”Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” follows Mark Zona as he travels and fishes with the best anglers in the country. (Photo courtesy of "Zona's Awesome Fishing Show")
November 21, 2024
By Greg Duncan
Mark Zona, Outdoor Channel’s host of the “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show,” is one of the more recognizable figures in the American fishing world. Mark won his first fishing tournament at the age of nine. After his college days, he sold boats while competing at local tournaments along with a few Bassmaster Invitationals and Opens and the FLW Everstart Northern Division.
Mark and his wife contemplated him becoming a full-time angler at the pro level, but serendipity stepped into Zona’s life when he was offered to be the co-host for ESPN’s “Loudmouth Bass” TV show. Afterward, he served as the host for ESPN’s outdoor Bass Saturday block before starting “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show, which has aired on Outdoor Channel since.
The ”Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” features Mark as he travels and fishes with the best anglers in the country. Mark doesn’t have a set format for his show. Instead, he takes things as they come to him, which includes unpredictable successes and failures, along with a touch of humor. The show is now one of the most popular fishing shows on outdoor television.
With all of Mark’s fishing knowledge and experience, it pays to listen to a true professional when it comes to finding go-to gear. From an all-around rod and real combo to the best way to stay warm and dry while on the water, Mark gives us the skinny on the gear that helps him get more fish into the boat.
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TOP GEAR (Photo courtesy of Lew's) Mark worked hand-in-hand with the brain trust at Lew’s to create his signature Lew’s rods that can be fished in just about water. The rods include his 6-foot,10-inch Shaky Head/Drop Shot rod, a 7-foot all-purpose spinning rod, a 7-foot, 2-inch Tube-cracking special, a 7-foot, 3-inch Light Jig/Ocho rod and a 7-foot, 4-inch Power Finesse rod, and a 7'6'' Swim Jig rod.
“I designed those for versatile spinning rods with actions that I have used since I was a teenager all across the country,” Zona said. “From spotted bass in Georgia to smallmouth up north, these spinning rods excel with their soft tips and strong backbone, which allows you to use different techniques from 1 foot of water to 40 feet of water. They cover the whole spectrum of spinning rod fishing.”
TOP ACCESSORY (Photo courtesy of Humminbird) One of the hardest things about fishing is finding the fish. While Mark has a wealth of knowledge and can pick apart a lake like no other, he relies on his Humminbird Apex 12 units mounted at the bow and console to make him a more efficient angler. The Apex series gives eye-popping detail with its 1920H x 1080H display. These units feature LakeMaster Maps, Mega Live Imaging and Mega 360 Imaging, which is used heavily by Mark when on the water.
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“The Mega 360 shows a circular picture of the bottom around your boat, 60 to 80 feet out,” Mark said. “The way I use my electronics is almost a four-prong approach. When I go to a new lake, my LakeMaster mapping tells me how the lake is laid out. If I see a flat or point, I can instantly identify that on my mapping instead of looking at a paper map.
“I can turn my electronics on while on shore, launch my boat and go directly to the places I feel will be the most productive. I will use my 360 to identify targets, whether it’s boulders, a gravel flat or a single stump. You can eliminate water at light speed. My next step is to use the forward-facing sonar with my Mega Live and attack. My mapping is exponentially one of the most important things that I use throughout the season.”
TOP APPAREL (Photo courtesy of Aftco) Getting wet and cold will turn a day on the water into a nightmare. Mark has seen just about everything weather-wise and relies on Aftco to keep him on the water longer. For cool weather, Mark likes to wear the Aftco Reaper Sweatshirt .
“The Reaper is one of the nicest sweatshirts I’ve ever worn,” said Mark. “From cool mornings and making runs across the lake, it is a garment made for a fisherman.”
The sweatshirt is constructed with a comfortable and warm microfleece fabric and features a built-in face mask and neck warmer. A convenient hood anchoring system gives protection from high-speed runs across a channel or lake. The sweatshirt can be worn standalone or as part of an overall layering system.
(Photo courtesy of Aftco) When the weather turns nasty with cold wind blowing and rain coming down, Aftco’s Hydronaut Waterproof System is his go-to bibs and jacket for foul weather.
“The Hydronaut is the best foul-weather gear they make, hands down,” Mark said.
(Photo courtesy of Aftco) For the dog days of summer, Mark leans on the Aftco Samurai Hoodie Shirt to keep the sun off his arms and face, along with keeping him cooler.
“I fish pretty much every season,” said Mark. “The Samurai is unbelievable when it gets hot on the lake. I wear it all the time.”
To watch Outdoor Channel’s “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show,” please visit outdoorchannel.com.
