For the 17th consecutive year, the Presque Isle Elks will sponsor the “Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs” Youth Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle starting at 8 a.m.
“Young people, their parents and grandparents have all waited out a long winter for this day, the annual Elks’ ‘Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs’ Youth Fishing Derby,” said Marion Donahue, Exalted Ruler of the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954.
“The youth fishing derby is totally free of charge to all young people over age 3 and under 16,” said Alan Harding, event chair. Registration for the fishing derby starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. The contest will be finished at noon on Saturday, June 3.
The young person who catches the longest fish or is the first to catch a fish or catches the greatest total length of fish for the five-fish limit will each receive a special prize. Additionally, the youngest boy or girl to catch a fish will receive a special award. Every registered contestant, however, will be entitled to select a prize from a wide array of articles for outdoor activities, from soccer balls to bicycle helmets.
“Any young person old enough to hold a fishing pole and under the age of 16 years with a desire to fish or to learn to fish should definitely attend,” said Harding. “The only thing they need to bring to the “Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs” Youth Fishing Derby is a supervising adult,” Harding continued.
“If the young person does not have a fishing pole or bait, the Presque Isle Elks, with the assistance of Ben’s Trading Post, The Aroostook County Conservation Association, Taylor’s Worms, and Plano, will see that they have what is needed to go fishing,” he said, adding if supervising adult has little or no experience fishing, professional guides will be on hand.
“A day at the lake, however, is never just about fishing,” Harding stated, “and the Presque Isle Elks, with the assistance of celebrity volunteers, will be serving free hot dogs, potato chips, soft drinks, and ice cream to the young anglers and their adult supervisors while at the fishing derby.”
The “Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs” Youth Fishing Derby was established by the Maine Legislature to be an outdoor recreation activity sanctioned by the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. As in previous years, Maine Fish and Wildlife will stock Mantle Lake with legal size trout during the week before the derby.
Ben’s Trading Post of Presque Isle, with the assistance of the Aroostook County Conservation Association, will assume the role, with OMM Outfitters of Eagle Lake, as official outfitters for the fishing derby. Taylor’s Worms of Orono will provide bait for the young anglers.
As in previous years, the Presque Isle Fish and Game Club will provide the derby’s first place prize, a lifetime fishing license. Supervising adults who have accompanied a young person to the derby will also be eligible for drawings, for several highly desired prizes, including a weekend stay at a lakeside lodge and season passes to the North Maine Woods.
For more information contact the Presque Isle Elks Lodge at 764-0985 or Alan Harding at 764-0131.
