Feathers ‘n Fins

Out and About: A peek at the winter outdoor calendar will show you that it would be difficult for outdoor addicts to develop a case of “cabin fever” in this neck of the woods.

For example, on Feb. 3, the Megunticook Fish and Game Association, along with the Camden Parks and Recreation Department, will host the fifth annual Children’s Ice Fishing Derby. Headquarters for the event will be the Camden Snow Bowl, where the weigh-in of catches will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Only children 15 years of age or less will be allowed to enter a fish and their ticket must be purchased before noon on “Derby Day.” Entry tickets are $1 each. Adults also may purchase a ticket that entitles them to a chance at one of three Grand Raffle prizes: a Jiffy Model 30 eight-inch power ice auger, a junior ski pass to the Camden Snow Bowl for the 1991-1992 ski season, one cord of 4-foot length split firewood to be delivered by March 1.

The derby will include 18 bodies of water in the Knox and Waldo county areas. Winner of the largest fish award will take home a handsome 21-inch trophy and a $100 savings bond from Peoples Heritage Bank in Camden. Trophies also will be awarded to first place winners in the following divisions: white perch, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pickerel, brook trout, and brown trout.

Chances are that children who enter fish but who do not qualify for a prize may not go home disappointed. The 43 local businesses sponsoring this year’s derby have provided approximately 50 prizes. After the divisional prizes are awarded, the remaining prizes will be raffled for children whose entries didn’t qualify. Prizes include a 20-inch bicycle, $25 gift certificates, pack baskets, ice-fishing traps, etc.

Anyone wishing to enter a young fisherman in this year’s outing or who wish to purchase a ticket for themselves should contact Ken Bailey at the Camden Snow Bowl, tel. 236-3438.

Speaking of ice fishing, a Maine togue and the woman who winched it from the depths of West Grand Lake will enhance the pages of the February issue of Outdoor Life magazine. Marie Whitcomb of Brewer worked the 16-pound, 36-inch fish through a drilling in the Down East lake last February while fishing out of Indian Rock Camp. The trophy-size togue accepted her invitation to a tug of war by snagging a shiner in 20-25 feet of water. The give-and-take game lasted about 25 minutes.

If you’d like to learn how to tie a “Thunder and Lightning,” an old Scottish fly pattern that will catch an Atlantic salmon, take the trail leading to the Veazie Salmon Club Tuesday night. Beginning at 7 p.m., Cliff Page will demonstrate the proper tying of the well-known fly that is held in high esteem by salmon anglers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Come the evening of Jan. 29, Gerry Clapp will give instructions in the tying of his highly successful pattern, “The Verdict.” Jean “Doc” Guerin takes over the evening of Feb. 5 with the “Anniversary Fly,” followed on Feb. 12 by Vic Peavey and his favorite, the “Blue Charm.” February 19 is reserved for the “Rusty Rat,” with George Peavey doing the winding and whip finishing.

As an aside, if you can’t catch a salmon with any one of those patterns, I suggest that you take up another summer sport.

Another outdoor-related event guaranteed to melt away the midwinter blahs is the Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition to be held at the Centrum in Worcester, Mass., beginning Feb. 6 and continuing through Feb. 10. Expo ’91 will feature many interesting exhibits, all of them designed to attract the serious outdoor enthusiast.

Included are dog-training seminars, fly-tying competitions, a canoe-building demonstration, and a fascinating exhibit of birds of prey featuring a live bald eagle, golden eagle, owl, and falcon. In addition, the leading manufacturers of fishing tackle and hunting equipment will be represented, as well as retailers, outfitters, guides, and lodges.

Among the celebrities scheduled to appear are Tommy Martin, Ernie Schwiebert, and Lefty Kreh. Also, there will be a full schedule of video and live shows in the Track and Tackle Theater. Those presentations will cover a wide range of topics, including tying flies with Eric Leiser and cooking fish and game with L.L. Bean’s Alex Delicata.

Last, but by no means least, Rep. Herb Clark (D-Millinocket), has announced that a trapper-education course soon will be available to young sportsmen in the Katahdin area.

“Many kids in our area are very interested in trapping,” Clark reported. “I think this course, once people sign up and it is scheduled, will be a lot of fun for our kids.” Youngsters interested in the trapping course may apply by signing a petition, which Clark will hand deliver to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or by contacting the department’s safety officer, Gary Anderson, at 289-5220.

With these and the many other outdoor activities available, can you imagine anyone contracting that midwinter malady called cabin fever?