Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby returning next month

By Ed Pierce

Mark this one on the calendar. The Sebago Lake Rotary Club is once again hosting one of Maine’s most anticipated and beloved winter traditions with the return of the annual Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and Feb. 15.

Registration is now open for the
25th Annual Sebago Lake Rotary
Ice Fishing Derby to be held on
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and
Feb. 15. Shown is the 2025 derby's
togue winner Rob Stoodley with
his 9.29 pound, 32.18 inch fish.
Participants may register online at
www.icefishingderby.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

This will be the 25th year for the popular event that draws anglers and families from across southern Maine and beyond for a weekend of outdoor recreation, friendly competition, and community giving.

The ice fishing derby is open to participants of all ages and experience levels. The derby allows registered anglers to fish any legal ice fishing waters in Cumberland County, including Sebago Lake and surrounding ponds. In addition to species-based prizes, all registered participants are automatically entered into a $5,000 grand prize cash drawing, even if they do not fish during the weekend.

Tom Noonan, a Sebago Lake Rotary Club member, is credited with coming up with the concept for the Ice Fishing Derby in 2001 in cooperation with the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department.

Since then, the event has grown substantially to become the Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s largest annual fundraising initiative and has supported hundreds of charities over the past two decades, with more than $1 million donated to local causes since its inception.

Registration fees to participate are $25 for individual anglers and $35 for families, which includes up to two adults and four children. Early registration incentives are also offered, with select prizes awarded to those who sign up ahead of the event. Participants may register online through the derby’s official website or by submitting a mail-in registration form prior to the derby weekend.

Any or all of the fish caught during the Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby may be brought to designated weigh stations to be entered into prize drawings.

For 2026, the official weigh stations for 2026 include Raymond Beach, which serves as the primary headquarters station, the Standish Boat Ramp, and at the Jordan Store in Sebago. Fish must be brought into an official weight station during official weigh-in hours, and caught in accordance with all Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regulations.

Prizes are awarded through the derby’s Fish Pool, which features a wide range of cash awards and gift cards. Categories include prizes for the largest togue (lake trout) by weight and length, most northern pike caught, and largest perch and pickerel. Each fish weighed earns an entry into prize drawings, giving anglers multiple chances to win throughout the weekend.

Beyond the fishing competition, the derby plays an important role in supporting the local Lakes Region of Maine community. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s charitable initiatives, including Feed the Need, which provides financial assistance to a dozen local food pantries throughout the area.

Another benefit of the Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby is that it also supports fishery management efforts by encouraging the harvest of invasive togue and northern pike and helping maintain healthy fish populations in area lakes. Anglers who donate their catch also help others as it is delivered to Nova Seafood in Portland for processing and then donated for meals for the homeless.

The Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby has become a mainstay every winter in the Lakes Region and brings together families, outdoor enthusiasts, and community members for a shared cause. Whether participants are hoping to land a prize-winning fish or simply enjoy time on the ice, the annual derby continues to combine tradition, recreation, and local generosity. <

Winners take home prizes for 9th Annual Togue Fishing Derby

By Bob Chapin
Special to The Windham Eagle

The Sebago Lake Anglers’ Association (SLAA) conducted its 9th Annual Togue Fishing Derby on Sebago Lake during the weekend after Labor Day.

Mike Whitman of Marlboro, Massachusetts took
home first-place honors with a 10.72 pound,
31.25 inch togue during the 9th Annual Togue
Fishing Derby on Sebago Lake on Sept. 7
and 8. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

In all about 100 anglers competed for prize money and merchandise during the event.

The prize for the largest fish on Saturday went to Fred Gallant Sr. of Saco with a fish weighing 8.52 lbs. As will often happen, the largest fish on Saturday usually holds up to win a prize on Sunday for the overall derby and such was the case for Fred.

He didn’t win first place, but his fish was large enough to win second place and Fred went home with two checks from the Sebago Lakes Anglers’ Association, one for $100 and another for $750 for second place in the tournament. Not a bad payday for doing what you wanted to do anyway – go fishing.

The largest fish in this year’s derby was turned in by Mike Whitman of Marlboro, Massachusetts and it weighed in at 10.72 pounds. He took home a check for $1,000 for his efforts.

Third place went to a local guide and his fish weighed 6.69 pounds, and he took home a check for $500.

In addition to these winners, three anglers took home a check for $100 for being selected out of a lottery for togue turned in and Andy Whitman won an additional $100 for having the smallest togue at 0.78 pounds that had been caught by hook and line, and not regurgitated by a larger fish. It was 14 and 7/8 inches long.

One of the purposes of the derby, besides providing prizes and a lot of fun, is to remove togue from Sebago Lake to allow other more desirable fish, young salmon and brook trout, to have a better shot at the forage fish such as smelts and alewives.

In all, the 9th Annual Togue Fishing Derby anglers turned in 165 togue, some of which were kept by fishermen and some also went to the Maine Wildlife Center as food for the animals there.

The SLAA wishes to thank all its generous sponsors and invite all who may be interested in joining the club which meets the second Tuesday of every month for a potluck dinner at the United Methodist Church in Naples at 6:30 p.m.

Look for signs in area variety stores and post offices announcing the derby for 2025, always held the week after Labor Day. <

‘Greatest Show on Ice’ hooks 2021 Ice Fishing Derby participants

Greg MacIntosh of Nottingham, New Hampshire
displays his winning togue caught during the
2021 Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby.
It weighed 10.78 pounds and was 32 inches
long. SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Ed Pierce

The ‘Greatest Show on Ice’ lived up to its reputation last weekend as more than a thousand fishing enthusiasts from across Maine and points beyond descended upon Sebago Lake and the Lakes Region to try their luck and possibly take home a prize in the 2021 Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby.

Participants braved chilly temperatures on the lake for a chance to take home the grand prize, a 2021 ATV from Windham PowerSports. This year’s derby welcomed a new Gold Sponsor, General Dynamics/BIW and official media sponsor, Channel 8 WMTW | Maine’s CW for 2021, according to Sebago Lakes Rotary Club member Cyndy Bell.

A total of 1,071 fishermen registered to compete in this year’s derby with 2,500 fish weighed and processed during the event. more than e Over 2500 fish were processed during the derby.

“Approximately 7,500 pounds of fish from the 2,500-plus collected was delivered to Nova Seafood to be processed, flash frozen and will be delivered to food pantries,” Bell said. 

Sebago Lake Rotary Club member Tom Noonan is credited with coming up with the idea to create the Ice Fishing Derby in 2001 in cooperation with the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department.  Since that time, the event has grown to become the rotary club’s biggest annual fundraising effort and has supported hundreds of charities over the past two decades, accumulating more than $1 million to donate to local causes during that timeframe. 

“Under the leadership of Sebago Lake Rotarian Toby Pennels, the derby gained additional national notoriety as one of only four fishing derbies in the United States to be featured in a television program filmed for the National Geographic Channel that aired in June 2014,” Bell said.

While many families embraced the annual derby as a chance to get outside during the long winter, participants this year also had to adapt to the reality of 2021 as derby requirements followed the CDC’s COVID-19 protocols, including mask wearing and social distancing to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

According to Bell, proceeds raised from the derby will benefit the Salvation Army, food pantries and other Rotary focused charities and this year the club added an ice shack contest and a 50/50 raffle to benefit wildlife conservation programs.

Here’s a list of winners from the 2021Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby:

Top Prize winners

Grand Prize winner, Chris Grant, ATV from Windham PowerSports

50/50 winner, Josh Sparks, $2,055

5HP Mercury Outboard winner, Dan Stanton

Togue

First place, Greg MacIntosh, 10.78 pounds, 32 inches

Second place, David Ferris, 8.36 pounds, 29.5 inches

Third place, Rick Laney, 8.35 pounds, 29 ¼ inches

Perch

First place, Jacob Burrows, 1.90 pounds, 14 ¼ inches

Second place, Randall Breton, 1.60 pounds, 14.25 inches

Third place, Christopher Cook, 1.56 pounds, 14 inches

Pickerel

First place, Fran Orcutt, 4.98 pounds, 25 ½ inches

Second place, Wayne Roma, 4.71 pounds, 25 7/8 inches

Third place, Glen Sparks, 4.1 pounds, 25 ½ inches

Pike

First place, Ben Carlin, 9.44 pounds, 34 ¾ inches

Second place, Ben Carlin 9.24 pounds, 33 inches

Third place, Billy Groton 8.44 pounds, 32 inches <