Zona works on going LIVE

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Cameramen Eric Kaffka and Wes Miller prepare their equipment upon arriving near Mark Zona’s homestead in southwestern Michigan.
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Cameramen Eric Kaffka and Wes Miller prepare their equipment upon arriving near Mark Zona’s homestead in southwestern Michigan.

Photo: Mike Suchan

This is Mark Zona’s weapon of choice for the latest taping of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show.”
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This is Mark Zona’s weapon of choice for the latest taping of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show.”

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona prepares to start the show.
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Zona prepares to start the show.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Miller and Kaffka capture Zona as he bounces out of his truck for the show opener.
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Miller and Kaffka capture Zona as he bounces out of his truck for the show opener.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona explains that he and long-time tournament partner “Vande” made hay on this body of water the day before.
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Zona explains that he and long-time tournament partner “Vande” made hay on this body of water the day before.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Vande served mostly as camera boat driver but helped remind Zona who caught what and where the day before.
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Vande served mostly as camera boat driver but helped remind Zona who caught what and where the day before.

Photo: Mike Suchan

After a run on the chilly morning, Zona was surprised to hooks into a largemouth, wondering what Mr. Green Jeans was doing there.
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After a run on the chilly morning, Zona was surprised to hooks into a largemouth, wondering what Mr. Green Jeans was doing there.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Ah, a smallmouth. That’s more what he expected.
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Ah, a smallmouth. That’s more what he expected.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona shows off another largemouth. It almost seemed like the catches switched back and forth between the two.
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Zona shows off another largemouth. It almost seemed like the catches switched back and forth between the two.

Photo: Mike Suchan

A small largemouth comes flipping in.
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A small largemouth comes flipping in.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Now here’s one Zona is proud of.
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Now here’s one Zona is proud of.

Photo: Mike Suchan

A steady morning breeze kept a slight chop on the water.
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A steady morning breeze kept a slight chop on the water.

Photo: Mike Suchan

And kept the fish biting.
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And kept the fish biting.

Photo: Mike Suchan

This one makes Zona crow.
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This one makes Zona crow.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Miller gets a close-up of the brown beauty.
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Miller gets a close-up of the brown beauty.

Photo: Mike Suchan

The biggest fish so far has Zona stoked. It is on, he said.
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The biggest fish so far has Zona stoked. It is on, he said.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Another comes in and the crew actually lost count.
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Another comes in and the crew actually lost count.

Photo: Mike Suchan

This Rage Swimmer in KVD Magic was magic.
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This Rage Swimmer in KVD Magic was magic.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Another fish has Miller shooting underwater with a GoPro.
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Another fish has Miller shooting underwater with a GoPro.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Another largemouth comes in but Zona was most pleased with catching several large smallmouth.
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Another largemouth comes in but Zona was most pleased with catching several large smallmouth.

Photo: Mike Suchan

After the day, Zona headed to his man cave to prepare for Thursday’s Zona Live.
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After the day, Zona headed to his man cave to prepare for Thursday’s Zona Live.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona has long-time friend Kevin VanDam coming from nearby Kalamazoo to fish with him live from 8 a.m. to noon ET on their “Sneaky Lake.”
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Zona has long-time friend Kevin VanDam coming from nearby Kalamazoo to fish with him live from 8 a.m. to noon ET on their “Sneaky Lake.”

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona applies the coup de grace with to a jig he was preparing for the KVD live shoot.
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Zona applies the coup de grace with to a jig he was preparing for the KVD live shoot.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona worked on getting five rods, reels and lures ready.
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Zona worked on getting five rods, reels and lures ready.

Photo: Mike Suchan

No. 1 is done.
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No. 1 is done.

Photo: Mike Suchan

It’s been a busy week for Zona. He scouted a number of lakes, not only for the shooting of his show on Wednesday, but also for Zona Live, where he needed great cell service.
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It’s been a busy week for Zona. He scouted a number of lakes, not only for the shooting of his show on Wednesday, but also for Zona Live, where he needed great cell service.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona also had another show shoot on Friday and Saturday with his twin sons.
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Zona also had another show shoot on Friday and Saturday with his twin sons.

Photo: Mike Suchan

One of Zona’s friends, Louis, stopped by his man cave to chat about the local tournament scene.
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One of Zona’s friends, Louis, stopped by his man cave to chat about the local tournament scene.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Z shows off a Strike King Redeye Shad with the paint chewed off.
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Z shows off a Strike King Redeye Shad with the paint chewed off.

Photo: Mike Suchan

A Strike King swim jig with a Rage Swimmer trailer is also in his arsenal.
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A Strike King swim jig with a Rage Swimmer trailer is also in his arsenal.

Photo: Mike Suchan

A Rage Swimmer should elicit big bites.
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A Rage Swimmer should elicit big bites.

Photo: Mike Suchan

Zona’s is big-eyed about his lineup, and he hopes the fish are too.
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Zona’s is big-eyed about his lineup, and he hopes the fish are too.

Photo: Mike Suchan

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