2006 Shimano Fishing Tour Staff
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Adam Valle–Tour Manager:
Captain Adam Valle is a Florida native and has been fishing since childhood on the Gulf Coast of Florida, primarily from Cedar Key to Boca Grande. He has pursued a life in the marine industry since his early teens to include work during high school and into college with Mote Marine Laboratories, learning as much as possible about our vast marine environment. During college Adam worked closely with the University of Florida’s Ichthyology program, studying the marine environment in Cedar Key. Since graduation he returned to Tampa and has been fishing the Bay and surrounding areas extensively, while developing Reel Therapy Guide Services, Inc. Adam launched his long-awaited, full-time guiding career at the beginning of 2005. He is U.S. Coast Guard Licensed and insured, as well as CPR certified for both children and adults. He specializes in inshore and near-shore fishing for everything from snook and redfish to grouper and snapper.
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Ross Mozley–Assistant Tour Manager:
Ross is an Atlanta, Ga native. His prior job experiences include working at sea as crew, teaching fishing and sailing as a camp instructor, Account Executive with ADventure, LLC and on the 2005 Shimano Fishing Tour as Assistant Tour Manager. In his own words “ I am looking forward to another successful year on the Shimano Fishing Tour, meeting with anglers and explaining the benefits of using the best fishing tackle in the world. Of course, I’m also eager to enjoy the privilege of fishing with the latest and greatest Shimano products!” |
2006 Brand Awareness Team
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Bradley Wayne Stringer:
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Bradley is a 32 year-old, second-year pro from Huntington, TX, currently residing on the banks of Lake Sam Rayburn. Bradley’s primary fishing partners are his mother and father, who are both highly-regarded anglers in east Texas. Bradley fished his way to the forefront of professional bass fishing by winning the 2004 Bassmaster Open Championship on the Ouachita River in Louisiana. This victory qualified him for the 2005 Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh, PA. After a long first season on the Bassmaster tour, Bradley used all he had learned on the water to finish in 20th place – ahead of Rick Clunn, Stacey King, and Larry Nixon. Not bad for a rookie. Bradley will be fishing a Yamaha-powered Ranger Z21 in the Bassmaster Elite Series, as well as several FLW Series events in 2006. “I am pleased to be associated with Shimano and the other sponsors of the 2006 Shimano Fishing Tour, and will work very hard to promote and represent them to the best of my ability.” click here for more info |
Jody Cordell:
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Jody is a native of Atlanta, GA and lives on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier with his wife Carolyn and two sons, Garrett and Dylan. In addition to fishing, Jody is an avid hunter, water sports and motocross enthusiast. Jody has been fishing pro tournaments since 1999 and has fished both BASS and FLW events. Jody finished 5th in the 2003 FLW tournament held on Lake Murray, in South Carolina. Jody fishes out of Mercury-powered Ranger 520, and uses a jig as his “go to” bait. He may be the only professional bass angler to land a sailfish out of his bass boat while fishing in Islamorada, FL. Here’s Jody’s advice for aspiring pro anglers: “Don’t listen to all the dock talk. Concentrate on what you learned out on the water. Try and fish at least one year as an amateur on the BASS or FLW Tour for an excellent education on the sport." click here for more info
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Leiza Fitzgerald:
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Leiza is a proven competitive tournament angler. She and her partner have won numerous tournaments and are the first women's team to ever qualify-the first year on tour-for the Ranger Redfish Championships. Her team has qualified each year since 2003 and in 2005 they finished 4th. Her team is ranked the #1 ladies redfish team in the country, and is in the Top 20 teams overall. They held these same rankings in 2004. Capt. Fitzgerald has been featured host in many fishing and hunting programs aired by Sunshine Network, the Outdoor Life Network and ESPN. She is a featured instructor for the Genmar Backwater Fishing School, Ladies Let's Go Fishing, Becoming an Outdoors Women and Fishing Lines, a PBS program aired throughout the state of Florida. She is also a guest author for many local and national fishing and hunting publications. Leiza is an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association, The Snook Foundation, Florida Wildlife Commission, Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited and Quail Unlimited. As V.P. of Membership for a private quail plantation, Leiza has been able to incorporate her passion for hunting and fishing into her career. Capt Fitzgerald's true love is her two sons, who help her pre-fish for tournaments. She also enjoys teaching others to enjoy fishing and hunting.
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Merrily Dunn:
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Merrily is a renowned female fishing guide from the Bradenton/Sarasota area that can be found fishing from her Evinrude-powered Ranger flats boat, stalking tarpon along the beaches, reds and snook along the mangroves and working the grassy flats for spotted sea trout. She has been guiding for 13 years. When Capt. Dunn is not guiding, she is putting her talents to good use as a proven tournament angler and fishing instructor. She has been fishing the redfish tours and local tournaments for many years. She is the first female angler to finish in the Top 5 in the Oh Boy! Oberto Tournament in 2005. In 2005, she and her teammate were ranked as the #1 ladies redfish team in the country and in the Top 20 redfish teams. In 2004 they held these same rankings. Capt. Dunn teaches for such organizations as Ladies Let's Go Fishing, Bradenton Herald Fishing College and is a "Top Gun" fly-fishing instructor for the Genmar Backwater Fishing School. As a member of CCA Florida, theSnook Foundation and the International Women's Fishing Association, she has won numerous awards for her participation in conservation projects and catch-and release tournaments. Capt. Dunn's passion is to share with others her love of fishing, and to make sure they practice conservation while enjoying our fisheries.
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