HP BASS SERIES ~ MCADAM ~ Recap

It was an early start for many of the 23 anglers competing in today’s HP bass tournament on Wauklehegan Lake in Village of McAdam. Some early risers launched and were on the water as early as 6:00 AM, scouting the lake’s hidden corners and prime fishing zones in preparation for the tournament start. Setting the tone for a competitive and high-energy day on the water. With clear skies and only a light breeze throughout the day, the weather was ideal for casting lines and chasing smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Top 5 Anglers of the Day
​
1. Rene Pelletier – Dominated the leaderboard with a stellar 87 points, showcasing consistency and precision throughout the day, but clinched the day with the St.Croix Atlantic Seviin Reels Lunker of the day a chunky 19.75 inch bucketmouth! This landed Pelletier a sweet rod/reel combo for HP Bass Lunker of the Year.

2. Andrew Wadden – Had a quick start to his day, witha a 19.50” wadden landed hos Forstplaque of the season in 2nd place, just behind with 85 points, Andrew kept the pressure on with a strong performance, and plenty of catches.

3. Travis Melanson – Secured third place with 79.25 points, with a last minute cull, Melanson was proving his skills in navigating bass hotspots.

4. Justin Hines – Finished with yet another clutch performance, just behind the podium by an inch with 78.25 points, demonstrating solid technique, hard work and strategy.

5. Jean Muzzerall – Rounded out the top five with 77.75 points, delivering a commendable effort in a tightly contested field.

With only a 9.25-point spread between third and fifth, the competition was fierce and the fish were biting. The anglers made the most of the sunny skies and calm waters, turning Wauklehegan Lake into a battleground of finesse and focus.

Special Thanks: A heartfelt thank you to the Village of McAdam for warmly hosting this stop on the tournament circuit. Your hospitality and support made the event a true success.

Now for the Year End Awards
2025 HP Bass Angler of the Year presented by 506 Tackle Supply goes to Justin Hines -- Justin's 1st place, 3rd place and 4th place finishes were enough to squeak out the competition by just 5 points. Hines's consistency all season long is the reason he takes home a $1,500 cheque and the Angler of the Year trophy provided by Cutting Etch Design - Congratulations on an awesome season!

2025 Lunker of the Year presented by St.Croix Atlantic Seviin Reels was awarded to Rene Pelletier, for his 19.75" bass today in McAdam -- Pelletier also finished 2nd overall just 5 points behind Justin -- with 1st, 3rd and 5th place finishes Pelletier kept the pressure on all day.

Travis Melanson rounded out the top 3 for this years bass season -- narrowly missing silver by just 5 points as well -- our top three anglers really kept the pressure on each other right down to the wire -- but the good news is all 3 have qualified for the 2025 HP CLASSIC ~ NACKAWIC ~ in partnership with Destination Nackawic Fredericton Capital Region Tourism

Here are the rest of the top 15 anglers to qualify for the classic:

4 - Andrew Wadden
5 - Matthew Fast
6 - Ben Woo
7 - Andrew Craig
8 - Jeff Rathburn
9 - Matthew DeSilva
10 - Corey Hobson
10 - Matthew Paton
12 - Rihards Dimpers
13 - Quinn Marsh
14 - Bryan Cawthra
14 - Ivan Khimich

Next Up: Anglers now set their sights on the Hook & Paddle Classic coming this September — this 2 day event promises even more excitement and competitive spirit as 30 qualified anglers battle for a spot on Team Canada!
Shout out to Nixie Knox Gallery for the HP Qualified Keychains
​
As the sun set over McAdam, the camaraderie and sportsmanship among the all HP Bass participants made this tournament and season a memorable one. Here’s to tight lines and even tighter competition in the next round!