Ali Shakoor
Hometown: Jackson, MI
Hobbies: Hunting, Fishing
Favorite Lure: Deep Diving Crankbait
Favorite way to fish: Power Fishing
Favorite Fishery: Lake Erie
Ali was introduced to his love of the outdoors hunting and fishing around the Irish Hills area of Michigan. He spent countless hours chasing monster panfish and bass, and stomping around the woods with his father and siblings as a youth.
His love of the outdoors inspired him to pursue a degree and career in Natural Resources. After receiving his BS in Biology, Ali attended the University of Michigan and received an MS in Conservation Ecology from the School of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan. Currently he is a PhD student in Evolutionary and Organismal Biology with an emphasis on Aquatic Ecology at Wayne State University’s Department of Biological Sciences. Additionally, he is a US Coast Guard Licensed Charter Captain.
Ali enjoys talking about science and biology and ecology of the Great Lakes. He enjoys talking with groups of people and relating fish biology, ecology, and behavior to invasive species, food web disruptions, and other non-biological factors.
Ali has carried his competitive spirit, honed as a State Champion and All-American track athlete, into competitive angling. 2017 marks his fourth full season fishing the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC). In 2016, he and his partner, Brian Zarembski, finished in 5th place in the Team of the Year Standings. They have secured a birth in the 2017 National Team Championships and will be fishing in the 2017 MWC World Walleye Championships to be held on Cass Lake, Mn in September 2017. Ali is a dedicated husband and father to his wife, Kelly, and daughters Lianna and Iman. There is no doubt that his success and growth as an angler, and person, can be attributed to his family’s love and support.
Jason Zsebik
Hometown: Vermilion, Ohio
Hobbies: Fishing, Hunting, Training Police K-9s, Spending time with my family.
Favorite Lure: Reef Runner 800 series
Favorite Way to Fish: Trolling with small planner boards.
Favorite Fishery: Lake Erie
Growing up on the shores of Lake Erie, in a small harbor town like Vermilion, fishing became apart of my life at an early age. When I was a kid I remember going out on Erie with my parents and enjoying the day catching Walleye and Perch. I also remember spending several days with my Dad chasing Steelhead in local creeks. The outdoors have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and that’s something I look forward to passing down to my children as they grow.
Roughly five years ago my lifelong hunting and fishing buddy , Tim Johnson and I decided to jump in the local walleye tournament world to see if we could compete with the great anglers that come to our area to compete. Fortunately we have done pretty well and we are continuing to try our luck with larger tournaments. Tournament fishing is a whole new experience and the thrill is something I cannot begin to describe.
When I’m not fishing I serve our community as a Canine Deputy Sheriff at a local Sheriff’s Office. I have been been in law enforcement full time for the last eleven years and have been in the canine unit for the past four years. Outside of work my wife and I are raising our two young children and keeping busy running them around to sports and other activities they enjoy.
Brian Zarembski
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Hobbies: Fishing, Boating, Attending My Kids Sporting Events
Favorite Lure: Reef Runner Deep Diving Crankbait
Favorite Way to Fish: Trolling Crankbaits
Favorite Fishery: Lake Erie
Because I grew up in Michigan, the opportunities for out door activities were endless. My earliest memories are of fishing with my dad. Wire-lining for walleye at night on the Detroit River, ice fishing on Lake St. Clair for panfish, participating in musky tournaments on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, chasing salmon on Lake Huron, and casting plastics around the rocks, break walls, and weed beds of local lakes for bass and pike are among these memories. After college I moved to Ohio, and I did not complain about living on the shores of the “Walleye Capital of the World”.
After a serendipitous meeting with Ali Shakoor at a walleye seminar, the tournament career began. It has become an obsession, and has allowed me to travel the United States fishing some of the best walleye fisheries in the country, while competing against the best anglers on the tour. I enjoy the challenge of outsmarting the walleye, as well as outsmarting the other tournament fishermen.
When I am not tournament fishing, I spend my time building my new marine dealership, Erie Marine Sales, where I sell Warrior and Hewescraft boats. When we are not working, my wife and I spend our time chasing around four teenage boys and what seems to be never ending sports schedules!
Tim Johnson
Hometown: Vermilion, Ohio
Hobbies: Hunting and Spending time with my wife and kids
Favorite Lure: Reef Runner 800
Favorite Way to Fish: Trolling Crankbaits
Favorite Fishery: Lake Erie
Growing up just a mile from the Vermilion River right on Lake Erie gave me endless opportunities to contently chase Walleye in Lake Eries Central Basin. As a young child, I remember going fishing with my grandfather on a daily basis and catching Walleye with Erie Dearies drifting and casting. When we weren’t chasing Walleye, we were chasing Panfish in local farm ponds and rivers. If I didn’t have a fishing pole in hand, you better believe I was out hunting rabbit or deer. My love for the outdoors was second to none.
After high school, I started getting my own boats and had an interest in trolling crankbaits and spinners for Walleye. I then started fishing small local tournaments and doing pretty well in them. In the spring of 2012, I had a open seat in my boat at a tournament and asked my long time friend Jason Zsebik to fish it with me and he did. We ended up finishing 6th out of 80 boats, and our passion for tournament fishing began. We continued fishing larger tournaments and doing very well in those. The love and art in pursueing these Lake Erie giants is a sickness in itself.
When I am not fishing, l enjoy doing activities with my wife Julia and two sons; Colt and Case. We still reside in Vermilion Ohio and don’t plan on leaving. I enjoy involving myself in local community service projects and helping others out. I have been selling building materials for the last nine years. I plan on keeping my tradition of the outdoors alive and passing my knowledge on to my children.
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