 The second leg of a scorching double-header weekend brought anglers to Municipality of Grand Lake NB, in Chipman, NB where the scent of fresh sawdust lingered in the summer air, the wind picked up just in time, and the water teemed with multi-species opportunity. From bass to sunfish, catfish to perch — anglers gave it everything to stack points and land their way to victory in this multi-species format. With big prizes, wild diversity in catches, and intense competition — Chipman did not disappoint! TOP 5 ANGLERS 1st – Rene Pelletier – 102.75 pts $500 Winner Rene locked down the top spot with a well-rounded and gritty effort. He stacked 7 species, including a chunky 16.25" smallmouth, and a healthy chain pickerel. He also added in sunfish, catfish, chub/fallfish, and a won the X Zone LuresTHE ROD GLOVE target species prize pack with 22.50 inches of white and yellow perch. Rene walked away with a dominant win and a $500 payday courtesy of Municipality of Grand Lake NB. 2nd – Gage Nyenhuis – 95.25 pts $300 Winner & Top Youth Angler Gage proved again that age is no barrier to skill, finishing second in both tournaments this weekend. His day included 7 above average species: a solid 11.75" fallfish, smallmouth, catfish, chain pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed. Gage snags another Walters Baits Plaque. 3rd – Jean Muzzerall – 93.75 pts $200 Winner Jean brought a consistent and tactical approach to the day, catching 7 total species, with kicker 18" smb, and 22" chain. Jean's solid spread and efficient scoring gave him the edge to land in third and claim a well-earned $200 prize. 4th – Michael Marsh – 92.25 pts Only Eel Caught! Michael had one of the most unique catches of the tournament, landing the only eel of the day! His total included 7 species like smallmouth, pickerel, perch, sunfish, catfish. He narrowly missed his first Atlantic Laser Works plaque but earned massive respect for the rare species. 5th – Chris Bingham – 90.5 pts Chris fished hard and stacked 7 species, highlighted by a chunky 15.75" smallmouth, strong perch numbers, and a hefty pickerel. His diverse lineup and bonus points pushed him into the Top 5 — a clutch performance in a deep field of anglers. BONUS HIGHLIGHTS Lunker Bass: Quinn Marsh took home $150 for a solid 16.75” smallmouth NB Bass Tour Draw Winner: Quinn Marsh also walked away with a free NB Bass registration for 2. Terry Lemon Lemon’s Hardware Daiwa Combo Winner: Congratulations to Nicolas Mayne (QC) on the big gear win! Nixie Knox Gallery HP Plaque Winner: Allan Marsh Walters Baits Tackle Box Winner: Greg McLaughlin Special shout out to TJ with Access Paving and Construction who joined us for the weekend! Huge shout out to Thomas Tower Cranes and Shawn Patterson for sponsoring our Chipman tournament and welcoming us all to your marina! TOP 5 OVERALL ANGLERS – 2025 HOOK & PADDLE SERIES (After Chipman) After two hot and weed-choked tournaments in Harts Lake and Chipman, the series leaderboard is starting to take shape — and these five anglers have risen above the pack with consistent, clutch performances in multi-species madness. 1st – Rene Pelletier – 256.75 points Rene is setting the bar with only two events remaining, claiming 14 of 16 on the species list, Pelletier is looking to continue his consistency, show his range and making a strong run at his 4th series title. Rene’s the one to beat right now, and everyone is looking to catch him. 2nd – Travis Melanson – 244.25 points Hot on Rene’s tail is Travis, who’s fishing with power and precision. His standout consistency and podium placement along with bonus points are keeping him within range of striking. Don’t be surprised if he surges to the top with one more big catch. 3rd – Bryan Cawthra – 224.25 points Bryan has had an up and down season, but this past weekend he managed to reel in the only Muskie in the series this season, which vaulted him into a top 3 position. He will need to find a few more species to defend his 2024 HP title looking to remain on the podium down the stretch. 4th – Peter Nyenhuis – 212.75 points Peter has been near the top of every tournament, managing to find strong species diversity in any conditions. Peter is keeping pace with the leaders, which is no surprise, but don't sleep on this HP Sleeper as he has proven clutch catches when needed. 5th – Jean Muzzerall – 207.25 points Jean has been quietly stacking points all season long, landing 12 species already, he will rely on execution and bonus potential, Jean is well within striking distance as the series heads into its next stage. With tight margins and bonus points in play, anything can happen next. Stay tuned as the Hook & Paddle ~ Oromocto ~ Finale Day 1 Hook & Paddle ~ Fredericton ~ Finale Day 2 is next on the schedule — with plaques, prizes, and pride on the line this year will no doubt be another exciting finish. 
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 43 Anglers. 3 Waterways. 11 Species. One Wild Day of Fishing. The 2025 edition of the Hook & Paddle ~ Harts Lake ~ tournament on Harts Lake, Coy Lake, and the St. John River brought the heat—literally and figuratively. With 43 skilled anglers hitting the water, the sun blazing overhead, and thick cabbage clogging pedal drives and lures, it was a full-on battle of grit, grind, and green stuff. Despite the challenges, competitors hauled in a total of 256 fish submitted across 11 of the 16 eligible species and much more caught! From chunky smallmouth and lurking chain pickerel to the surprise catches like muskie, eel and chub/fallfish, anglers proved their versatility and hustle all day long. Conditions: Hot, bright sun all day Challenge: Thick weed growth across the lake Support: Huge thanks to Arcadia Municipal Government for their generous support and prize contributions! Top 5 Anglers of the Day: 1st – Bryan Cawthra – 138.0 pts The model of consistency and coverage, Bryan landed 9 species, including standout catches like a 25" muskie, 20.25 eel, and 20.5" chain pickerel. The rare musky and stacking of multi-species earned him $300 and the 1st place Atlantic Laser Works custom plaque! 2nd – Gage Nyenhuis – 127.75 pts Gage secured 2nd place and $200, with the elusive 11.25" fallfish, a 20.5" chain pickerel, 26.75" eel and solid showings across sunfish, catfish, and perch. A dominant day despite the weed-filled chaos. Gage was also the Walters Baits top youth angler on the day! 3rd – Amanda Metz – 125.25 pts Amanda crushed it with 21.5" of target species of largemouth + red breast sunfish giving her the X Zone LuresTHE ROD GLOVE prize pack. Add in a 14.5" largemouth, 12.50" catfish, and consistent multi-species catches lander Metz in 3rd place and a $100 cash prize + Lake&Lure Prize Pack! 4th – Travis Melanson – 121 pts Travis held it down with 9 total species and and had another solid showing - including a monster 19" smallmouth bass - which tied him for the lunker on the day. 5th – Rene Pelletier – 117.5 pts Rene also landed a 19.00" smallmouth, to claim his share of the lunker bass prize, along with 8 other species to round out the top 5 anglers on the day. Event Species Summary: Total Fish Caught: 256 Species Caught: 11 out of 16 eligible Most Common Species: Chain Pickerel, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and Catfish Rare Finds: Eel, Largemouth, Chub/Fallfish, Muskie Arcadia Municipal Government sponsored the prize pool – thank you for supporting the kayak fishing community! Thanks to all 43 anglers for an unforgettable tournament day. From thick weed battles to hot sun and cold drinks at the end, Hook & Paddle Harts Lake 2025 was one to remember.   “Big Axe, Bigger Fish” This year’s Nackawic leg of the Hook & Paddle series was one to remember — and not just because it was held in the shadow of the world’s largest axe. With perfect overcast skies and barely any long sustained wind to deal with, anglers were gifted ideal conditions on the Bend. Whether they were trolling deep for muskie (none showed up!) or sitting tight in known hot spots hoping for a sucker to slurp down a worm, the river delivered. While no muskie or chain pickerel made an appearance, the species lengths were massive, especially in catfish, yellow perch, fallfish, and the always-reliable smallmouth bass. This wasn’t a game of catching them all — it was a race for length, and some anglers came in swinging. Top 5 Anglers Destination Nackawic 1st – John Cail – 98.75 pts John bounced back and brought a balanced showing with solid lengths across smallmouth bass (18"), a thick 13.50" catfish, and a commanding 19" sucker. Cail also registered pumpkinseed, yellow and fall fish rounding out a strong multi-species card. Add in some bonus points, and it was enough to top the field on this day, taking home a nice Minnow Tackle Shop prize. 2nd – Peter Nyenhuis – 95.5 pts Peter finishes back-2-back silver over the weekend scoring big with an 18" smallmouth, 12.75" white perch, and high numbers across the rest of his 7 species caught. Nyenhuis is consistently piling up bonus points and species - taking home a 13 Fishing Canada rod on the day, and another beautiful Atlantic Laser Works custom plaque. 3rd – Konnor Nyenhuis – 90 pts Konnor stayed in striking distance collecting 7 species on the day with a nice 14 inch catfish and a healthy showing of all core species. Consistency across the board, even while assisting other anglers on the day. 4th – Bryan Cawthra – 83.25 pts Cawthra found himself in 4th both tournaments this weekend, he wasn't able to find 7 but his 6 species caught were large enough to keep him in the mix, including a 19 inch small-jaw, 11.25 inch yellow perch and 13.75" catfish. 5th – Quinn Marsh – 77 pts Quinn rounded out the top five with a 16.25" smallmouth, a monster 12.25" yellow perch, and a solid 16 inch sucker. Quinn takes home back-2-back Walters Baits top youth angler trophies this weekend. HP Species Record Watch Jean Muzzerall made headlines again with a 14.50" catfish, becoming the third angler to break a new species benchmark in 2025 -- which will net him 5 extra bonus points at the end of the season. Shout out to Andrew Burtt who won the X Zone LuresTHE ROD GLOVE Biggie-Smalls Target Species prize pack with a 19.50 and 4.50 difference of 15 inches and $200. And thanks Mayor Tim Fox for welcoming us at the awards, and to Clean Drain Dry for washing our kayaks as we were getting off the water! HP Youth Division Standings Quinn Marsh has moved up to claim top spot for the time being with a nice weekend, bumping him up to 588 points, but 3 time youth div champ Gage Nyenhuis is hot on his tracks - just 5 points separate the two. It'll be a fun battle to watch as the season plays out -- Damien Dorcas rounds out top 3 with 553 points. Access Paving and Construction HP Elimination Team Bracket has been updated, we are down to 4 teams left! Top 5 Overall Standings 1st – Rene Pelletier (205.5 points) Rene was able to capitalize big in McAdam with a dominating win, he was able to close the gap, and even pass Travis for first overall with 32 bonus points and 12/16 species caught already. He will continue to look to be consistently in the top 10 for the rest of the season. 2nd Travis Melanson (203.25 points) Travis despite missing this last weekend, still right in the mix for top spot with an impressive species count and monster lengths across the board -- he will need to keep up that consistency and find a few more key species to keep pushing Pelletier in the upcoming tournaments. 3rd – Peter Nyenhuis (200.75 points) Peter has been near the top of each tournament so far, and with 4 species still on the list to catch, he'll make another major push at top 3 overall anglers again this season - a well-rounded effort from an experienced HP competitor. 4th – Jean Muzzerall (177.75 points) Jean has above average species lengths, and is consistently raking up bonus points, and with a few species still to check off his list, look for Muzzerall to make a push in the upcoming tournaments. 5th – Andrew Craig (171.75 points) Andrew started the season off hot, and hasn't really slowed down yet, with an eel and striped bass on his board already, he will need to continue to stack species each tournament to increase bonus points, but Craig is one of the few to crack the 170+ point mark, earning him a well-deserved top 5 finish.       Anglers: 39 competitors Different Species Caught: 8 Fish Registered: 289 Weather Report: It started off with thick fog, then the sun broke through for a hot, windless day that left anglers roasting in their kayaks. The lake was alive with sunfish and chain pickerel, while in the background, the buzz of chainsaws echoed as locals cleaned up from a recent microburst that knocked trees into the lake and across properties. Top 5 McAdam Anglers – What a Show! Rene Pelletier – 106.25 pts Rene had a monster day on the water, nailing nearly every category with consistency. He maxed out bonus points and placed first overall thanks to solid performances across smallmouth, largemouth, chain pickerel, and more. A true multi-species masterclass taking home $325.00 from the good folks Village of McAdam Discover SW New Brunswick Pelletier also took home the X Zone Lures THE ROD GLOVE Target Species prize for landing a massive 15.75" fall fish, combined with a 9.5 white perch, giving him 25.25 inches. Peter Nyenhuis – 86.5 pts Peter wasn’t far behind with big fish in the pickerel and bass categories. He racked up solid placing bonuses and caught a variety of species with sharp focus all day, taking home $225.00 Jason Gould – 82.75 pts Jason brought in quality fish and bonus points to claim third place, claiming his first Atlantic Laser Works plaque and a 13 Fishing Canada rod, along with $150 for his troubles. Bryan Cawthra – 81.5 pts Bryan consistently produced fish, including a good showing in chain pickerel and white perch, locking down a strong 4th-place finish. Jean Muzzerall – 80 pts Jean rounded out the top five with big numbers in smallmouth, largemouth, and pickerel, staying competitive in nearly every scoring category. Shout out to Quinn Marsh, who was the top youth angler on the day, taking home a nice Walters Baits plaque, and winning the prize lure prize draw. And John Frazee for taking home $200 for the lunker bass, a sweet 18.50" smallmouth! Hook & Paddle ~ Woodstock ~ Tournament Recap June 21st, 2025 | Woodstock Tourism & Events, NB They said it might rain... and rain it did. It was like someone cranked on the shower and kept fiddling with the settings all day long. From downpours to sprinkles, soakers to drizzles—anglers battled the elements with soaked sleeves, foggy glasses, and pruned fingers. As the tournament wrapped up, a cool breeze swept across the water, a final rinse to a day where nothing stayed dry—not even the fish! This year's target species was muskie, but not a single one was brought to the board. That left the field wide open for a good ol’ fashioned multi-species slugfest. With Chain Pickerel holding big value in the scoring system, landing one meant you were in contention—and several anglers made it count. Top 5 Recap: 1st Place – Chris Bingham (72 pts) Chris pieced together a strategic day with a 13” smallmouth, a rare 5.75” largemouth, a sunfish, yellow perch, and a crucial 9.25” white perch. But the game-changer? A solid 18.25” chain pickerel and consistent numbers across the board. It's been 4 seasons in the making, but Chris "Dirty" Bingham claims top spot and a beautiful Atlantic Laser Works plaque, and 13 Fishing Canada rod. 2nd Place – Jaret Phillips (62 pts) Jaret dialed in his pickerel game, stacking up a 22.5” chain pickerel and a 6.50" pumpkinseed sunfish. Throw in a 9” yellow perch and some bonus points—Phillips claims his first HP Podium finish, claiming a Scotty Fishing Products prize -- and not only that, he also took home the Curries Hardware, Gun and Bootshop draw prize -- a brand new Hummingbird Helix 7! What a day to remember! 3rd Place – Andrew Craig (55.75 pts) With all his catches coming in the last hour, Craig saved his day, and better yet, found himself on the podium for the first time this season landing one of the biggest yellow perch of the day 11.50" Andrew also hauled in a 15.5” smallmouth and a 20.75” chain pickerel. Solid effort taking home a nice Lucky Strike Bait Works prize pack! 4th Place – Jeremy Smelser (53 pts) Jeremy matched the top chain pickerel mark with a 22.5-incher, backed by strong numbers in the panfish and bass categories landed him a 4th place finish. 5th Place – Aaron Tarr (50.5 pts) Aaron’s 20” chain pickerel was clutch, paired with a consistent spread in smallmouth, and yellow perch moved him into the top 5! Total Fish Caught: 189 (Count includes all species columns: Smallmouth, Largemouth, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Chain Pickerel, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Catfish.) Congrats to Amanda Metz - who took home $190 for the lunker bass comp - 16.50" While the muskies kept to themselves this year, it was a gritty, grind-it-out kind of day that tested every angler’s patience, gear, and rain gear. Hats off to all who braved the wild weather and came out smiling through fogged-up glasses and water-logged boots.  Hook & Paddle ~ Mactaquac ~ TOURNAMENT RECAP 47 Anglers | 11 Species | Tough, Windy Conditions What a day on the water! The tournament kicked off with light winds, but by midday, the breeze turned into a challenge of its own, pushing every angler to adapt and dig deep. Despite the tough conditions, all 47 competitors showed grit and determination, landing 11 different species in a true multi-species battle! Top 5 Anglers – Standout Performances Travis Melanson - Total: 126.25 pts A dominant showing with consistent catches across the board, securing top spot with 14 bonus points and the top placing bonus and a share of the X Zone LuresTHE ROD GLOVE Target Species combo with a 16.50 Largemouth, and 12.50 Fall Fish! Bryan Cawthra - Total: 118.5 pts Bryan was right on Travis' tail, collecting 9 species, including a sucker and a share of the target species also with a 17" LMB & 12" Fall Fish. Rene Pelletier - Total: 114.5 pts A well-rounded day with multiple catches — Rene’s 12.75 sucker and solid largemouth put him in a strong podium finish. Gage Nyenhuis - Total: 96.25 pts One of the two anglers to land Gaspereau (8.5"), and the only trout on the day showcasing species diversity along with steady catches. Rihards Dimpers - Total: 94 pts Strong numbers in both catfish and pickerel helped Dimpers lock in a top-5 spot. Highlights & Stats: 47 Total Anglers competed in varying winds, making boat control and positioning a real challenge. 11 Target Species including Smallmouth, Largemouth, Trout, Pickerel, Perch (Yellow & White), Catfish, Sucker, Sunfish, Gaspereau, and Chub/Fallfish. Hats off to everyone who battled the wind and brought in some impressive numbers. The species diversity and tight scores show just how competitive this field is becoming! Congrats to Damien, Corey, Elizabeth, and Andrew as they all caught a 17.25 inch bass to claim $50 each as the lunker bass prize pool.  Hook & Paddle ~ Hampton ~ Multi-Species Recap! Hampton, NB, | May 31 – June 1, 2025 39 anglers. 321 fish submitted. Many more (especially yellow perch) caught but never made it to the leaderboard... TOP 5 ANGLERS + SPECIES CAUGHT 1st – Rene Pelletier – 144.5 pts – $500 The man on a mission! Rene submitted 11 eligible species, the highest in the field, including top-tier lengths in chain pickerel (23.5"), striped bass (16"), trout (8"), sucker (18.25"), and white perch (10.5"). He also nailed the X Zone LuresTHE ROD GLOVE target species of sucker, chain pickerel and sunfish, placed in the top 3, and earned bonus points along the way. Pelletier walks away with $500 to start his multi-species season! 2nd – Travis Melanson – 136.75 pts – $400 A strong all-around performance with 10 species, Travis made headlines by setting a new HP record with a 21.75” sucker and 12" Gaspereau. His other standout catches included striped bass (16.5"), trout (10.5"), and consistent scoring across categories like perch and catfish, claiming another beautiful Atlantic Laser Works custom plaque. 3rd – Peter Nyenhuis – 120.5 pts – $300 Peter no stranger to these waters came in with 10 species, including a solid eel, trout, and sucker. A clean, well-rounded weekend that earned him a spot on the podium—and some well-deserved cash! 4th – Rihards Dimpers – 112.75 pts – $200 Rihards crushed the pickerel bite with a 20.25" entry and rounded out his tally with 8 species. His consistency across the board kept him in the mix. 5th – Jean Muzzerall – 106.25 pts – $100 Jean fished smart and efficiently, scoring across 8 species including a nice smallmouth bass (17"), and was the second of only three anglers to find the target species, quietly grinding his way into the Top 5! Record Breakers Travis Melanson – 21.75” Sucker, 12.00" Gaspereau – both are NEW HP Records Chris Bingham – 13.75” White perch – NEW HP Record Each earned 5 bonus points/record toward their season totals! Fish Totals 321 fish submitted by 39 anglers! Yellow perch stole the show—everywhere, all the time, often unmeasured, often maddening. They gaslit nearly every angler on the water. The Weather Saturday: Started off calm and overcast, but by mid-day, rain and wind rolled in, making things challenging. Sunday: Cold, windy, wet—and whitecaps reached up to 40 km/h on open water. Most anglers stuck to the river system, hoping fish would cooperate in tighter channels. Massive Thanks To: Mayor Doucette, Kelly, Chris, and the Town of Hampton for hosting and donating the prize money Gridiron Brewing for the ice-cold Paddlers Ale featuring our HP Limited Cast 1/3 collectible labels Beer Daddy BBQ for the mouthwatering HP Special that hit the spot after a long day on the water Clean Drain Dry Initiative for supporting invasive species prevention and spraying down every kayak after the event This was a true test of grit, gear, and grind. Thanks to all the anglers who made it out—can’t wait to bring on the next stops Hook & Paddle ~ Mactaquac ~ & Hook & Paddle ~ Woodstock ~   |
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