Angler Matt Delaflor landed three lake trout while ice fishing Wednesday on a southern Maine lake, including a 31.5-inch fish he estimated weighed about 12 pounds. After taking pictures of his impressive catch, Delaflor released it to swim another day.
Landing a big lake trout takes skill, patience and the right conditions — and they’re a highlight of Maine’s active ice fishing scene. While you don’t need to enter a derby to land a trophy fish, upcoming ice fishing competitions give anglers a chance to test their skills and measure their catches against others.
The Moosehead Lake Togue Derby runs today through Sunday on Moosehead Lake, focusing exclusively on lake trout. First-place prizes total $1,500, with $500 for second and $250 for third. Ice fishing rules allow up to five lake trout per day, though only one may exceed 18 inches.
Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby takes place Feb. 14 and 15 on Sebago Lake and 24 additional Cumberland County ponds. Anglers can enter lake trout for top prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250, and all entrants are eligible for a $5,000 grand prize drawing. There’s no bag limit for lake trout under 26 inches, but only one fish 26 inches or longer may be kept per day.
East Grand Lake Ice Fishing Derby also runs Feb. 14 and 15 on East Grand Lake in the Weston and Danforth area. The competition awards $1,000 for first place in both landlocked salmon and lake trout categories. Anglers are limited to one lake trout per day.
Later this month, the Greenville Firefighters Association Derby runs Feb. 28 through March 1 on Moosehead Lake, featuring a lake trout category with prizes of $500, $250 and $150 for the top three catches.
Whether you’re after a trophy like Delaflor’s 12-pounder or just a fun day on the ice, these derbies provide a chance to compete, enjoy the outdoors and maybe land a fish worth bragging about.
Several other upcoming derbies across the state also feature lake trout competitions. Anglers are encouraged to share photos of their catches with the Bangor Daily News at sbard@bangordailynews.com.