ST. AGATHA, Maine – Swapping stories, sleeping on the ice and seeking the next big catch are all part of the adventure at Maine’s largest fishing derby.
The Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby in St. Agatha has been a fixture for the past two decades, and its 21st edition is slated Jan. 24 and 25.
This year’s derby promises the largest bounty ever, with prizes worth more than $75,000, including a $26,500 cash purse. Proceeds benefit the Edgar J. Paradis Cancer Fund, which helps families of cancer patients with travel and lodging.
“I think we do a good job with the derby because they keep coming back. They don’t leave disappointed. We put on a good show and we have awesome prizes,” derby organizer Paul Bernier said. “It’s a hell of a lot of work, but at the end of it all, we are very proud of it.”
Bernier’s son also helps out, and they have a great crew working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly, he said. And putting on the event each year has been rewarding.
But the anticipation of prizes isn’t what hooks many of the stalwarts who return year after year. Gathering on the lake with friends and family, mixing tradition and camaraderie — that’s the strongest pull.
Some fishers, like Mike Thibodeau of Frenchville, have come out to every derby since it began two decades ago. Thibodeau started ice fishing when he was a kid and never stopped. He later brought his children to the derby with him throughout their childhood, he said.
Thibodeau’s kids are grown and in their 20s, and now he goes with his friend Eric and another friend who travels from southern Maine.
“He comes up every year for this,” Thibodeau said. “The three of us spend the night on the lake and the whole weekend out there.”
Thibodeau’s wife comes too, but heads out at night while the others stay out on the lake for the entire event, from Friday night to Sunday evening. He’s usually pretty tired after the derby, he said.
Thibodeau travels fairly lightweight, with a portable cabin that is easy to move around, an auger, stove and heater.
“We have everything we need to make it through the weekend,” he said. “There’s plenty of soda, and a little drink if we want to have a drink at night. And my wife will bring anything we miss.”
Thibodeau, who caught the derby’s largest cusk at more than 12 pounds last year, is a hardcore cusk fisherman.
“As far as I’m concerned, cusk is the best fish for eating in that lake, or any lake that we go to,” he said.
Like Thibodeau, Roland Paradis of St. Agatha has also participated every year. He is cancer fund namesake Edgar J. Paradis’ brother. The derby has always contributed to the fund, he said.
“It helps cancer patients and supports their families to travel out of town,” Paradis said. “It’s been very well accepted and a lot of people benefit from it.”
Paradis has been fishing for much of his life. He started in the 1970s while working at Fraser Paper Mill in Madawaska, now known as Twin Rivers Paper Company. He has four sons, and one comes up from Charlotte, North Carolina, every year to fish with him at the derby.
“He’s a pretty hardcore fisherman,” Paradis said.
Paradis, who goes with his brother, Dan, his son and a couple of friends, also travels light, bringing a shed mounted on their sled, basic fishing gear and some cooking materials.
His brother caught the largest salmon during the 2020 Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby, weighing in at 6 pounds and 3.4 ounces.
Paradis said he just enjoys fishing on the lake.
“I’m always working hard to get the big fish,” he said. “Sometimes you get a small one, but at least you’re getting some activity.”
Bernier wants the event to continue for years to come — though in the future he may work more behind the scenes as the younger crew members take over.
“I’ll stay in the picture,” he said, “but these young kids are going to be taking over the heavy lifting.”
For Thibodeau, one of the best parts of the derby is getting to meet fellow fishermen out on the ice.
“I like seeing a bunch of people out there,” he said. “I like to socialize, so if I see people close by fishing I’ll stop and see who it is. That’s what makes it interesting and fun. I always meet somebody new every year.”