Winter chill crystallizes plans for ice fishing derbies

Ice is getting thicker by the day and organizers of a number of ice fishing derbies are finalizing plans for this year’s events.

While snowmobilers still are waiting for a dose of their favored winter weather, ice anglers have benefited from frigid temperatures and are flocking to their local fishing hotspots.

Among the upcoming derbies:

. The sixth annual East Grand Lake Area Ice Fishing Derby is scheduled for Jan. 24-25 on a number of Down East lakes.

The derby, which is run for the East Grand Snowmobile Club, covers East Grand, Brackett, Deering and North lakes, though most participants opt to fish productive East Grand.

The grand prize is $1,000, and the winner need not fish to cash in: Buying a ticket qualifies a person for the random drawing.

. On Feb. 7-8, the 24th annual fishing derby at Big Pushaw Lake will be held.

Sponsored by the Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club in Hudson, the derby runs from sunrise to sunset on Feb. 7 and from sunrise to 5 p.m. on Feb. 8.

The final weigh-in will be held at the Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club at 5 p.m.

Prizes include $75 for the heaviest bass, $50 for the heaviest pickerel and $25 for the heaviest perch. A $200 door prize is also up for grabs.

. On Feb. 14-15, the 42nd annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby is on tap.

The derby, sponsored by the Milo Fire Department, is open to fishing on Ebeemee, Schoodic and Sebois lakes. Drawings will be held at the Milo Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Prizes totaling $12,000 will be up for grabs in one of the state’s oldest derbies.

. On Feb. 15, the MDI Rod and Gun Club will hold weigh-ins for the Hancock County Ice Fishing Derby.

The derby features a grand prize of $1,000 in cash. Derby tickets will become available in early February. For more information, call 288-5457, 288-2767 or 288-9572.

. On Feb. 21-22, the Senior Spectrum’s Muskie Community Center will sponsor the sixth annual Gene and Lucille Letourneau Ice Fishing Derby.

The derby is open to all Maine lakes. Weigh-in will be on Feb. 22. For more information, call 873-4745.

Hooked on Fishing event today

If you haven’t slept late – or put off reading the weekend paper until Sunday – you’ve still got time to get your youngsters up to Pickerel Pond for today’s Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs event.

The event, sponsored by Maine’s Youth Fish and Game Association and underwritten by the Dead River Co., gives children under 16 the chance to have a great time ice fishing with their peers.

The day begins about 9 a.m. at the MYFGA clubhouse on the Stud Mill Road, and will wrap up about 3 p.m. All equipment will be provided for participants.

To get to the clubhouse, take County Road out of Milford until you reach the Stud Mill Road. Turn right on the Stud Mill Road. Maine’s Youth Fish and Game Association Clubhouse will be on your left.

To submit an item for publication in the Outdoor Notebook, send e-mail to jholyoke@bangordailynews.net, fax to 990-8092 or mail information to Outdoor Notebook, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, Maine, 04402-1329.