Last Updated on February 10, 2026
Hacksaw Gaming’s “Le” series featuring Smokey the Raccoon has become one of the most recognisable slot franchises in online gaming. Le Fisherman marks the eighth instalment, released February 5, 2026, and sees the mischievous French raccoon trade his various disguises for yellow wellies and a fishing rod. This cluster pays slot combines the beloved Golden Squares mechanic with fresh innovations like Bucket collectors and the Big Catch Bar progression system.
Where To Play?
Unlike Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass series or similar fishing slots that rely on catch-and-collect mechanics, Le Fisherman stays true to Hacksaw Gaming’s signature formula whilst delivering something genuinely fresh within the crowded fishing genre. The hand-drawn cartoon aesthetic, featuring Smokey in arm bands and a lure-covered hat, creates an immediately charming atmosphere that stands apart from the realistic fishing themes dominating casino lobbies.
NZ Casinos With Le Fisherman
These offshore operators carry Hacksaw Gaming’s full catalogue including Le Fisherman:
| Operator | Entry Amount | Withdrawal Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Wazamba | $10 NZD | 24-48 hrs |
| Loki | $30 NZD | 24-48 hrs |
| Bizzo | $20 NZD | 24-48 hrs |
| Golden Crown | $20 NZD | 24-72 hrs |
| Skycrown | $20 NZD | 1-3 business days |
Le Fisherman Technical Specifications
| Provider | Hacksaw Gaming |
| RTP | 96.33% (highest setting) |
| Volatility | Low to Medium |
| Max Win | 15,000x stake |
| Layout | 6 reels, 5 rows |
| Win System | Cluster Pays (5+ symbols) |
| Bet Range | $0.10 – $50 NZD |
| Hit Frequency | 42% (almost 1 in 2 spins) |
| Release Date | February 5, 2026 |
Like all Hacksaw Gaming releases, Le Fisherman is built with HTML5 technology and optimised for mobile play. The interface defaults to portrait mode on smartphones, keeping controls accessible with one hand. Performance remains smooth across iOS and Android devices, with no dedicated app required – it runs directly in your mobile browser.
⚠️ Critical RTP Warning: Hacksaw Gaming allows operators to configure Le Fisherman with four different RTP settings. The difference between the highest (96.33%) and lowest (86.25%) represents a massive 10% gap in theoretical returns.
At 86.25% RTP, the house edge is nearly triple what you’d face at the default setting. Always check the game rules or paytable within your chosen casino before playing – this information is legally required to be displayed. If the RTP shown is anything below 96.33%, consider finding an operator running the full RTP version.
Le Fisherman RTP Configurations
| RTP Setting | House Edge | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 96.33% | 3.67% | ✅ Recommended – fair return |
| 94.33% | 5.67% | ⚠️ Below average – proceed with caution |
| 92.34% | 7.66% | ❌ Poor value – consider alternatives |
| 86.25% | 13.75% | 🚫 Avoid – extremely high house edge |
To check the RTP at your casino: open Le Fisherman, click the menu/hamburger icon, select “Game Rules” or “Paytable”, and look for the RTP percentage – it’s usually listed in the first section. If you cannot find this information or the casino makes it difficult to access, that’s a red flag worth noting.
Core Mechanics Breakdown
Super Cascades
Le Fisherman employs a more aggressive cascade system than standard tumbling slots. When a winning cluster forms, not only do the winning symbols disappear – all other instances of that symbol type are removed from the entire grid. This creates dramatic screen resets and continuous motion, keeping gameplay exceptionally active. New symbols cascade from above to fill all gaps, and this process repeats until no further wins occur.
Cluster Pays System
Wins form when five or more matching symbols connect horizontally or vertically anywhere on the 6×5 grid. Traditional paylines do not apply. Symbol values scale significantly with cluster size, with premium symbols paying up to 100x stake for clusters of twelve or more matching icons.
Golden Squares
This signature Hacksaw mechanic returns with enhancements. Whenever symbols form part of a winning cluster, those grid positions become highlighted as Golden Squares. In the base game, these reset between spins. However, when a Rainbow symbol lands, all Golden Squares activate simultaneously, revealing special symbols including Coins, Clovers, Buckets, and Global Buckets.
Symbol Paytable
| Symbol | 5 Cluster | 12+ Cluster |
|---|---|---|
| 🐟 Fish | 1x | 100x |
| ⚓ Anchor | 0.50x | 50x |
| 🪝 Hook | 0.50x | 50x |
| 🎣 Float | 0.30x | 25x |
| 🎩 Hat | 0.30x | 25x |
| 10-A Royals | 0.10x | 10x |
Special Symbols and Collectors
Coin Symbols
When Golden Squares activate, they can reveal four tiers of Coin symbols, each carrying different value ranges:
| Coin Type | Value Range |
|---|---|
| 🥉 Bronze | 0.2x – 4x stake |
| 🥈 Silver | 5x – 20x stake |
| 🥇 Gold | 25x – 100x stake |
| 💎 Diamond | 150x – 500x stake |
Clover Multipliers
Two types of Clover symbols can appear during Golden Square reveals. Green Clovers multiply the value of Coins and Buckets on adjacent positions only, whilst Gold Clovers apply their multiplier across the entire grid. Both carry values between 2x and 20x, and multiple Clovers can activate in sequence, creating significant win potential through stacked multipliers.
Bucket Collectors
Le Fisherman introduces a new collection mechanic unique to this instalment. Standard Buckets collect the values of all Coins and other activated Buckets within a 3×3 area surrounding them. Global Buckets extend this collection across the entire grid. Once Buckets collect values, the Golden Squares can reveal new symbols and restart the chain – this creates opportunities for exponential value scaling when multiple Buckets chain together.
Rainbow and Epic Rainbow
Rainbow symbols serve as the catalyst that activates all Golden Squares on the grid. The rarer Epic Rainbow takes this further by transforming every single grid position into a Golden Square simultaneously, regardless of whether those positions held winning symbols – this can produce explosive reveals covering the entire screen.
Free Spins Features
Le Fisherman includes three bonus rounds, each triggered by landing different quantities of FS scatter symbols:
| Bonus Round | Trigger | Spins | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| On Thin Ice | 3 Scatters | 10 | Progressive Golden Squares + Big Catch Bar |
| Slippery When Wet | 4 Scatters | 10 | Persistent Golden Squares + 1x minimum coins |
| Smokey Under Water | 5 Scatters | 10 | Hidden Epic Bonus – Big Catch Bar starts at Level 4 |
Big Catch Bar Progression
All free spins modes feature the Big Catch Bar, a progressive mechanic that advances whenever additional scatter symbols land during the bonus. As you reach new levels, Rainbow activations upgrade to reveal more powerful special symbols, and you receive 5 extra free spins at each milestone. Reaching Level 4 guarantees Rainbow drops on every single spin – this is where the real volatility kicks in and substantial wins become much more likely.
Feature Buy Options
Le Fisherman offers five different purchase options, each with its own volatility profile:
| Option | Cost | RTP | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| BonusHunt FeatureSpins | 3x | 96.33% | 5x more likely to trigger bonus (High volatility) |
| Rainbow Trout FeatureSpins | 50x | 96.14% | Guaranteed Rainbow/Epic + 1x minimum coins |
| On Thin Ice Bonus | 60x | 96.31% | Direct entry to first free spins tier (Medium volatility) |
| Slippery When Wet Bonus | 250x | 96.25% | Direct entry to second free spins tier (High volatility) |
| Rainbow Epic Drop | 500x | 96.28% | Guaranteed Epic Rainbow + 1x minimum coins (Very high volatility) |
⚠️ Bonus Buy Consideration: The 60x On Thin Ice option offers reasonable value for feature testing. However, the 250x Slippery When Wet purchase often struggles to deliver returns matching its cost – many rounds stall early without progressing the Big Catch Bar. Budget accordingly and avoid chasing losses through increasingly expensive bonus purchases.
Comparison With Other Le Series Slots
| Slot | Max Win | RTP | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Fisherman | 15,000x | 96.33% | Lakeside fishing adventure |
| Le Bandit | 10,000x | 96.30% | Parisian heist (original) |
| Le Pharaoh | 10,000x | 96.28% | Ancient Egypt |
| Le Viking | 10,000x | 96.26% | Nordic battlefield |
| Le Zeus | 20,000x | 96.10% | Greek mythology |
| Le Cowboy | 25,000x | 96.28% | Wild West |
| Le King | 20,000x | 96.25% | Las Vegas showman |
| Le Santa | 15,000x | 96.30% | Christmas festive |
Le Fisherman sits comfortably in the middle of the series for max win potential. Players chasing the absolute highest ceilings should look to Le Cowboy (25,000x) or Le Zeus/Le King (20,000x). However, Le Fisherman’s lower volatility and exceptional 42% hit frequency make it significantly more accessible for extended sessions and bankroll preservation.
Who Should Play Le Fisherman?
✅ Ideal for players who:
- Want lower volatility without sacrificing substantial win potential
- Enjoy frequent wins and active gameplay with constant action
- Prefer charming, cartoonish aesthetics over dark or horror themes
- Already love the Le series and want fresh mechanics within familiar territory
- Value a 42% hit frequency for bankroll-friendly sessions
❌ Skip this one if you:
- Chase maximum wins above 20,000x stake
- Find the Le series formula becoming repetitive
- Prefer realistic fishing aesthetics over cartoon styles
- Want high volatility with dramatic win-or-nothing swings
- Dislike complex reveal mechanics that require learning
Bankroll Considerations
Le Fisherman’s lower volatility and 42% hit frequency make it considerably friendlier on bankrolls than typical Hacksaw releases. Where high-volatility slots might demand 400+ spin depth to weather dry spells, Le Fisherman’s frequent small wins keep sessions ticking over more consistently. A rough guide: budget around 300x your chosen stake for a comfortable session length – so $30 at $0.10 spins, or $150 at $0.50.
The Golden Squares mechanic builds anticipation throughout play, and the Big Catch Bar during free spins provides clear progression goals that reward patience over aggressive bet sizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Le Fisherman differ from Big Bass and other fishing slots?
Le Fisherman avoids the catch-and-collect mechanics that dominate the fishing slot genre. Instead, Hacksaw Gaming applies their signature Golden Squares reveal system with new Bucket collector symbols. The result feels more like a treasure hunt than a traditional fishing simulation, with Smokey literally fishing for hidden riches rather than bass.
What makes the Bucket mechanic special?
Buckets introduce exponential win potential through chained collection. A standard Bucket gathers all Coin values within its 3×3 surrounding area, whilst a Global Bucket collects everything on the entire grid. When multiple Buckets activate in sequence, they can collect each other’s values before multipliers apply, creating massive combined payouts from a single reveal phase.
Is Le Fisherman beginner-friendly?
The lower volatility and 42% hit frequency make it more accessible than most Hacksaw releases. However, the mechanics are complex – understanding Golden Squares, Rainbows, Clovers, and Bucket collection takes time. The 60x bonus buy provides an affordable way to experience the full feature set whilst learning how reveals and chains work.
What triggers the maximum 15,000x win?
Maximum wins require an exceptional alignment: extensive Golden Square coverage activated by an Epic Rainbow, revealing high-value Diamond Coins (up to 500x each), amplified by Gold Clovers (up to 20x grid-wide multiplier), and collected by chained Global Buckets. This combination across extended free spins with Big Catch Bar progression creates the pathway to the cap.
Can I access the Smokey Under Water hidden bonus through feature buys?
No, the hidden epic bonus requiring 5 scatter symbols cannot be purchased directly. This maintains Hacksaw Gaming’s philosophy of keeping the most rewarding features as organic achievements rather than purchasable shortcuts. You’ll need to trigger it naturally through base game play or hope for an upgrade during lower-tier free spins.
How does the visual presentation compare to other Le series entries?
Le Fisherman features some of the most charming visuals in the series. The lakeside setting transforms dramatically during bonus rounds: On Thin Ice brings a frozen tundra aesthetic, Slippery When Wet features outrageous character animations, and Smokey Under Water shows the raccoon transformed into a mermaid complete with shell bra – the most visually elaborate presentation Hacksaw has delivered for Smokey’s adventures.
About Hacksaw Gaming
Hacksaw Gaming launched in 2018 from Malta and quickly built a reputation for distinctive, mobile-first slot design. Their cartoon-heavy aesthetic and signature mechanics like Golden Squares set them apart from the Pragmatic Play and NetEnt titles dominating most casino lobbies. The studio releases fewer games than larger competitors – typically 2-4 per month – but maintains a quality-over-quantity approach that’s earned them a dedicated following. For a breakdown of their best performers, see our guide to the top 10 Hacksaw Gaming slots.
Beyond the Le series, Hacksaw is known for Wanted Dead or a Wild, Chaos Crew, and their range of instant-win scratchcards. The provider holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission, with their games available across most major regulated markets including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Players in the Irish market can find casinos carrying Hacksaw’s full catalogue through resources like sistersites.ie, which tracks operators running on shared platforms.
David is a veteran slots player with over 15 years of playing experience in both online and land based casinos. He knows exactly what makes for a good online casino and is always keen to share his expertise with other players.