The Sebago Lake and Cumberland County Ice Fishing Derby announces date and changes for 2020

The annual Sebago Lake and Cumberland County Ice Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday February 23, 2020. There are 26 lakes and ponds that qualify for the derby which can be found on their website: www.icefishingderby.com

There are several changes that will take place this year, including no slot limits, with the only limit of

one Togue, 26 inches and over. Also, the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) have asked that the derby allow more togue and pike entries to be removed from Sebago Lake to help with their management efforts. Please refer to the IF&W website for complete ice fishing rules, www.maine.gov/ifw.

Plus, for 2020 there will be MORE CASH PRIZES, an incentive to entering more togue and pike and to reduce the catch and released numbers. There will no longer be the $100,000 prize for the State Record Togue but replaced with $5000 in cash prizes. Cash will be added to the top three winning fish in the Togue and Pike categories. This change is a result of the feedback the derby has received over the years for request of cash prizes. It will also include every togue and pike entry to be put into a drawing with 25 lucky fishermen chosen for $100 each just for entering their fish.

The derby will continue to offer prizes for the perch and pickerel species as they have in the past and all registrants will also be entered for the grand prize - a Coleman by Hisun 500 All-Terrain Vehicle.

All the fish collected will be processed again this year through Nova Seafood in Portland, who will filet and fast freeze the fish and will be delivered to the Preble Street Food Pantry and served as delicious chowder.

Early registration is now open with early entries through February 1 being put into a drawing for Kittery Trading Post gift cards. Go to  www.icefishingderby.com for more information and to register online. Registrations can also take place at Sebago Bait Shop and Jordan’s Store or registration entries can be picked up at Windham Power Sports and Patman’s for mail in. Check the Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby Facebook page for updates.