When the Fourth Annual East Grand Areas Ice Fishing Derby takes place next weekend, there will be fewer door prizes because of the recession, but the same plethora of cash prizes totaling about $1,200 will be given out, said derby director Buck Plummer.

The question linked to the event’s success is: How much ice will there be?

“The smaller lakes are in fine shape. East Grand Lake is going to depend on the weather right up until the day,” Plummer said.

He said the snow that fell Wednesday turned to a heavy layer of slush by Thursday, but if the temperature drops and the snow stops in that part of the state, it will freeze and provide good fishing opportunities. If more snow falls, it will slow the freezing process and it could remain slushy.

“If it’s like that, we’ll see a lot of people around the edges. I don’t want to see any accidents,” he said. “People should use a lot of common sense. Ask the locals when they come into town where to fish.”

The derby uses four lakes: Deering, Brackett, and North lakes, and, of course, 16,000-acre East Grand to the east of Danforth.

At East Grand, the famous landlocked salmon fishery, the snowfall this week means the slush may hang around, but the three smaller lakes have about a foot of ice on them, according to reports.

Plummer said the fishing at Deering Lake has been very good – and busy. Because the small lake sits right next to Route 1, it’s the easiest to get to.

North Lake had been producing some nice salmon, which is unusual for that fishery, known more for white perch, pickerel, and bass. But lately, Plummer said, anglers have been catching white perch.

The proceeds of the derby will be used for snowmobile trail work by the East Grand Snowmobile Club. In past years, the club has made as much as $4,000. This year, it could be half that, but Plummer said that won’t affect the amount of prize money given.

Each year about $1,200 in cash prizes is given out or raffled off – including a $1,000 grand prize – and this year that won’t change.

There also will be gift prizes raffled off for those who register fish. Bass can not be registered, nor cusk or salmon under 16 inches. But there are new fish categories for white perch and whitefish.

There is also a special $500 raffle for catch-and-release fishermen, and prizes for youth anglers.

The derby is Saturday and Sunday and costs $5 to enter. Drawings will be Sunday at the Grange Hall in Danforth. You need not be present to win.

Turkey range is increasing

Tuesday when state biologist Buster Carter got a call in Enfield, he heard the news he was waiting for: “Time to move the turkeys.”

That morning, a group of Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists in Unity trapped 16 wild turkeys to relocate to Maxfield, the farthest northern point DIF&W has moved the birds.

In the winter months, DIF&W biologists trap turkeys and move them to new areas to spread their terrain so that one day Maine can have a statewide turkey hunt with unlimited participation.

For 16 years, the department has held a spring turkey hunt using a lottery that has allocated more permits over time, and as many as 7,000 last year. A bill in this session would allow DIF&W to hold a fall turkey hunt as well.

DIF&W plans to move turkeys this winter to Lamoine, Greenbush, Hancock, and Burlington, if possible. Birds were released in North Anson last week.

“The winter is the easiest time to trap them because they are food stressed,” said DIF&W bird biologist Andy Weik. “We hope to move them to seven sites, but that’s fairly ambitious.”

While turkeys readily come in to corn piles in the winter, Carter said, biologists must make sure the flocks are well represented with enough females, and that they are in a tight group before throwing a net over them. The biologists want groups made up of half males and half females, if possible, Carter said.

Tuesday, biologists in Unity trapped a group of 16 birds that had four females. Carter said the proportion of females was not ideal, but enough for a flock to reproduce and survive.

Maine ATV proposes fee hike

While a half dozen sportsmen’s groups voiced opposition to license fee increases at Monday’s public hearing for a bill that would raise those fees, one group suggested raising them more.

Steven Daskoski introduced himself to the Legislature’s Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a member of Alliance of Trail Vehicles of Maine, and apologetically explained how his new group has only just begun work recruiting to its ranks to increase its 2,400 membership.

More than a few legislators said they had never heard of ATV Maine, but they welcomed Daskoski’s unusual testimony.

“We wish to voice our support of this bill, with exception,” Daskoski said. “Our exception is simple. ATV Maine feels that the proposed $2 increase to the ATV registration fee does not go far enough.”

Daskoski offered a proposal that would increase the resident registration fee from $12 to $22, and charge non-residents $50 a season, $25 for a 3-day pass, and $40 for a 10-day pass.

He said the new provisions would raise money for ATV law enforcement, landowner relations, and trail maintenance.

ATV Maine represents 32 ATV clubs, but not all of the 45,000 registered ATV riders in Maine.

ATV video to educate riders

A video detailing the extent of damage ATVs can do to the environment has been made by the newly formed Responsible Riders Association and distributed to ATV clubs and schools.

RRA consists of state fish and game agencies and pipeline and electric utility companies.

The video was created to educate the public about the environmental problems that can be caused by ATV riders to areas such as streams and water supplies. RRA hopes to minimize that damage.

The problem is occurring throughout Maine and New Hampshire, said H. Wayne Harper, RRA spokesman and the environmental health and safety manager for the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System.

Snow paves way for sleigh ride

The Trail Riders of Today will host a sleigh rally at the Beem Farm in Palmyra, more snow or not. The farm is located less than two miles from Exit 39 off Interstate 95.

There will be a parade of sleighs, and riders dressed in period costumes. There may be a horse-drawn sleigh offering rides. For information, call 368-5288.

Deirdre Fleming’s Outdoor Notebook appears on Saturday. She can be reached at 990-8250 or at dfleming@bangordailynews.net.