The first-ever Shin Pond Fishing Derby is set for Saturday at Lower Shin Pond.
Cost is $15 for youth and $25 for adults to participate in the derby.
Make checks payable to the Town of Patten.
Registrations will be accepted in person at the Patten Town Office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, July 10 and also at Shin Pond Village.
On-site registrations will be accepted at Wilderness Variety on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday from 5-6 a.m. No registrations accepted after 6 a.m.
Fish will be registered at Wilderness Variety Store between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Any legal-sized fish, legally caught by a participant must be registered for a participant to win.
Prizes will be awarded in the youth category for the 10 largest fish, along with any registered fish gets a smaller prize. The limit is one small prize per child.
For adults who reel in bass, trout and salmon, the top three anglers in each category will receive: first, $125; second, $75 and third, $50.
All prizes will be awarded at Shin Pond at 7:30 p.m. Participants who are not present at the prize ceremony must claim their awards within 30 days of the tournament or they will be forfeited.
If the registered participant cannot claim the prize in person, they can designate someone else to claim it, but no prizes will be shipped to winners.
Fish registered in the tournament must be freshly caught at the time they are presented for weigh-in.
All fish registered are subject to inspection by tournament officials.
Any fish eligible for a prize may be kept by tournament officials until the end of the tournament.
Entries will be weighed and measured for overall length from tip of mouth to end of tail. The largest fish will be determined solely on weight unless there is a tie.
In the event of a tie, the length of the fish will determine the winner.
If weight and length are equal, the time of registration will be the determining factor.
Any participant not fishing within the designated tournament boundaries will be disqualified.
Maine fishing laws and regulations pertain to all anglers during the tournament. All participants must have a valid fishing license.
Tournament participants will have access to the boat launch at Shin Pond Village and Wilderness Variety Store.
All proceeds of the fishing derby will go to the Patten Recreation Department and the Pioneer Days Bike Fund.
For more information, visit Facebook or call 528-2092 or 528-2215.
Special thanks to Craig and Terry Hill for use of their boat launch and parking lot, along with Scotty and Louise Skinner for their help in registering the fish and the use of their boat launch, as well.
This fishing derby is made possible by the generous donations of sponsors.
Concessions will be available during the tournament.
