Upcoming ice fishing derbies set to raise funds

Winter means different things to different people, but for anglers who enjoy spending a day on the “hard water,” a number of special events are planned over the weeks to come.

Ice fishing derbies are held nearly weekly across the state, and as many as several hundred anglers will flock to certain lakes and ponds to take part.

Here’s a partial list of upcoming derbies:

. In Dexter, anglers will head to Lake Wassookeag this weekend for a derby that is expected to attract as many as 300 people.

The Derby is sponsored by the Maine Ice Anglers Association.

The weigh-in will be held in the parking lot next to P.J.’s Bait Shop.

. Organizers are making final preparations for what promises to be a very popular derby on one of the state’s premier landlocked salmon waters: Long Lake.

Long Lake, which is in the Aroostook County town of St. Agatha, is a sprawling lake that covers 6,000 acres and is home to some of the state’s largest salmon.

The Long Lake derby will be held Jan. 21 and 22, and more than 40 businesses and sponsors have contributed $5,500 in cash and prizes for the event.

The total cash purse is $1,500, and 80 percent of the net profits will benefit Northern Maine Medical Center’s Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund.

Registrations will be accepted until 9 a.m. on Jan. 21, and those looking to sign up can do so at the registration base camp at Long Lake Sporting Club in Sinclair.

Registration forms are also available at several locations throughout the St. John Valley and on the town of St. Agatha’s Web site: www.stagatha.com.

. Another of the state’s top fishing destinations will host a derby on Jan. 28-29.

The eighth annual East Grand Area Ice Fishing Derby boasts a $1,000 top prize, and eight lucky anglers will have their name drawn to receive a prize just for registering a fish.

The derby encompasses East Grand, Brackett, Deering and North Lakes, and is being sponsored by the East Grand Snowmobile Club.

Derby registration with one raffle chance costs $5, while registration and three chances costs $10.

Proceeds for the derby will be used for snowmobile trail work.

. Another fundraising derby will be held on Pleasant Lake in Stetson on Feb. 18.

The K-9’s for Kids derby raises money for the registered therapy dog unit of the Anah Shrine in Bangor.

The event is held on the annual free fishing day, during which anglers need not have a fishing license.

Prizes include $150 for the largest bass and pickerel. The grand prize drawing is for $500 in home heating oil.

Organizers will sell derby tickets at Marden’s in Brewer on Feb. 4, 5, 11 and 12.

Tickets are $5 per chance and entrants need not be present to win the grand prize.

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.