Annual ice fishing derby is Saturday

 The annual VFW Ice Fishing Derby is scheduled for Saturday, March 8 at Plunkett Pond (also known as Perry Pond) in Benedicta, with prizes totaling $2,000. Each of 20-tagged pickerel will be worth $100 in cash or merchandise.
 Registration begins at 5 a.m. with a fee of $5, which also gives an opportunity to win several door prizes. The registration fee for children under 16 will be $3. The registration fee must be paid and number assigned before becoming eligible to fish in the derby, or collect prizes. Along with door prizes, the winner of a raffle drawing will receive a $300 Wal-Mart gift card.
     Alternate prizes will be given:  $10 for the biggest (by weight) untagged pickerel caught; and $10 for the biggest black bass (by weight). Fish will not be registered after 4 p.m. All tagged fish must be turned in by 4 p.m. to be counted. All Maine fishing rules apply.
 Groups of families will be limited to five traps per ticket, or eligibility or prizes will be voided for any and all members.
 There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, chili, homemade stew, coffee and soda for sale on site.
 The VFW hopes anglers will be able to drive their vehicles out onto the ice. In the event there is a lot of snow, help might be needed to plow if people want to place their own ice shacks on the ice.
 Fishermen should bring along live bait with them. No bait will be available on site.
  For more information, call 365-4832 or 365-4259 (evenings).