Statewide fishing derby up and running

A few years back, Wes Ashe came up with idea that would honor his friend, Alec Cyr, a Bangor High alum who died far too young, and benefit Cyr’s son, Chase.

This year marks the fourth for Ashe’s Ice Fishin’ Derby & Benefit, and Ashe says there are a few changes this time around.

First off, Ashe decided that there was no sense letting a lack of ice get in the way of some good fishing, so this year anglers will be allowed to enter fish they caught in open water as well.

“There are tons of lakes, ponds and rivers that are open in December,” Ash wrote, mentioning the Androscoggin, St. George and southern reaches of the Kennebec River, as well as plenty of ponds and lakes. “A lot of these waters are catch-and-release for salmonids (e.g. brook trout, landlocked salmon) but that’s OK for this contest as fish entries don’t need to be sacrificed in order to be entered.”

The derby is a statewide affari — find a body of water you like and fish it — and any registered fish is eligible to win the top cash prize at the end of the season.

If you’re interested in taking part in the derby, mail a $10 check to Wes Ashe at 706 Cold Brook Road, Hermon, 04401. Or, you can email him at wesashe@gmail.com to find out more about the derby.

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John Holyoke

About John Holyoke

John Holyoke has been enjoying himself in Maine's great outdoors since he was a kid. Today, he's the Outdoors editor for the BDN, a job that allows him to meet up with Maine outdoors enthusiasts in their natural habitat. The stories he gathers provide fodder for his columns, and this blog.