WILTON – The Wilton Fish & Game’s 2nd Annual Michael J. Rowe Memorial Ice Fishing Derby on Wilson Lake is quickly approaching. The members of the derby committee have things lined up and ready to go for the Saturday, Feb. 13 event. Saturday is also the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s free family fishing day, which means a fishing license is not required in order to participate. Everyone can come enjoy the fun.
The registration fee for all participants fishing is $5. Tickets are available for purchase at Shelley’s Hometown Market in East Wilton, and Wilton Hardware on Main street in Wilton. This year, the first 50 registered youths will receive a grab bag, all other youths will also receive a surprise. Just remember to bring your registration ticket to the registration shack to pick up your surprise the day of the derby from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at the shack at the public boat ramp the day of the derby.
Members would like to remind everyone of any age that if you’d like to learn how to fish, come to the boat launch from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. for instruction. No experience requited; bait and equipment provided. This year there will be a snowshoe event, beginning at 10 a.m., weather permitting. There will be three classes for cash prizes: adult, youths, 12-17 years old, and under 12.
In addition to derby prizes, members will be raffling off a commemorative box (Breast Cancer Edition) of five pink Max Traps donated by Greg Nemi. All proceeds will go towards a scholarship to a graduating senior in the Foster Tech Forestry Program on the Mt. Blue Campus in memory of Michael J. Rowe who was killed in a tragic woods accident.
In the adult derby categories for the togue, trout or salmon: The largest fish will receive an Eskimo Quick Fish 2 Shelter ($180 value) donated by Franklin Savings Bank. The winner of the remaining species can select from $50 pack basket, jig pole & reel; or $50 Mt. Abram tubing tickets, and two, one pound lobsters.
The heaviest overall fish of all the youth categories of togue, trout, salmon, pickerel and bass will receive a commemorative box of Max Traps donated by Max Traps in memory of Michael J. Rowe. In each of the five classes, the heaviest fish will receive: $25, 1 Max Trap rigged and ready to go, Bucket Buddy, skimmer, dip net and two movie passes. The heaviest fish is always the talked about fish, but what about the smallest fish? There’s a special surprise for the smallest fish donated by Max Traps.
Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine has donated a free youth lifetime fishing license for the lucky winner. All prizes will be drawn at the end of the weigh-in at 4 p.m. at the boat launch.
Contributors to the derby are: Wood-Mizer Northern New England-Ross & Maureen Clair-$500~Wilton Lions Club-$200~Friends of Wilson Lake-$200~ Franklin Savings Bank-Wilton-$150~Shelley’s Hometown Mkt.-$50~Palette One of Maine-$50~Jean Castonguay Excavation-$50~Maurais Plumbing & Heating-$100~Greg Nemi-Breast Cancer Edition Commemorative Box with 5 Max Traps~Printing Warehouse-Tickets~Sandy River Farm Supply- Pack Basket~Max Traps-East Dixfield-Commemorative Wooden Box with 5 Max Traps~Max Traps-Surprise for Youth Catching Smallest Fish~Narrow Gauge Cinema-10 Movie Tickets~Expenet-$95.00 Computer Rebuild~Mosher’s Seafood-Two One Pound Lobsters~Wilton Dunkin Donuts-Hot Chocolate & Coffee~Pizza Hut-Personal Pan Gift Certificates~Wilton Hardware-$20.00 Gift Card & 5 skimmers~ One Village Mkt.-1 lg. pizza & 2 liter drink~My Dad’s Place-1 lg. pizza~Kentucky Fried Chicken-1 Sixteen Pc. Meal & Choc. Cake~Fitness Style-1 Month Membership~Me. Sportsman Mag.-5 Two Yr. Subscript~Chuck Wagon-2 Dinner Meals~Tractor Supply-Youth Gloves & Hats~Backwoods Bait & Tackle-$25.00 Gift Cert~Douin’s Mkt.-$20. Gift Cert~Jack’s Trading Post-Box of Hand warmers~Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers-$15. Gift Cert~Farm. House of Pizza-1 16 inch Pizza & drink~Ron’s Mkt-$10.00 Gift Cert~Falls General Store-1 lg pizza & soft drink~ Frechette’s Ski-Doo-$25. Gift Cert~Madore’s Mkt-1 lg. pizza & drink~NAPA-NAPA A Model Delivery Truck~Subway-2 six inch sandwiches~Alan & Betty Hart-Jig Pole & Reel~Bl. Mtn.-4 Tubing Tickets~Steve’s Mkt-$25 Gift Cert~Karin Fernald-Scentsy Basket~Robin’s Bait Shop-3 $25. Gift Cert.~ Jaci Maxham-2 $25 Gift Cert to Lotus Blossom~Shelly’s Hometown Mkt- 2 lg. pizza~Reny’s-$25. Gift Cert~ Anonymous- Gun Case, Polar Picks, Heated 12 Volt Travel Mug, 2 Water Bottles~Walmart-$25 Gift Cert~Imelda’s Fleece-Fleece Head warmer~Richard Cousins-2 fishing rod~Natanis Pt. Campground-2 Nights Camping~ Basil’s Pizza & Sub-1 lg. pizza~Brady’s Snowmobile &ATV Equip-$20 Gift Cert. & 1 Quart 50:1 Fuel Oil Mix~ Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine-Youth Lifetime Fishing License.
The area organizations and businesses have been very generous in their support to this event, organizer Sharon Borthwick said.
The youth shooting league will be on site with their food booth offering warm beverages donated by the Wilton Dunkin Donuts. Lunch and snacks will be available through out the day. This is the youths’ fund raiser to help support their shooting program. FMI call 778-2450.
Congratulations Avery!!!!!!!!!!!