Hardwater Havoc, (Courtesy)
KEARNEY —The University of Nebraska – Kearney is in second place in the North-Central Division of Hardwater Havoc, a six-week collegiate ice fishing competition that pits universities and colleges across Canada and the United States against each other in a mix of on-ice competition and real-world fisheries science.
As of Wednesday morning, the University of Nebraska – Kearney sits second in the division with 430 points, just behind Lethbridge Polytechnic (540 points) and ahead of the University of Regina (385). They remain within striking distance of the division lead.
Two anglers on the Kearney team are currently leading the charge, holding 1st and 2nd place on both the “most fish entered” and “most species caught” leaderboards, highlighting their skill and the team’s competitive edge.
Hardwater Havoc is more than a fishing tournament. Students compete by logging ice-fishing trips, documenting catches, and contributing high-quality data used in fisheries research. Points are earned through participation, species diversity, and total catches, with the scoring system designed to reward teamwork and consistency alongside individual success.
The competition runs through mid February, with leaderboards updating in real time.
Hardwater Havoc is organized by Angler’s Atlas and is in partnership with the North Central Division of the American Fisheries Society.
