ORLANDO, Fla. — Invariably, during every Bassmaster LIVE, a viewer asks on Facebook or Twitter, “Where’s Zona?”
Seen alongside fellow Bassmaster TV host Tommy Sanders for years, Zona scaled back just a touch from a harried schedule. Besides taping “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show,” working on Bassmaster LIVE and Bassmaster TV for the Classic and each Elite and hosting “The Bass Pros” TV show for Bass Pro Shops, he added Zona LIVE this year.
While playing small parts in LIVE coverage in the first half of the Elite schedule, Zona is back as the Elites end their six-week summer break and head north for the remainder of the schedule. He’ll be there when LIVE launches on Day 2 of the Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence presented by Go RVing next Friday.
“I get back in studio this next week,” Zona said. “The St. Lawrence River will be very interesting. I just taped two Zona shows up there. I think I got a clue what’s going on.
“Then I’ll cover the Lake Champlain in studio and Lake St. Clair from the event. Then, the next Zona LIVE will be with Jordan Lee. I’m not going to tell you where.”
Zona has explained that much more needs to be considered when preparing for a live fishing event rather than his regular show, which allows for audibles. The window and fishery has to be timed perfectly, which happened with Greg Hackney at Grosse Savanne in Louisiana and with Kevin VanDam at a lake near his home.
The show with the reigning Bassmaster Classic champ will be within two to four hours of Zona’s home, and he pinned it down to either smallmouth or largemouth. He also knows what he wants to learn about Jordan Lee.
“I want to find out if he just walks around ICAST and his home with a backpack full of money,” Zona said. “Not only that, I’d like to talk to him about getting married.”
B.A.S.S. CEO AKIN ON BOARD WITH ASA
It was announced last week that B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin was elected to an at-large seat on the board of directors for the American Sportfishing Association, which puts on ICAST.
Created in 1933, the ASA represents the business interests of the tackle manufacturers and champions the entire sportfishing community.
“We’re very excited to have Bruce on our board of directors. He brings a lot to the board, and it’s a whole new dimension for us,” said Kirk Immens, ASA board chairman. “We’re really looking forward to working with him.”
In between meetings at the B.A.S.S. booth, Akin was asked what he will be expected to do as a board director.
“I don’t know. I’m hoping we have staff that takes care of everything,” he deadpanned before turning serious. “There are three or four board meetings a year, and hopefully we can make a few contributions to the industry — work on access and use our media assets to communicate ASA initiatives to our wide, passionate audience.”
Akin said an ASA member has already put him to work. One of those board meetings is held at the Classic each year, and Akin was asked to book the meeting room.
“I said I’ll put you in touch with (Mike) Mulone,” Akin said. “’No, that’s why you’re on the board.’ Guess they want to go straight to the top.”
Several B.A.S.S. employees have been on ASA committees, Akin said, including him. Conservation director Gene Gilliland and communications chief Dave Precht have served the ASA in their areas of expertise.
“I’ve been on the Finance and Advocacy committees and a couple others for two or three years now,” Akin said, “maybe now I’ll make a little broader impact — I’m there to give our view.”
Immens thinks it’s a great fit. He said he’s impressed with the strides B.A.S.S. has made in its college and high school fishing programs.
“Between what ASA does and what B.A.S.S. does, it’s just a cohesive unit,” Immens said. “It’s two groups working together that should make a lot of difference going forward. We’re excited to have them involved. With the high school and college programs, that’s the future of our industry. I’m really looking forward to what he brings to the table.”
LANE HAS VISION WITH POWER-POLE
Chris Lane knew all the features of the new Power-Pole Vision, spouting them off just like a professional salesman in rapid-fire fashion. Quick and succinct, Lane gave his spiel to visitor after visitor at the high-tech booth.
“I went through two full days of the training,” he said as he showed Tom Mahoney the revolutionary product. “It’s the world’s first marine digital dash multimedia tablet.
“Everything you can do on your computer and on your phone, you can do with this, except for make a phone call. You can have total control of your boat.”
In the display, the Vision was hooked up to the various electric devices on a bass boat. Lane said that just by a touch he can adjust the lights, pumps, aerators, jackplate, trim tab and everything else electrical. It eliminates knobs, buttons and wires, and is a real game-changer, Lane said. Read more here.
He also started to explain the new Power-Pole Charge, which is the first bi-directional charger, but things got mighty technical. Bottom line is it works to keep everything running, and Power-Pole has expanded its product line.
LANE CROAKS JOYFULLY OVER RIB TOAD
Surprise, surprise, surprise. Bobby Lane wasn’t as well-rehearsed as brother Chris. While looking over the wall of PowerBaits at the Berkley booth, he discovered his creation from three years ago had finally hit the shelves.
“I knew it was coming out — I wasn’t sure when,” he said of the Rib Toad. “Of course, we fish year to year, who knows what’s going on?”
Lane said he designed the heavy frog bait about three years ago in his garage. He knew it was nearly ready for production and got a real kick it was ready for stores.
“I’m so happy and excited to see it at ICAST,” Lane said. “It takes a couple years to make sure it’s right for the public when they take it out of the bag.
“You can throw this thing a mile. It swims true on every cast, and the hookup ratio is phenomenal. You can go anywhere from a 3/0 to a 6/0 hook in it. It has some of the best kicking action that you’ll ever see.”
On one outing with his prototype, Lane said he caught about 20 fish, and each one was hooked “from 10 to 2,” which he said means the most perfect hookups.
The Rib Toads come six in a bag for $4.99.
NETFISH APP HAS BERTRAND OFFERING ADVICE
Josh Bertrand was spied in a booth talking to his new sponsor, Netfish. So what is that? In stepped Jeff Hoefer to explain.
“Netfish is basically a pro angler in your pocket,” he said. “The free app is a wireless fish finder.”
With data collected from iBobber, a wireless fish finder, Netfish can tell anglers where to fish and what to use. Hoefer opened the app to show how easy it works.
“You pick a lake and it shows the species,” he said. “Pick the species you want and it gives you spots, latitude and longitude and GPS directions to that spot, then when. And Josh Bertrand gives the how.”
After entering a number of scenarios, an image of Bertrand pops up with advice on lures to use and a link to suggested products, which can be purchased with the push of a button. See more here.
