What an incredible morning at Haddon Lake Park! The Ike Foundation® hosted another successful Hook ’Em Early Kids Fishing Tournament, welcoming 100 excited young anglers and their families for a fun-filled day of fishing, learning, and community.
By 8:00 AM, lines were in, and the lake was buzzing with excitement as kids waited for that first big bite! Thanks to the TD Bank Charitable Foundation Grant and Holman-Maple Shade, every child went home with their very own Abu Garcia rod and reel, Flambeau Outdoors tackle box, Ike Foundation sunglasses, and a swag bag filled with goodies! A special thank-you goes to Johnny Vanore from Rita’s Water Ice for keeping everyone cool with sweet treats throughout the morning.
Our appreciation goes out to our amazing volunteers, from TD Bank employees to seasoned angler, who helped measure fish, untangle lines, release catches safely, and manage setup and cleanup. Your time, patience, and enthusiasm made this day possible! A special thanks as well to Bill Hoffman from Hoffman Exterminating for lending a hand and helping kids measure their catches. And of course, a big thank you to all the parents who came out to support and cheer on their young anglers. We also want to thank AFTCO for providing the trash bags for our clean up, we always make sure the area is cleaner than we found it!
The competition was fierce but friendly, and the smiles said it all! Congratulations to all our winners:
🏆 2025 Winners
Never Give Up Award: Landon Hannigan
Ages 6 & Under
🥉 3rd – Mason Broome – 29.25 inches
🥈 2nd – Clayton Eisenhart – 39.5 inches
🥇 1st – Rhett McHugh – 59.75 inches
Ages 7–11
🥉 3rd – Kane DiMedio – 42.25 inches
🥈 2nd – Stella Martinez – 67 inches
🥇 1st – Gavin Klingler – 78 inches
Ages 12–15
🥉 3rd – Ridley Pintozzi – 32.5 inches
🥈 2nd – Hailey Kucharczuk – 36.75 inches
🥇 1st – Aaron Birosik – 172.5 inches
🎣 Lunker Award: Emett Fadigan – 24″ Catfish
The Ike Foundation® is proud to continue our mission of getting kids hooked on fishing and the outdoors especially those from underserved communities. Events like these would not be possible without our sponsors, volunteers, and the families who share in the joy of fishing.
Until next time…Together we can Hook’em Early!
Featured in The Retrospect
We’re proud that The Retrospect, a Camden County community newspaper, recently featured The Ike Foundation® and our Hook ’Em Early Kids Fishing Tournament. The article highlights how our team brings the joy of fishing to children of all ages — providing free rods, tackle boxes, and a day of outdoor fun at Haddon Lake Park. It’s a great read that captures the heart of our mission to get kids hooked on fishing and the outdoors early.
