Donovan Maclean
Age 37
Home town - Hampton nb
Favourite species - smallmouth bass
Favourite location- Woodstock, Nb
Favourite lure - zman min max. Zman trd craw
I take part in the NB Bass Tour, and Fredericton Anglers Club tournaments. Top finish was in 2023 in the Fall Bronze Back Championship with a 1st place win. Multiple top 10 finishes in both series.
What I am looking forward to in the 2024 season is growing my fishing knowledge, and making new friends.
Terrence Ross
Age: 39
Hometown: Saint John NB
Favourite Species to catch: Smallmouth Bass, chain pickerel, Muskie.
Favourite place to fish: Darlings Island NB
Favourite Lure: LiveTarget slow roll Swimbait
Which angling tours: NBSFA, NB Bass Tour, NB Bassmasters
Best Tournament finishes: 2023 NBSFA Team of the Year, 2nd place 2023 Destination Nackawic, 3rd 2023 NB Bass Tour Perth Championship, along with several podium and Top 10 finishes throughout 2017-2023.
What am I most excited for the 2024 season: very excited to explore new techniques and to cover water that I have yet to expand on.
Rene Pelletier
I was first introduced to fishing trout in the 80’s at the age of 6 by my father. We would often leave early in the morning with a lunch and fish all day only stopping to eat. We have many great memories from those trips. As a young trout fisherman, I was noticing how trout would act differently to water and weather conditions. I started to notice how to target specific areas to increase my chances of success. I mainly walked streams or fished from shore but I have always been willing to go out with other anglers so we could share tools and tricks of the trade.
I only started multi species angling in 2015 in a Multi species Kayak tournament on the Hammond River. This was my first time competitively fishing in a one-day organized event and I mainly wanted to do it so I could see if I would enjoy it. That day was a blast, I was catching species I was targeting but I was also catching fish I had no idea existed. I specifically remember catching my first Pumpkinseed Sunfish, the fish had such bright and contrasting colours, I was thinking someone must have released it from their aquarium. That day had ups and downs because I had witnessed several anglers land a sturgeon and I was not so lucky. To my surprise, I ended the day in third place and have never looked back.
I have now competed in multiple events since 2017 called the Hook and Paddle. For the first 2 years I was consistently finishing behind a well known, experienced and accomplished angler. I continued to try and improve my knowledge and skill to improve. In 2019 I was able to accomplish my goal and ended up finishing in first place overall. I approached the next year with the attitude that I had to continue to grow my knowledge and skillset to maintain my chances of success. I have been fortunate enough to maintain my consistency by doing so and have won angler of the year for 2020 and 2021.
Although I am proud of my tournament results, nothing makes me prouder than the friends I have made and the adults and kids I have introduced to the sport. I have met people who have never really liked fishing or kayaking but after trying it, they are now regulars I see on the water. I have provided people with kayaks, canoes and fishing equipment because they have shown interest in participating. This sport sells itself and is not expensive to start. I make time outside of tournaments to go out and enjoy the days with Veteran’s, kids and even the odd competitor in the Hook and Paddle series. I have purchased a small boat in the past few years, and I continue to learn what this new tool has to offer.
I am a proud member of the Minnow Tackle Shop Pro Staff and love the fact I can refer people to a shop that not only sells equipment and tackle that work for our waters here in New Brunswick, but they also have friendly and knowledgeable staff that can help any angler. I know when people leave the shop, they have a sense of satisfaction, and they can’t wait to get out on the water.
Andrew Oliver, CET
Since moving to the community of Harvey in 1990, fishing for smallmouth bass has become a passion. I started out the same as many anglers with a small boat and motor and progressed from there as funds allowed.
I can still remember my first tournament sitting in my 12’ aluminum boat with a 9.8 hp engine floating beside a shiny glass boat with a 175 on the back waiting for take-off! A bit intimidated, yes, but at the end of the day it didn’t matter, we won the tournament! Beginners luck, probably, but it certainly has led to a lifetime of enjoyment.
I have competed in bass tournaments for 30 years which includes 16 tournament wins, a Team of the Year title and three Classic titles. Throughout my 30 years of competing, I have tried to encourage and support the participation of youth in the sport of fishing by donating my time and prizes to youth events.
In my many years competing I have also spent over 20 years as a New Brunswick Sportfishing Association Director helping to develop the Association and its tournament series into the longest-running tournament series in Atlantic Canada – 25+ years. Along the way, over 20+ years of guiding for smallmouth bass I have met many interesting people and made many long-term friends.
I hope that I have been able to contribute to the success of the shop with some advice along the way. As everyone knows that visits the Minnow Tackle Shop it has expanded to meet the needs of local anglers for many different species; be it for salmon, smallmouth bass, stripers, musky, sturgeon, or trout. MTS offers products that you can’t find anywhere else in the area. And if you need something that’s not on the shelf, they are more than happy to special order it.
Ben Thornton
Ben is an avid angler who has been fishing since the age of 4. He started out fly fishing with his father for Salmon and Trout and now he throws his own hand-tied flies for all species including musky. Ben has been a member of the Saint John River Chapter of Muskies Canada for many years now and spends his summers guiding for musky and smallmouth bass.
“My favorite memory fishing happened in November, fishing all day with no sign of fish and just before calling it a day, I ended up catching my personal best 50” musky. I wouldn’t have been able to do without my friend Marlon Prince”.
Ben Thornton
Ben spends all his free time on the water and has the area of Woodstock dialled in for any and all species. Ben specializes in musky fishing now but he loves to fish for all species every chance he gets. If you want to get out and try fishing for a certain species Ben is your guy! He loves the outdoors!!
Ben is an advocate for proper fish care and handling and takes the time to show and explain how to handle the fish properly so that we will have the opportunity to catch them again in the future!
Welcome to the Minnow Family, Ben!! We look forward to having you onboard!!