Ever since a well-timed catch helped 10-year-old Mark Zona wow three teenaged bullies, the Glen Oaks graduate and Klinger Lake resident has devoted his life to showing the world that bass fishing is cool.

He has spread his message to tens of millions through two televised fishing shows plus an online presence, and his passion was rewarded last month with his induction into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2024.

“To be in that room with about 30 of the biggest names the sport has ever seen, to be presented with a plaque and a jacket, it was surreal,” he said after the ceremony held Sept. 26 at the White River Conference Center in Springfield, Mo.

Zona’s connection with St. Joseph County began at age 4, when parents Alan and Bonnie Zona brought the family from Chicago to Klinger Lake for the summer. Bonnie pushed Mark to fish; Alan listened to her and
supported him. Mark won his first tournament at age 9 and was off to the races.

Though he graduated from high school in Chicago, he knew from junior high on he would return to Michigan.

“I wanted to catch bass and shoot deer,” he said. “Glen Oaks in conjunction with fishing was hands down the deciding factor.”

While at Glen Oaks, the 1995 graduate scheduled his classes to accommodate his angling activities.

“I knew in some way, shape, or form I would work in the bass fishing industry,” he said. “It’s a hard industry to make a career – a dream if you can, but not easy.”

He credits his speech and communication class at the college for being critical to what he ended up doing for a living. He also enjoyed the chance to assist in teaching welding classes after testing out of four of them in 90 minutes.

For the past 21 years Zona has co-hosted the Bassmaster Tournament Trail on ESPN and Fox, doing studio work and commentary. This past month he stepped down from behind the desk to focus solely on hosting his
namesake show “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” on the Outdoor Channel, which he has done for 18 years.

“Growing up, a lot of shows on the water were not reality,” he said. “It’s not ‘80 degrees, no wind’ every day. I go into the most hostile water – on the Great Lakes, in Texas, and in Mexico. If it’s 15 degrees, we’re absolutely taping.”

He wanted his shows to be real: showing both the touchdowns (catching that big bass) and interceptions (when it got away).

So, what is the secret to becoming a great bass fisherman?

“Don’t overthink it – it’s a lot of hand-eye coordination,” he said. “Fishing is actually hunting. Everything in Mother Nature is dictated by the weather. Once you know the combination of variables, fishing is very
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Does the man who has caught more than 50,000 bass ever get tired of it?

“It’s an unsolvable puzzle,” he said. “On the lakes around here, I’ve had 100-200 fish days, many days I’ve had nothing. That’s the chase. There’s something in that chase I’m obsessed with.”

Zona is quick to credit many for his success: family, friends, production team, sponsors, and the fishermen who helped him along the way.

He cannot say enough about his wife of 27 years Karin, his best friend and the best human being he has ever known.      

“Tonight is for you, but most of all, it’s because of you,” he told her during his acceptance speech.

The couple has twin sons, Hunter and Jakob, who graduated from Glen Oaks in 2019 and now work in supply chain management.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” Zona said. “I owe a lot to the resources of this county. The lakes of St. Joseph County paved my life – they were the beginning bricks in my foundation. I’ve been fortunate to be able
to go to the premier lakes in the country, but always I want to come home – that’s where my heart and memories are. I’ll always live in this county.”

For more information, visit or . Watch his speech from the induction ceremony at .