
with myocarditis and you're an 83 year old male.
You're you're gonna probably heal a little quicker, but you
still have. I was having what's called

(47:38):
tachycardia, something like that.
It is bad, dude. It was bad.
That's why I have this was because of the arrhythmias.
It wasn't because of the myocarditis.
I have this cause the myocarditis was causing specific
arrhythmias that are life threatening, considered life
threatening. And in the hospital.

(48:00):
This is what really scared me. I didn't even tell you this when
that was attached to all the things, you know, they've got
the monitor up there. I had one, I had a arrhythmia
that I felt and I was in the chair and I my heart just all of
a sudden went started beating like really quickly.
And I was like, oh, he smoked. And then the screen thing was

(48:25):
like, and I was just like, Oh myGod, this is so terrifying.
And then I felt it like normalize again.
And then the nurse, the people came in and they were like, and
I was like, yeah, I felt that. I don't know what that was.
So that's I actually visually and like physically felt.

(48:49):
What? They were concerned about and
it, it was real, very real. That's why I have no problem
wearing this because I know, like I, it's rare that you can
see like when you have a disease, they're like, this is
what you have. It's inside of you and you just,
you're visually, you're like, I,I don't see it.
I don't. But I could feel and and see

(49:11):
everything happen with my heart and I'm like, that's not cool.
That's really not cool. That's a real thing that could
kill me. And so I yeah, yeah.
So yeah. It's wild.
Wow, so fishing literally could kill you?

(49:32):
Well. Anything could because she's got
to stay. Calm.
I I can't. Do.
You know, stay calm is relative.Like I have to keep my heart
rate. My resting heart rate is pretty
low because I'm somewhat athletic.
So my heart rate's like 55 to 60.

(49:54):
I need to keep, I need to keep it like below 85 pretty much,
which means that's not that crazy.
Like 85 is not like, you know, we're running a marathon. 85 is
like. You're.
Fighting, yeah, 85's like you're, I've, I've run 70 miles

(50:18):
an hour in a bass boat for the past, hell, 2811 years, 10 years
or not 85. You know, I've, I've gone 70
miles an hour in a bass boat for10-10 years.
And if I got in a bass boat right now and went 70 miles an
hour down the lake, I guarantee you my heart rate would be above
80. I I think anyone's would be

(50:40):
because you have to be vigilant.Like everything is amped up.
Like you got to be thinking ahead of where you're turning or
what's in front of you. So like, think about a blast off
scenario, you know? Yeah, we don't shotgun start,
but you're still the basketball turn in front of you.
You're running through the waves.
You're you're, you're, you know,you're turning your wheel, that
is. I mean when I was.

(51:04):
Talking about fishing, Dave, I was like, OK, I could.
No matter what number I draw, I could sit at the dock, let
everyone go like everyone go, and then idle out to where I was

(51:25):
going to go fish. And I'm.
Just like, Oh my God. And then what happens?
I catch A7 pounder or A6 pounderand it's the small mouth jumping
all around the boat and I'm likeOh my God, like.
Your, your heart rate would spike just sitting at the dock

(51:47):
watching everyone leave. Like just the thought of like,
I'm boat 29 and I'm sitting herestill like you would.
Yes, so. Listen, one of the things that
impresses me about you is you'renot only a great dude, not only
a great angler, but I consider you a great business person.
It's time to use this for your advantage.

(52:09):
Call all of your sponsors, tell them the story, and then
renegotiate. Nobody's going to pull the run.
I mean, it's a tough sponsor now, OK?
I need this five year deal. Nobody's going to say no now,
Kyle. Don't think it didn't cross my
mind. One thing I.
Wasn't like. How?

(52:30):
Can I use this? Avco not only makes incredible
outdoor clothing, but they care about anglers.
With their 10% pledge, Avco and The Shed family donate at least
10% of the company's profits to conservation and making fishing
better. Now back to the show.

(52:53):
No. But you know, what I really
would like is for Zoll, they're not a sponsor these.
People. Yeah, Zoll.
Hey, look, I got to give them credit.
I mean, here's the deal. Without.
Zol. Which?
Frankly, I hate them right now because it's a really
uncomfortable bra that I wear. Stop.

(53:13):
Stop, Stop, stop, stop, stop. You can't say that.
No, No. Listen, hear me out.
Zol is is actually a lifesaver. 95% of their patients.
That they. Have put on this vest Have lived
so regardless of whether they had an event a, a cardiac event

(53:35):
or not, 95% of people that wear this post myocarditis or
something, they live. So you can't argue with the odds
and and I like having those oddsbehind me.
So I'll wear Zol's product and frankly, people, I mean, this is

(53:59):
not something that just comes from myocarditis.
Like, you know, my but myocarditis is a serious issue.
Like athletes that you hear about, you know, you hear about
athletes every once in a while just dropping dead.
Like I remember, you know, when I, I played soccer all through
college, obviously high school, middle school, and I played like

(54:21):
on a travel team. There was a kid at one of our
travel, you know, it's hot out, it's like 95° passes out dies.
That's from your heart expand. A lot of that comes from
myocarditis because your heart gets so big like in like
swollen, I guess from something and then it's not pumping out

(54:43):
enough blood. So you pass out and you die.
Like so Zol has been has is likeone of the only ones that has
this deal figured out and I likeit and I want Zol down the Zol
wrap the Zol wrap. The problem is I wore.
Zol because my heart was swole. I could do a lot.

(55:08):
With that, yeah, yeah, Zol, comeon, take care of this guy.
Here's one thing I'll say, though.
If we had to do like a product, you know, sort of overhaul with
them, like Kyle, like what, whatcould we improve on?
And. Look, it's going to save my life

(55:29):
so I have no complaints, but this thing is so heavy and bulky
like it's huge and I'm ripping the pockets in all my shorts
keeping it in there. So maybe like if you could go to
like a wallet sized or like an iPhone size deal where it just

(55:50):
slides right in, that would be nice.
It's. Saving your life, dude.
I mean, that's what I'm. Saying so if they came.
In and gave you like a little thing that was this big.
You'd be like this little thing's gonna save my life.
I mean, dude, it's not even likeit's not even close to the size
of one of your graphs. What do you really think what

(56:10):
it's accomplishing? Yeah, you're right.
Have. A cracker.
No, no, I put in gum. That's what I'm have a gum
addiction now. See.
Yeah. I got you.
I got you. But yeah, I.
Was going to say. How has, what is the feedback

(56:34):
bin from other anglers from? I mean, there's been a lot of
posts, a lot of support, like that's kind of, yeah.
And feel good. No, that's been nice.
Like knowing that people are like, you know what, like you
made the right decision and people are going to say that
regardless. But I think this time it was

(56:56):
across the board. People are like, look, this is
not something to mess with, you know?
And obviously the outpouring support of like, hey, like we're
going to miss watching you and you know, your energy and that
stuff like that was that's all nice to hear that people, you
know, enjoy watching me fish or following me.

(57:17):
And then the anglers have been great.
You know, they, they understand for sure.
I think, I think that this is just one of those situations
that like, it's not like I want to take a medical exemption, you
know, and I'm sure that someone,frankly, is going to be really

(57:40):
happy with me at Oh yeah, you're.
About to help somebody someone. Instead of having 100 days
because we're going to have 101,so someone's going to owe me a
steak dinner. And when I find out who it is, I
am straight up texting them and being like, when's the steak
dinner you're buying me? We'll go together.
You're buying me one. I had to almost die for you to

(58:02):
make the Elite series and someone's going.
To make the classic Oh wait, no,yes, yes.
Well, because you're not going to make the classic.
So assuming, I mean, there's still two more events, but
assuming you were going to qualify from those two events,
which I would assume you're in 23rd, you're going to Saint
Clair and Lacrosse to fisheries,you should do well.

(58:24):
And so I would assume you would have so an extra person, not an
extra person, but some of them will replace your spot in the
classic, But there will be an actual when an angler takes
medical absence, it's 100 anglers plus exemptions, whether
they be legend or medical exemption.
So by adding you as a medical exemption, some extra person,

(58:45):
one extra person that would havebeen eliminated at the end of
the season from the Elite serieswill not be eliminated.
So yeah, I mean, yeah. There's what it is.
There is that. Piss me off.
It it really does piss me off that I can't finish the I'm so

(59:07):
competitive, like it's crazy, like everything I do pretty much
and I know how to turn it on andoff.
I don't think you do. I'm watching you during this
entire podcast. Dude, you're a spaz.
You can't sit still. You're either itching, chewing,
or like, I mean you. I don't think you can turn it
off, I think. Dude, it's so hard and you're

(59:29):
right, but now especially I'm locked.
I'm like locked into doing nothing for well, two months and
that's, that is tough for anybody.
I don't care who you are. If someone says to you, you

(59:50):
can't get your heart rate up above X value.
And basically they said for the first month and a half, that's
anything over a light walk for the for the next month and a
half, it's like incredibly. Like a.

(01:00:13):
Little. Over a walk you can do so like I
can maybe walk another mile or something when they tell me that
like, dude, I, I my whole life involves high heart rate, like
you said. So I'm just like, I mean, I can
feel my when I go to when I go lie down to go to to go to bed,

(01:00:35):
like my feet and legs and arms, like they itch because I haven't
done anything, like any sort of release of energy.
It's crazy. I don't know if anyone can
understand what I'm saying, but you ever get I it's so weird.
I I feel like almost like I'm inpain when I'm lying down at

(01:00:59):
night because I haven't done anything all day.
Nothing, no walking, nothing. I'm basically sitting on this
couch or sitting in this chair doing work and that is like,
that's where I'm saying my mental like focus needs to be

(01:01:21):
top notch the next two months soI don't blow a fuse.
What do you think the morning ofAugust 7th will be like?
That is day one of Lake Saint Clair.
I'll probably watch every secondof it honestly.
And I'll be. I'll be angry.

(01:01:43):
I'll be. Angry.
I'll be eating a lot, you know, if I treat it like the Super
Bowl and like cook up like just a spread of food and put it on
2T VS and and watch. No, all jokes aside, I I will

(01:02:08):
watch and I I'll be angry, but like I said, I can't be that
angry. I'm not dead.
I can fish next year. I was really hoping that I could
fish the Champlain EQ, but that's just that's going to be
pushing it. I think that's September 18th

(01:02:28):
because I was hoping to fish that one and then fish a Wheeler
and Okeechobee just for that offchance that something cool could
happen and I could win one of them and make the classic after
that whole thing. Like I would be like that would
be it. I want to give myself the

(01:02:49):
opportunity to have a cool, you know, story again, but I don't
think I think that's going to bekind of out of the question.
And especially like September 18th, like it's like it seems
far away, but it's not with my condition and and.

(01:03:10):
Like I ruin. My elite series year next year
because I fished the EQ too early.
Like it just doesn't make sense.But what?
You did rally for you. You had put some work and some
thought into a way to try and fix your situation.

(01:03:34):
You know, if other anglers get in your situation with classic
qualification that that isn't going to happen.
Do do you think that's the right?
Like what? Where do you where you sit with
that? I presented it because, you

(01:03:55):
know, I asked you. I asked a few other anglers, you
know, I asked I think like Lee Lucy, John Cruz, couple other
guys, just what they thought of it and they didn't have any
problem with it at all. I think it's just hard and this
is what I talked to pretty much everyone at Bass that I could

(01:04:19):
about it and I think the consensus was basically the
classic so pure that you don't it's hard to really.
Like it's just a hard. Line to walk like to give an
exemption in like could it be abused?

(01:04:40):
You know, and I I just didn't think they wanted to even go
down that road, which I slightlyunderstand.
I mean the medical exemptions been been abused.
And that's. Just a fact and we won't get
into it here, but I mean what I'm going through right now.
Is a. Legitimate reason to take a

(01:05:01):
medical exemption if I do say somyself yeah, there are other
people, other anglers in the past 20 years that have taken a
medical exemption 100% that should not have taken it and
every angler would tell you the same thing they know so I think
that hurt my. 'Cause I.

(01:05:23):
Told Chris and Phillip and Lisa.I said it doesn't have to be
implemented for me. How about just like next year?
If this happened to Jay Shakur, it.
He would. Have to choose between pulling
out his first AOI standing or sitting out for two events and

(01:05:45):
finishing 30th in AOI just to make the classic.
That doesn't seem right because he's already in the classic.
So even if the rules stated, if you have enough points projected
points to be in the classic and not finish the year, you should
be automatically exempted. Like if I had 500.
Yeah, yeah. If you can't be knocked out

(01:06:08):
mathematically, you I agree with.
Yeah, yeah. And that's what I was saying.
Like, that's where I that's why I didn't really argue.
I'm like, you know, I mean, sure.
Could I finish 90th the next twoevents in a row?
Yeah. So mathematically, I could get
knocked out. But like, if you weren't, if you
couldn't, I think that should bea rule next year.

(01:06:30):
If you have to take a medical exemption by some weird reason
and you're the top ten in AOY with two events to go, you're
in, you're in the classic and you could take the medical
exemption. And I thought that was an OK
rule and I had it mapped out. I sent the rule in.

(01:06:52):
But I I get it too man, because it's like tough luck like that
sucks, but like we can't really make exceptions for such a big
event, the biggest event in fishing.
I get it. So I didn't.
I didn't complain, just sucks. Yeah, no.

(01:07:17):
And that's the truth. It just sucks.
I mean, it's I'm a believer in everything that happens in life,
good or bad happens for a reason.
It's a learning lesson, whatever.
What? What do you think you learned
from this? Or can you even assess that yet?
Yeah, like I. Said, I think the biggest thing

(01:07:39):
is learning how lucky I am and we all are to do this because
the minute I can't just go jump in the truck and drive the boat
to the launch or get up and you know what?
Do whatever. Like look forward to driving to
a tournament or whatever. Like I, I really, I didn't take

(01:08:03):
for granted what I did, what I do for a living and what we all
do what you do. But like at a certain point it
just becomes your life. So you're not thinking about
it's natural. You're just like, yeah, OK, I'm
going to get up. It'd be like if I had a, it'd be
like, if you're a billionaire, like you're just like, everyone
wants all this money, but like, it's just sort of, you already

(01:08:25):
have it. So you don't wake up and think
about, you know, I wish I was a billionaire like everyone else
does, you know? And now that I don't have it,
you can't do it. It puts that into perspective.
So I that's as of right now, that's the learning less, you

(01:08:46):
know, that's my take away, I guess is just thankful for what
I do. And yeah, that's it so far,
Dave. I mean, I think that it's it's
and I said in the in the, you know, I sort of said to the
anglers, I was like, hey, you know, I'm probably I'm likely

(01:09:10):
going to be out for the year. So, you know, let's put what did
I say? I'll look it up because I like
it made me like angry that we'reall arguing about forward facing
because like I said, probably out for the rest of the year.

(01:09:33):
So no matter what happens with Ford facing sonar or any of this
BS, just be happy you can fish. This situation has made me
realize how lucky we are to do what we do for a living no
matter what the rules are. That's and that's a fact 'cause
everyone's everyone's yapping all for it painting sonar and

(01:09:54):
I'm just like dude take it away don't take it away.
I don't care I just don't. I want to go out and fish.
Yeah, perspective is amazing. And when something's taken from
you, it makes you look at thingsvery different and that, and
that's the sad truth about life.I mean, things as simple as

(01:10:16):
going to the bathroom, everybodytakes it for granted, but the
second you can't guess what, those people get very grumpy.
I mean it's and and I always think about like your body, your
light, like dude, you've had thing that you've never thought
of that now you pay like you a moment ago you were scratching

(01:10:37):
your chest and I'm like. I'm now.
Paying attention but there's a machine in you that beeps and
I'm not talking about the machine that's around you I'm
talking about the machine that'slike your.
Our bodies are amazing. Like if you looked at your body
like a car, like if you could like the fact that you can cut
your hand and do nothing to it, just keep it clean and guess

(01:10:58):
what? It's going to regenerate and
it's going to scab and it's going to, but before you know
it, there's going to be skin. And, and maybe if you cut it
really bad, there'll be a littlescarred that you can look at.
But could you imagine if you were selling cars and you were
like, if you dent this bumper, it will regenerate and within a
couple of weeks it'll just be slightly different color.
And then everyone will buy your freaking car.

(01:11:18):
And we live with a million. Dollar Car.
Yeah, it's. It's wild.
It's wild, but I mean the most important thing is you're
healthy. You know what I mean?
You will be healthy. Get through this few months and
and you'll be back and you'll befine and the fruit Brett bat

(01:11:41):
will soar again. I.
Hope so. And you know what's funny is
bats eat ticks. Come on.
Oh yeah. Oh.
Bats are like, no, seriously, bats like #1 it's literally
ticks. Wow.

(01:12:02):
And I got got. Wow I never even thought of
that. Damn God just prove them once
again how genius zone is. Calls you the fruit bat.
Who knew few months later? God miserable but.

(01:12:23):
Yeah, I might. Come to lacrosse.
Yeah, maybe. I don't know if I'm bored and
just watch. Come.
On You can be part of the live set.
We'll get you a chair. We won't say anything really
controversial that'll stress youout.
Yeah. Yeah, I'll tell you where I'm
not going to be at the Anglers meeting.

(01:12:46):
I was joking. With Leslie, I said.
You can count me out for that because I'll need a I'll leave
two of these around me. Well, it I don't know if that.
Was like public or not, but I don't care.
I'm not going to that thing. Oh, yeah, no, no, I don't know
that it isn't public. I mean that we, you see at the

(01:13:08):
end of the year there's an anglers meeting.
So yeah, gonna be an anglers meeting and I generally don't go
to myself. So you're going to go to.
This one you have to. Why?
Because it's. Going to be absolutely electric.
I wish that I was not. I wish that my heart wasn't
weak. Your heart, Ted tells you

(01:13:29):
there's something wrong with ourAnglers meetings.
This man's heart will not allow him to attend the Angler.
No, it will not. It literally.
You know it's true too you. Know it's it definitely is it
definitely is strange but hey I look forward to seeing it

(01:13:49):
lacrosse and I look forward to seeing you for years and years
to come I literally I'll be honest when I first saw your
post I was like now there's a guy that is committed to getting
out of ICAST posted posted a picture of him it is bad in the
hospital I mean he really does not want to go to ICAST yeah
like he. Got a hook in him and he just

(01:14:10):
went to the ER just to get it removed.
Well. Thank God you're OK and you'll
be fine. You'll overcome this.
Thank God you made the right decision.
And I think you definitely. Oh, I wanted to ask you because
one of the things that blew me away when I asked you throughout
this process, I said, what did your parents say?
And it amazed me. Your dad said he would drive

(01:14:32):
you, but what did they? Which shows how incredibly
supportive they are. But what did they say when you
made your final decision not to fish?
No. So this was so couple days later
my dad said he would drive me. Then I talked to the
cardiologist said it was his buddy and my dad said actually I
don't think I can drive you. I will.

(01:14:54):
He said I'll support you if you go.
But he said, I can't physically drive you because then if you
die out there, I will feel it's my fault.
So you can find someone else to drive you, but I'm not driving
you. And I was like, all right,
that's, that's fair. I had it lined up, man.

(01:15:15):
I, I had someone, I had a driverlined up and everything.
What did they? Say when you decided not to
fish. They just said it's a mature
choice. I'm glad you made the right
decision. Like they.
Knew what the right decision was.
And like I said, it's just hard to make that call.

(01:15:40):
It's hard, like you said, when you when you actually have to
make the call, that's a hard call to make.
I've run a Yamaha outboard for over 30 years.
It has got me home safe each andevery time.
If you enjoy this podcast, remember Yamaha supports it and
they care enough about you to make this ad read very short.

(01:16:01):
Now back to the show. Yeah.
It's easy to sit on the sidelines and say you would do
different. But I mean, it's I, I feel like
talking to you, you knew it was the right decision.
You just had to convince yourself.
Yeah. Like.
From the get go, you seem prettylike I don't want to miss

(01:16:22):
anything, but I also know that this is and like you said, you
got a giant reminder that's strapped around your chest for
the next three months. So better slow down in the
eating or they're going to have to adjust that man's ear on you.
I already. Have an adjustment on it?
Yes, Seriously. I mean, soccer players wear

(01:16:48):
those, don't they? I mean, you're a soccer player.
Chest monitors, yeah, no, but. They wear like the man's ears,
so they don't get the chafed nipples, don't they?
But like, what do they wear under their shirt?
Oh, I never wore that, no. Well, you do now.
That's European guys. Oh, OK, They're different.
Yeah, how many pieces of gum have you?
Like you're just, I mean, how many pieces of gum are you

(01:17:12):
putting in at a time, bro? Oh, it's.
Three every. Every.
Time it's three. I go through.
I go through. There are. 50 pieces of gum in
this I'm a full case, a day a full.
Have some gum, dum dum. OK, I got one more question.

(01:17:38):
So you're clean, you know, like Zins?
No. Zins no nicotine, so three
months. From now are you like upper
Decker? Lower Decker?
Are you off? Are you done Zinning?
I'm. Upper Decker, Lower Decker.
I'm from there. Actually, I'm double lower.
I'm a double lower guy. I'm going to tell you what.

(01:17:59):
I've. Never sinned.
Really. No, no, I've never sinned in my
life, No. Have you ever?
Had any sort of tobacco or nicotine in your mouth?
Well, yeah, years ago, yeah, OK,I smoked, but and then I'd lost
my smokes during a cigarette during a thing, and then I had
chewed tobacco, but it made me throw up.

(01:18:20):
So I is it the same like I don'tknow, No.
It's it's cleaner. It's not, it's not tobacco, it's
just nicotine, really. I wish Zen would sponsor me.
Zen and what? What is the other one the the
I'll have? Zen and Zol.

(01:18:41):
I feel like you should have themon each shoulder.
The darkness, the dark and the light.
Exactly. Yeah.
Yeah. Well, I get accused of zenning
all the time because I I take like when I'm on stage, I'll
drop like I have them right here, fisherman's friends and
I'd like to be sponsored by them.
I'll throw one almost in my mouth.
It's just a like a it's a a it'sa throat lozenge, right for for

(01:19:05):
when you're talking lots and I want to have nice breath when I
talk to you guys, But people will always accuse that, like a
lot on the Internet. I get accused of zinning on
stage, but I've never zinned. What does it do for you?
Just a. Little nicotine just chills.
You out. No, jacks me up.
Zen gets you jacked up. Yeah.

(01:19:28):
It's a little well. What?
Does it do for me? I don't know.
I mean, what does smoking do forSeth Fieder?
A lot of things, yeah. Well.
I that's the. Thing Zen, you know makes me go

(01:19:50):
to the bathroom easier in the morning 0 it.
That caused troubles in the Zen break.
Yeah. No, God, sorry to hear that.
It's. Such a shame.
I don't know. I, I don't know.
It's a really good question. All right.

(01:20:11):
Well. I like it and that's why that's
the gum. Is that the hardest thing?
You're missing the Zens. It's everything, everything
combined. Not be like, Can you imagine?
This is what I want everyone to imagine one day.

(01:20:33):
Everything you do, they just sayyou can't do this for three
months now. Done.
You cannot Zin. You cannot have coffee, you
cannot have any caffeine. You cannot go fishing.
You can't. Recreationally fish.
You can't just go out. It's really, it's really not a
smart idea with with the heat inthe first four weeks to 5, four

(01:20:54):
to six weeks, they said it's really not a good idea to go out
when it's really, really hot and, and exert yourself outside
in that heat. So maybe at night I could go
like a four to seven and and andsit there and but it's almost

(01:21:16):
part of me is like I can't do that because it's like giving a
little taste of. You know I.
Don't know. Yeah, if you're.
A race car driver going and driving a whatever.
I'm trying to think of a little Prius.
Prius does not scratch the itch,no.

(01:21:38):
That's what I'm saying like thatsort of.
Now what I will say is I'm goingto ask pretty seriously the
doctor when I see him. I think I have another check up
August 14th. I'm going to very seriously talk
to him about am I able to with proper hydration?
I'll bring a fan, whatever it takes, go graph and and sit in

(01:22:03):
my seat and graph Ontario in in August, in late late August,
because we're that's, I mean, we're going to the Saint
Lawrence next year out of Clayton.
So I'm like, I need to I need tofigure out that lake.
I haven't been on that lake morethan one time in my whole life.
Ontario, You. Always fish the river.

(01:22:24):
Yeah, and I suck on the river, so I don't.
For some reason I don't like I was supposed to be covering on
Fox. The.
Saint Lawrence River Open. Ronnie had asked me to come down
and but this thing, I was like, I'm going to get too excited.

(01:22:49):
So you're welcome, Jamie. Bruce.
Yeah. I mean your, your heart is given
to the industry is what it's doing.
I guess so. I'd rather Jamie Bruce is more
qualified to talk about it than I am.
That's why I texted her. I was like, dude, I'm so happy
you're commentating. Oh.
He'll be great. He will be great.
He's so. Good at it.
He wasn't. I like 80 and accents, they're

(01:23:10):
awesome. So like, he'll be like, Oh yeah,
hang the minnow. Buddy, it's funny because he's
from Canada, but he's like from 20 something hours from the
Saint Lawrence River. No, I.
Know, but he's good there, like he's proven to be good there,
yeah. He'll.
He'll do great. He'll do great.

(01:23:30):
I'm. Going to ask if I can graph
because that would be. That would be pretty helpful I
think. What about getting back into
fish in shape does that concern you?
Like, cuz one of the biggest things that I find with all of
you guys is, I mean, John Cox iswho he is because he's
perpetually on the water. Like we're some people would

(01:23:52):
look at it as a disadvantage cuzyou're always fish terms but
he's good because he's always onthe water.
That. That to me stands out with I
mean the youth guys of your yearclass and stuff that are doing
so well on the elites. Everybody points fingers to
forward facing Sonar and that isa player.
But I think the biggest thing isyou guys are always on the

(01:24:13):
water. Do you does that concern you?
No. I mean, Dave, I mean, I haven't
like seriously worked out in four or five years and I keep my
like, I, I, I just think I have really good genetics or
something. But I will say I will the minute

(01:24:37):
I can. I will be running every day and
lifting well, you're. Going to have to, I mean after
all. Yeah, yeah, I probably.
Will, you're not, you're not pooping real good.
You're eating a lot. You're not moving.
I mean none of this, none of this is a point, really.
Describing an old person. Jesus Christ, hey.

(01:25:06):
It'll be fine. It'll be.
Fine, you'll be fine. You'll be fine.
Yeah, and plus what is it July 30th August.
I have like 2 months and 15 daysuntil I am.
You're. Back.
Yeah, well, supposedly it depends on my cardiac MRI.

(01:25:31):
Which that's. The thing that's the I'm hopeful
because I'm young, but the cardiac MRI is everything.
If you. So I got a cardiac MRI.
The baseline in the hospital waslike expensive and I have

(01:25:52):
luckily I have decent not not decent insurance.
I have insurance but the cardiacMRI basically tells you.
The swell. Like what the swelling's like,
you know all that. And that's the biggest key to
for them to say you're good to go is the cardiac MRI.

(01:26:13):
But you can't. It takes so long for the heart
to like get back to normal that they will.
They refuse to do it until threemonths.
So I have three months. When that three months hits I
get my cardiac MRI if it's not good.
It. Could be like a month or two
more. So that's an important date and

(01:26:40):
an important MRI. Because if it's bad, they're
like, we gotta wait another two months.
Like sorry, which doesn't affectmy 26th season, October,
November, December, but it makesit a whole.
It makes Christmas a lot worse. Yeah, and.
Thanksgiving and the rest of my fall.

(01:27:01):
You'll be fine. I have faith I.
Have faith too, but I'm just saying that's that's the heart
is a serious thing and and it's not.
You don't want to mess with it, that's all.
Well. Definitely.
That's the truth and I don't know why this has happened to

(01:27:21):
you, but I love the fact that wehave an opportunity to talk and
I'm not here talking about you because you're a big part of
this sport and you got a lot of life ahead of you and try layoff
the Mentos gum a little bit and.Oh boy, the Mentos gum

(01:27:48):
Mysterious. Well I mean if you just keep
eating enough food, maybe the rest of your body will grow
enough to accommodate the large hurts.
I Yes. That's a good idea.
It's been the most awkward, weird podcast.
And here's the weird thing. I mean, I wanted to have you on

(01:28:09):
the podcast, talk to you, but all sorts of other stuff.
And then this heart thing happened and it kind of
dominated. So you're not doing anything for
the next few months. So will you be back on here to
talk about normal? Stuff yes, I would love to do
that because I I I am getting tired of the heart talk because

(01:28:30):
it's like but it it is it takes over because like there's I
can't do anything yeah, but I would love to jump on and and
talk about some relevant fishingstuff.
All right. Well, I'll bother you a bunch
over the next few months. And lovely.
Hang in. There dude, lots of people, lots

(01:28:52):
of people sending their thoughtsand prayers to you and and I.
Appreciate it. Obviously everyone's been great,
so we'll see it. Lacrosse, hey, and maybe go to
the Anglers meeting and I'll go.If you go, I'll go and I'll
stand up and I'll be like, hey, I'm bringing in my friend.
We got to be calm. Let's talk like adults.

(01:29:16):
That would be so funny you. You could.
You could be the gift that we needed.
Somebody to, you know, keep the kettle from boiling?
Oh, it's going to be boiling. All right.
I don't know how to end this other than thank you.
Thank you. Yeah, thanks for having me.

(01:29:36):
I'm happy I'm not dead. As am I I'm happy I'm not dead.
Maybe that's what we'll call this one Kyle Patrick.
I'm happy I'm not dead. Yeah, Oh.
Man, thank you, dude. Yeah.
See you, Dave. It's a very different
conversation than I normally have with Kyle Patrick, but it's

(01:29:58):
a very different situation. As soon as we finished
recording, he said I don't thinkI'm real good at verbalizing
what I'm feeling right now. And I disagree.
I think he did just fine. I don't think we can
underestimate just how tough what he's dealing with is.
Could it have been much worse? Yes, much worse.
But still a. Tough pill to swallow.

(01:30:20):
So hang in there Kyle. We're all thinking of you.
Make sure you leave lots of comments encouraging him.
We'll see him back in 2026. I I appreciate that he took all
the time and was as open and honest about his situation as he
was. Speaking of taking time, I
challenged Tommy Wood last week to, you know, start the Where in

(01:30:43):
the world is Tommy Wood segment.Well, guess what?
He delivered. This.
Week, which is unbelievable thatquick.
I mean, he's been dealing with some vehicle troubles and I hope
he hammers them on the Saint Lawrence River this coming week.
So without further ado, we're going to jump into where in the
world is Tommy Wood? And that's going to be followed

(01:31:05):
by our closer, which is with BobCobb, as always.
So until next time, enjoy being Bob Cobb, take it away.
But first, where in the world isTommy Wood?
What's up, Messer? Massive fans we're in the world
is Tommy Wood. We are on the shores of Lake
Ontario in the beautiful state of New York.

(01:31:25):
It's the furthest N I've ever been on planet Earth and this is
freaking crazy. Like I'm actually in love with
this place. It looks unreal.
But we've had a crazy day, crazyweek.
Some stuff is going wrong, but we've gotten through a little
bit. I broke down, I was up till 1130
before the event trying to fix NAV lights and stuff.
It was a bit of a mind boggle. But next day turbo went out in

(01:31:49):
the car and turbo actuator and Ihaven't been able to find anyone
to fix it in time, get parts, etcetera.
But we just had to gun it here in leap mode.
So the old van, every hill I wasgoing up had the hazard lights
going on 40 miles an hour down to third gear trying to get
going down the hills. I was giving it to it.
So took us about 10 hours to gethere, but we got here we're in

(01:32:13):
one piece still rolling four wheels are rolling boat's all
good. So some guys out there fishing
at the moment, but we got one more off day before practice
starts tomorrow on the Saint Lawrence River, St.
Lawrence River before the bathmaster open.
So I'm going to get out there hopefully bang a few big small
mouth and I'm from I'm pumped like even though this is all

(01:32:33):
gone wrong, I'll let you go Goosebumps being here because
this place is stunning. So thanks for having me on guys.
I'll see you guys next time. Thanks for.
Watching Please like, comment and subscribe because Bob Cobb
of The Bass Masters told you to you here.