March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Milo firefighters plan 29th ice fishing derby

MILO — As of Tuesday, Jan. 1, ice fishing will be legal in Maine. With ice-fishing season beginning, members of the Milo Fire Department are planning their 29th annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby. The fund-raising event for the fire department will be held Feb. 16 and 17 at Schoodic Lake, in central Maine.

Schoodic Lake Fishing Derby Committee members are making available 94 prizes totaling more than $10,000 for those who participate as ice fishermen or for those that want to support the event by participating in the shore prize awards.

Fishermen from throughout Maine will vie for a total of $725 in fish prizes. First prize for the largest togue, salmon and trout caught and registered will be $100 each, while second prize is $50 and third, $25. First place for the largest cusk or bass is $25, while second is $10. A prize of $30 will be offered to the catcher of the “oddest fish.”

All fish must be caught in Schoodic Lake during the derby time limits. The derby starts at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, for cusk only. All other Maine fishing rules and regulations as well as any special rules by the derby committee will be in effect.

Concern has been expressed about the condition of the ice, which is hazardous in many places in the state. Committee members hope that cold weather will make the ice as good for fishing this year as in the past.

All registered participants will be eligible for 10 prizes totaling $1,450, donated by 33 merchants in the area. There will be an additional 57 individual prizes totaling $1,825 that will be awarded to people who have decided they prefer being shore participants rather than fishermen. Winners need not be present to win.

A new aspect of the derby this year will be the participation of WDME Radio from Dover-Foxcroft broadcasting live from 4 p.m. Sunday until the final prize is awarded. According to Crossman, there is usually a large crowd on hand for the action, and this year, the radio has agreed to participate. Awarding of prizes is expected to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. Crossman said that the derby is the only fund-raising event the Milo Fire Department holds throughout the year.

Proceeds from the fishing derby have helped support the Penquis Valley High School CloseUp Foundation, the Maine Medical Center Burn Unit, the Milo Fire Department Relief Fund and Rescue 7, used during the winter months for snowmobile rescues; the MFD Snowmobile Rescue team; the Milo Recreation Department’s Basketball Leagues; Muscular Dystrophy; Operation Desert Shield; Operation Liftoff; the Albert Perkins Scholarship Fund; Pine Tree Camp for handicapped people; Project Graduation for Penquis Valley seniors; the Maine State Police Memorial; Supporting Kids in Play; the Maine Special Olympics; and the Three Rivers Ambulance Service.

Crossman said funds are held in an account used to grant requests from local charities throughout the year.

Crossman said shore prizes this year totaled more than $6,000, with a grand prize being a 1991 Polaris Indy Sport 440 snowmobile, purchased by the fire department from Northern Sports in Milo. Other shore prizes include a Winchester Model 94 Deluxe .30-30 by Firearms Etc.; a Jiffy power ice auger, Milo True Value; a cabin for one week in May or June by Beech Ridge Camps; a General Electric microwave oven, Gellerson’s Appliance in Dover-Foxcroft; and a $200 Polaris gift certificate from Northern Sports.

Several $100 gift certificates have been donated by the Milo IGA, Val’s Pizza, Milo Exxon, C&J Variety-Irving Gas, and the Carousel Bed and Breakfast and Gift Shoppe.

Crossman said firefighters were working at a fever pitch on plans for the event. Assisting Crossman are Milo firefighters Murrel Harris, Harold Kroemer, John Sherburne, Michael Nutbrown, Malcolm Davis, David Preble, Leslie Dean, William London, Brian Trask, Donald Richards, and Paul and Greg McKusick.

People having questions about the derby are asked to contact committee members.


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like