A regular on Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show, Jordan Lee will be Mark’s guest when Zona LIVE presented by Mercury airs Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon ET on Bassmaster.com.
Zona scouted lakes close to Detroit, where the Elite Series season finale, the Advance Auto Parts Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair, was being held. In the end, he decided another day fishing on Lake St. Clair was the best choice. They will launch from the Lake St. Clair Metropark.
“This show is a celebration with somebody I’ve fished with since he walked out of high school.”
Lee, who earned his first Classic berth via the Carhartt College Series, became the first collegiate angler to win a championship. And Lee did it in style, posting the largest comeback in weight (13-15) and place (15th) in the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods on Texas’ Lake Conroe.
“It’s very rare to find someone like Jordan Lee,” Zona said. “Tommy (Sanders) and I recognized his ability instantly on camera, as far as his fishing goes. I really feel like Jordan Lee and Matt Lee are the epitome of what the Carhartt College Series is all about. And that’s not a stupid sales pitch.
“Those dudes are great fishermen on the water, and they’re great people off the water. That’s a true testimony of how they were brought up by their parents. Being a father to two young men who fish tournaments themselves, I like it being done right. Jordan and Matt have done it right.”
The show will be Zona’s third of four planned episodes this year. The first one featured Greg Hackney on Grosse Savanne in Louisiana then Kevin VanDam and Zona put on a spectacular fish-catching show on a small lake near their Michigan homes.
Zona will be taking your questions throughout the show, and fans who send in questions will be entered to win prizes. You can send in your questions on Twitter and Facebook. When tweeting your questions, use #ZonaLive and #Sweepstakes for a chance to win. On Facebook go to Zona’s Facebook page or the Bassmaster Facebook page, and look for our post asking for your questions. You must use #ZonaLive and #Sweepstakes in your Facebook comment to be eligible for prizes. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Sweepstakes ends after the live broadcast of the show. For official rules, go to www.bassmaster.com/sweepstakes.
Zona has been planning the show for some time and is excited it’s getting close. He really wants to dig into Lee’s mind about how his life has changed since winning the Classic.
“We’ve taped a bunch of shows with Jordan, but I have not fished with him since he won the Classic,” he said. “Granted we’re going to a catch a bunch of fish, have a great time and goof around like we always do, but I have a lot of questions. I want to know how it’s been for him. I want to know the positives, the negatives – he just got engaged.”
If Zona needs to brush up on Jordan’s season, he said he just needs to consult with his twin boys, Hunter and Jacob.
“My kids spend more time on social media with Jordan – they know more about him than I do,” he said.
Lee has some impressive stats alongside his Classic title, which came in only his third qualification. He has cashed checks in 38 of 48 events, including 17 top 10 finishes, and Lee currently stands eighth in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
“Since Day 1, Jordan to me, is like a good running back who’s no flash, no touchdown dance, no fireworks,” Zona said. “He puts the ball in the end zone, he lays it down and he gets ready for the next huddle. And that’s what I like about Jordan Lee. He brings his hard hat and gets it done and gets it done right.”
