The Wilton Fish & Game Second annual Michael J. Rowe Memorial Ice Fishing Derby on Wilson Lake is set for Saturday, Feb. 13., which is Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Free Family Fishing Day. A Snow Shoe Event will begin at 10 a.m.; weather permitting.

The registration fee is $5. Tickets are available for purchase at Shelly’s Hometown Market in East Wilton and Wilton Hardware on Main Street in Wilton. The first 50 youths to register will receive a grab bag, all other youth also will receive a surprise. Bring your registration ticket to the registration shack to pick up the surprise between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. the day of the derby. Tickets also can be purchased at the shack the day of the derby.

Brian Maxham from Max Traps presents award for the smallest fish to Avery Marshall and her dad. The pickerel weighed .198 pounds and was 10 inches long. Contributed photo

Fish demonstrations and instruction will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the boat launch, no experience required; bait and equipment provided.

There will be three classes for cash prizes: Adult, Youth (12-17), and children younger than 12. In addition to derby prizes, members will raffle off a commemorative box (Breast Cancer Edition) of five Pink Max Traps donated by Greg Nemi. All proceeds will go towards a scholarship in memory of Michael J. Rowe for a graduating senior in the Mt. Blue Forster Forestry Program.

In the adult categories for the togue, trout or salmon: The participant with 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 and 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, one Max Trap rigged and ready to go, Bucket Buddy, skimmer, dip net and two movie passes. There’s a surprise for the participant with the smallest fish donated by Max Traps.

Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine has donated a free Youth Lifetime Fishing License for the winner. All prizes will be drawn at the end of the weigh in at 4 p.m. at the boat launch.

The youth shooting league will be on site with their food booth offering warm beverages donated by Wilton Dunkin Donuts. Lunch and snacks will be available through out the day. This is the youths fundraiser to help support their shooting program.

For more information, call 778-2450.

Contibutors to the derby include 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 Market, $50; Palette One of Maine, $50; Jean Castonguay Excavation, $50; Maurais Plumbing & Heating, $100; Greg Nemi-Breast Cancer Edition Commemorative Box with five Max Traps; Printing Warehouse, Tickets; Sandy River Farm Supply, Pack Basket, Max Traps, East Dixfield; Commemorative Wooden Box with five Max Traps; Max Traps, surprise for Youth Catching Smallest Fish; Narrow Gauge Cinema-10 movie tickets; Expenet, $95 computer rebuild; Mosher’s Seafood, two, one pound lobsters; Wilton Dunkin Donuts, hot chocolate and coffee; Pizza Hut, Personal Pan gift certificates; Wilton Hardware, $20 gift card and five skimmers; One Village Market, 1 large pizza and two liter drink; My Dad’s Place, one large pizza; Kentucky Fried Chicken, one, 16-piece meal and chocolate cake; Fitness Style, one-month membership; Maine Sportsman Magazine, five, two-year subscriptions; Chuck Wagon, two dinner meals; Tractor Supply, youth gloves and hats; Backwoods Bait & Tackle, $25 Gift Certificate; Douin’s Market, $20 Gift Certificate; Jack’s Trading Post-Box of Hand warmers; Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers, $15 gift certificate; Farmington House of Pizza, one, 16-inch pizza and drink; Ron’s Market, $10 gift certificate; Falls General Store, one large pizza and soft drink; Frechette’s Ski-Doo, $25 gift certificate; Madore’s Market, one large pizza and drink; NAPA, NAPA A Model Delivery Truck; Subway, two, 6-inch sandwiches; Alan and Betty Hart, Jig Pole & Reel; , four tubing tickets; Steve’s Market, $25 gift certificate; Karin Fernald, Scentsy Basket; Robin’s Bait Shop, three $25 gift certificates; Jaci Maxham, two $25 gift certificates to Lotus Blossom; Shelly’s Hometown Market, two large pizzas; Reny’s, $25 gift certificate; Anonymous, gun case, Polar Picks, heated 12-volt travel mug, two water bottles; Walmart, $25 gift certificate;Imelda’s Fleece, fleece head warmer; Richard Cousins, two fishing rods; Natanis Point Campground, two nights camping; Basil’s Pizza & Sub, one large pizza; Brady’s Snowmobile & ATV Equipment, $20 gift certificate and one Quart 50:1 Fuel Oil Mix; and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Youth Lifetime Fishing License.

The area organizations and businesses have been generous in their support to this event.

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