ATTAPUGUS, Ga. – After inclement weather prevented the last Zona LIVE of 2018, the popular web show is back for its third season, starting with a doubleheader Thursday and Friday. And viewers should expect big things.
Mark Zona actually called up Bassmaster Elite Series pro Drew Benton to plan for filming and LIVE events. First, Benton suggested Seminole for a TV shoot for earlier in the week. After shooting an excellent Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show on Lake Seminole in what Zona called a “Polarized Vortex,” the rest of the week is set for a two-on-two Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Brawl on Thursday and then the eighth edition of Zona LIVE on Friday.
Editor’s note: See Zona Show photos.
“The entire country is absolutely frigid and after the day I had with Drew Benton on Seminole, I am so excited to have both Drews, Davy and the LIVE crew here,” Zona said. “We walked the banks of the lake and saw some things; those things should be fun for the viewers.”
Both Thursday and Friday will feature four hours of LIVE programming that will be showcased on Bassmaster.com and will take place at the Southwind Plantation in Attapulgus, Ga. The B.A.S.S. Brawl will air on Thursday, Jan. 31 from 9 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET. Then Zona LIVE will follow it up on Friday, Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET.
The Thursday B.A.S.S. Brawl teams will include Mark Zona and Drew Cook vs. Drew Benton and Davy Hite. The B.A.S.S. Brawl episode will be a winner-take-all championship belt match that will stay with the winners throughout the B.A.S.S. Brawl year. You can follow along and interact with this event using the hashtag #BassBrawl. Tommy Sanders and Dave Mercer will host the B.A.S.S. Brawl from the Bassmaster set at the JM Studio in Little Rock, Ark.
Just east of Lake Seminole, the plantation in Attapulgus, Ga., is known for its quail, deer and turkey hunts, but its lakes feature big bass as well.
“Everyone has called and asked what they should bring to catch fish,” Cook said. “Bring anything you want to fish with. If there is a technique you want to get better at, bring it and you will. I feel like it’ll take 30 pounds for a team’s best-five fish limit to win this heated competition. Tough fishing happens, but I don’t expect it here.”
On Friday, the anglers will answer questions throughout the show, and fans who send in questions will be entered to win prizes. You can send in questions via 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 the designated post asking for fan questions.
Here’s a rundown of the prize available:
Grand Prize: There is one Grand Prize. The winner, chosen randomly, will receive a DAIWA Tatula 100 fishing reel + Zona swag. The approximate retail value is $250.
First Prize: There is one First Prize, a (1) Bluewater LED TH Marine Marine Light Lit valued at $230.
Second Prizes: There are two Second Prizes. Each winner will receive a Zona Prize Package valued at $125 each.
Third Prize: There is one Third Prize, a Zona Prize Package valued at $100.
The total ARV of all prizes is $705. There is a limit of one prize per person. Odds of winning will depend upon the total number of eligible entries received.
You must use #ZonaLive and #Sweepstakes in your Facebook comment to be eligible. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Sweepstakes ends after the live broadcast. For official rules, go to Bassmaster.com/sweepstakes.