PHIPPSBURG ANNUAL ICE FISHING DERBY!

Well boys and girls...it's that time again!  One of my favorite winter sports is in full swing..time to don your long underwear, grab your gear, and head to the nearest frozen puddle!  It is ....drum roll please...Ice Fishing Season! 

When I first moved to Maine, the thought of sitting on ice and staring at a hole was about as unthinkable to me as a hotel without a jacuzzi.  But let me tell you, once you've tried it...you're hooked!   Pardon the pun...

If you've never been, it's not hard to get started. All you need is 10 layers of clothing, a thermos full of coffee, a few traps, a few shiners, and an auger to drill the hole.  Actually, it's better if you have a friend with an auger...much cheaper!  Drill the hole, set the trap, and then sit back and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow fisherman.  But keep an eye on your trap....when that flag goes up you'll be racing every fisherman within a 20 ft radius to get there first....all while wearing 10 layers of clothing. (You might want to practice that before the big day!)

There are over 3,000 lakes and ponds in Maine...plenty of opportunities to bring home a whopper!  If you're looking for organized fun, I suggest you check out one of the local fishing derbies.  A good resource for that is www.MaineIceAnglers.org  , they have a list of the most popular Ice Fishing Derbies in Maine! If you're free on February 8th, I invite you to join me at the Phippsburg 10th Annual Ice Fishing Derby! There are prizes for the smallest fish,(I've won that), the biggest fish (I haven't won that) and tons of door prizes! 

A Word Of Warning:  Always check the ice before you venture out!  This chart will help you determine if it's safe to go fishing!

So grab your gear..I'll see you on the ice!

And if you'd like information on Maine Real Estate so you can fish on your own private pond..contact The Hershey Home Team!