ESPN's launch of its new Bass Saturday is just 10 days away. The bass-only block of programming will include two new shows: BassCenter, hosted by John Kernan and Byron Velvick, and Loudmouth Bass, hosted by Mark Zona and BassFan's Jay Kumar.

All involved agree – this is brand new territory. Especially Loudmouth Bass, which is a half-hour show dedicated to the debate of pro bass-fishing topics. BassFans already heard from Jay Kumar on the

subject (for that story, click here). Now it's Zona's turn.

Bassfan: Jay Kumar says you're a good stick. Is that true?

Zona: More or less, maybe, but I'm picky. I've been spoiled fishing in the North, and I fished the Northern EverStarts since they originated. It's hard for me to fish down South. On Lake Erie, Ontario or Champlain, you can catch 40 to 50 smallmouths a day. So it's real hard for me to go to Old Hickory (Tenn.) or the Ouachita River (La.).

In fact, Clark Wendlandt once told me that was my biggest weakness – that I would never be able to leave fishing in the North. It's real hard to adjust my mindset to try for five to eight bites a day, which is what you need to do on some of those waters. I think that's boring and lame. But I can tell you, I respect the heck out of the guys who can do that.

You've had success in the EverStarts – you won the Northern points in 2003. Did you ever consider fishing the Tour?

Every single year I fished the EverStarts, I qualified to fish the FLW Tour. This time of year, when all my buddies are heading down South, it's very hard for me to sit back and watch them go. I want to be out there. At same time, I have a family. I've never wanted to fish full-time.

I enjoy fishing professionally on a part-time, semi-professional basis, but I've just never desired to do it full-time. I'm not saying that in 2, 4 or 10 years from now I won't be doing it. But over the past years, it wasn't right for me.

What were some of your career highlights?

I think I've taken a half-dozen Top 5s in the last 4 years. I won the (Northern EverStart) points in 2003. I also tied for 3rd in the EverStart Championship (2002). The biggest thing for me as an angler was knowing I was able to compete with some of best smallie fishermen on the entire planet. The Northern EverStarts have those guys. They're just brutal.

Any reason you chose to fish EverStarts over the Bassmaster Opens?

I used to fish BASS, but BASS never had a Northern Division until a year or two ago. That's not to say I won't jump in if the schedule allows it – I'll have no trouble fishing BASS if the schedule is conducive. But I have to give the EverStarts credit. They had the first true northern trail. Now you can make a living in the North if you're good enough. It's becoming a viable option.

It's good to see ESPN picked a hardcore angler to help host the show. First, you know what you're talking about, but also you help offset Jay's opinions that come from a media perspective.

I think so too. You have to have guys up there who know what they're talking about. If not, the people who have followed this sport for the last 10 years will see right through you.

(Kumar) and I are both very, very opinionated. I respect his knowledge and opinions, even though I agree with none of them. At the same time, he has a totally different take on the sport than I do. I respect his take, but it's not the way I look at it. He comes from a media perspective. I'll always take the side of the fishermen.

How did you land the co-host spot? Did you call ESPN to get your foot in the door?

I think my name was dropped by a couple of different people – at least from what I heard. I think (bass fishing writer) Rob Newell and Kevin VanDam dropped my name in the hat at first. When I first heard the name of the show, I didn't know if I was elated or offended. It fits, though.

I worked in bass-boat sales the last 10 years, and the same things we talked about in the showroom, marina, tackle store or in the hotel at the tournaments – that's what we'll be talking about on the show. You never hear that stuff on TV – it's always been behind closed doors – so a lot of things will come to light.

Do you think you'll catch a lot of flack for the opinions you state on the air?

Absolutely. Whenever you're opinionated, it's human nature for someone to react. But I think (Kumar) and I are big enough to realize that one week a person may hate you, the next week he may love what you say.

I give ESPN complete respect, because nobody's ever treaded in this area before on television. There's never been a bass-fishing show where you could say, man I hate what that guy's saying, and I love what that guy's saying.

Where will you get your debate topics and material for the show? Is that controlled by ESPN?

There are sources inside of ESPN that are gathering info, but a lot of it just comes from me and (Kumar). What's been real interesting is, when a topic's been throw out in the open, even before the cameras are rolling, we start arguing about it. It's good to have that.

Will there be a mix of hardball and softball topics?

There will be both, and a lot of it will be current. But I don't think we'll pull any punches. If something comes out, be it positive or negative as far as FLW or BASS, it'll be brought up. It's a completely unbiased show. I don't think (Kumar) would have done it otherwise.

Would you have done it if it was biased toward BASS?

No way. I think both organizations have a lot of pluses and minuses at times, but all in all, they both need each other to coexist. I completely feel that this is not a war. And I hope this show can also bring some betterment to the sport. I know that's a lot to say, but I hope it really happens.

When I was thinking about fishing full-time I had a ton of questions about the industry and pro fishing. Back then, there were no sources to learn from, except the pros themselves. A lot of them paint a real nice picture, but it's not a very realistic picture.

I think this show will show you that at times, it's the best career to be in, and at times, it's a terrifying career to be in. I give the full-time guys major props – it's a grind. Especially the two-tour pros. How those guys do that – guys like Jones, Rojas, Hackney – those guys are machines.

What's your gut feeling? Will the show fly?

I think (ESPN's) making the best effort they can to make it fly. They're breaking new ground. All this is new territory to where bass fishing is going from a media standpoint. To me it'll fly because I'm interested. I would have died and gone to heaven 6 years ago to see two guys hammering it out over the topics we'll be covering. We've never had the opportunity to watch something like that before.

Notable

> Zona on first seeing the Loudmouth Bass commercial now running on ESPN channels. "I have twin 5-year-olds and they thought it was cool. At the same time, I was thinking about when we shot the promo. (Kumar) and I were talking about some of the topics we'll cover in the show. I wanted to go another round with him on a few topics right away. But all in all I was excited, and excited to be chosen."

> Zona's finishes in the Northern EverStart points over the last 4 years are: 64th, 1st, 26th and 12th. He fished two EverStart Championships (92nd and 3rd) and also fished two FLW Tour events: Lake Champlain (2004, 80th) and Lake St. Clair (1999, 21st).

> Loudmouth Bass premiers Sat., Jan. 1 at 7:30 a.m. EST on ESPN2.