MidWest Outdoors: How’d you end up in southern Michigan? Here’s the start of his story … in his own words. Recently, we caught up the eccentric and beloved television star in his “Fortress of Solitude,” where this “Superman” of all things bass relaxes when not on far-flung shoots across North America for the entertainment and enlightenment of millions who watch Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show. He worked hard then, and works just as hard if not harder now. I freelanced for Bassin’ Magazine back then, and my friend, Louie Stout, a senior writer for Bassmaster, once told me about this kid who was starting a career in fishing and who not only “talks the talk, but walks the walk.” Zona helped me put together several feature stories, providing insight on posing for pictures after catching a bass.

I’ve known Mark since he was fresh out of high school in the early ‘90s. Zona’s middle name is actually Chris, not “Malachi,” as he first told me.

A set of shelves has several large trophies and plaques from Zona’s days as a touring pro angler. Loomis rods in vertical rod racks on the floor with packs of Strike King lures hanging on on pegs on the wall. The barn is neat as a pin, with a vast array of Shimano reels on G. Zona sits here and sorts through a tackle tray of different-sized hooks.

There’s a living room with chairs and a short sofa, and a coffee table in front of a flat-screen TV. Nothing is really extravagant in here except his Nitro Z21 bass boat along with a pontoon and a trailer suited for an ATV. Unremarkable on the outside, but inside it’s a brightly lit man cave that Robin Leach could introduce on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It takes texting, scheduling and rescheduling before I’m in Mark Malachi Zona’s “fishing barn” that stands on its own piece of property across a residential road from a lake in southern Michigan.

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