By Saturday, Feb. 18, organizers of the annual Sebago Lake Rotary Derby Fest will have made the decision about whether to expand the ice fishing competition to ponds and lakes statewide.
The concern locally, is the lack of thick ice on Sebago Lake, due to January’s record warmth.
No one would like to see good, solid ice more than area merchants, who are currently in limbo – not knowing how many people may descend on the area for the derby next weekend, Feb. 24-26.
Tom Noonan, chief organizer of the derby, said he’ll make the announcement of the derby’s fishing locations no later than Saturday afternoon.
“Safety is number one,” he said. “In deference to the input of local businesses, we don’t take this lightly. But we do wait as long as possible to call it off.”
Noonan said the decision will be made by the Warden’s Service and by area public safety officials, adding that there’s “no official ice meister.”
Although the ice on Sebago Lake may be questionable, most of other planned events will take place as scheduled. The planes and helicopters will perform their aerial acts, taking off and landing from Lewiston and Auburn, or Portland instead of on the ice.
The ice mall will be held, as well. And, as the ice is thick enough now at Point Sebago, the snowmobile events and car racing will all go on as planned.
Noonan said a last-minute addition -a hot-air balloon demonstration – will take place on the morning of Feb. 25.
The balloons will be launched from the parking lot at Alyssa’s Motel, and winds from the northwest should carry the balloons over Raymond Beach.
Although these events will attract local crowds, area merchants are worried a statewide derby will limit the numbers of people who will attend.
The possibility of no ice, or too thin ice, is especially negative for motels.
Robin Aaskov, who owns Alyssa’s Motel on Thomas Pond in Casco thinks the derby should offer an extra prize drawing for those with receipts showing they stayed in the area overnight.
Aaskov said the motel has already received cancellations, adding that it’s difficult to know how to plan for the weekend. They’ve scheduled extra people to work who won’t be needed if the ice fishing goes statewide.
John Foreman, who owns White Pines on Sebago Lake in Raymond, is a bit more optimistic.
“It might affect us but we don’t know for sure yet,” he said. “Most of the people who come up here usually stay anyway – the small lakes are frozen.”
If the derby is opened up statewide, some of the fishing rules will change.
Noonan said if the fishing competition goes statewide derby organizers will accept brown trout of at least 14 inches, lake trout of at least 18 inches, and, with no minimum length, black crappie, white or yellow perch, chain pickerel, pike and muskie.
Salmon, brook trout and bass will not be accepted. Complete rules can be found online at www.icefishingderby.com.
“We’re prepared to do this, but it’s really a logistical pain in the neck,” Noonan said. “It’s not a perfect situation but we’re trying to deal with it as best we can.”
The marquee in front of Alyssa
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