 If there was ever a tournament that showcased the grit and dedication of Hook & Paddle anglers, this was it. The forecast called for rain all day, and Mother Nature delivered. About an hour before launch, lightning and heavy rain rolled through the area, forcing the first weather delay in Hook & Paddle history. Anglers spent the morning huddled in vehicles, watching the radar, or waiting for Dunkin' Donuts to open as tournament officials pushed the start back 30 minutes for safety. Despite the conditions, 36 dedicated anglers returned for Day 2 of our back-to-back tournament weekend and hit the water as soon as the all-clear was given. The first couple of hours were spent fishing through steady rain, but eventually the wind laid down and anglers were rewarded with several hours of overcast skies and excellent fishing conditions. As the final hour approached, however, the weather had one more surprise in store, with strong winds, whitecaps, and another torrential downpour sweeping across the system. Thankfully, the fish kept biting. The unique waters of Harts Lake, Coy Lake, and the Saint John River produced an incredible **13 different species** and **140 fish submissions** throughout the day:
TOP 5 OVERALL **Gage Nyenhuis – 160.50 pts ($350)** Gage continued his remarkable start to the 2026 season with another dominant performance, registering **11 different species**. His card included everything from bass and perch to pickerel, catfish, sucker, and eel. Most impressively, Gage has now submitted a sucker in **three consecutive tournaments**, proving once again that every species matters in multi-species competition. **Travis Melanson – 150.00 pts ($250)** Travis matched Gage with an impressive **11-species day** and was the **only angler to register a Chub/Fallfish**. He also captured the XZone Target Species Bonus with a 16.75" Largemouth Bass and 11.50" Catfish for a combined target total of **28.25 inches**. **Bryan Cawthra – 142.75 pts ($100)** Bryan earned his first podium finish of the season with a strong **10-species performance**. His day was highlighted by the tournament's largest catfish at **12.50 inches**, helping him climb into third place despite some challenging afternoon conditions. **David Owen – 135.50 pts** David made the most of the bass bite, cashing in an additional **$150 Lunker Bass Pool** with a beautiful **19.50-inch Smallmouth Bass**. He also established a new Hook & Paddle Redbreast Sunfish record with an **8.50-inch Redbreast**, helping him secure a fourth-place finish. **Rene Pelletier – 132.75 pts** Rene rounded out the Top 5 thanks to one of the standout catches of the tournament, a massive **28.50-inch Eel**, the largest eel registered on the day and one of the key fish that propelled him up the leaderboard. A huge thank you to the Arcadia Municipal Government, our volunteers, local supporters, and all of our amazing series sponsors for helping make this event possible despite some of the toughest weather we've faced all season. Fredericton Capital Region Tourism Clash also began at Harts Lake - updated standings below. Three tournaments into the 2026 Multi-Species Series, the overall standings are tightening up, the Access Paving Elimination Bracket continues to take shape, and anglers are proving they'll fish through just about anything.    
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