MAINE, USA — Editor's note: The attached video was posted on Feb. 17, 2024.
Maine's free fishing weekend may be over, but there are still plenty of ice-fishing opportunities happening throughout the state over the next several weeks.
It's no secret that we've had a warm winter despite some recent cold blasts, and it's important to pay close attention to ice conditions if you do decide to partake in one of Maine's favorite pastimes.
Ice safety
Portland Parks and Recreation Playground Safety Inspector Keith Forest told NEWS CENTER Maine the best way to measure the ice is with a drill. First drill through the ice until you reach the water and then measure the thickness from there, he said.
You can begin to walk on the ice when it reaches three inches in thickness, but four inches of ice is best, Forest said. The more people there are on the ice, the thicker it should be, he added.
What you will need to ice fish
First and foremost, you need to purchase a Maine fishing license. You can do this by clicking here. Children 16 and under do not need a fishing license to ice fish.
Second, dress appropriately. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) recommends wearing insulated boots, waterproof gloves, thermal layers, a warm hat, and wool socks. They also suggest bringing extras of everything.
The basic gear you will need is an ice chisel and a jig rod with some type of bait or lure. The most common way to ice fish in Maine is using "traps" or "tip-ups," paired with live bait. The trap or tip-up is a device that sits on top of the ice, holds the fishing line, and has an indicator flag that "trips" when a fish begins tugging on the line, according to the IFW.
Some additional equipment you may need: A sled, bait bucket/net, ice skimmer, large backpack, creepers/ice cleats, fishing pliers, depth sounders, hand and feet warmers, ice safety picks, chisel, food/hot beverage, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Saturday, Feb. 24
Traps for Kids
- Pennesseewassee Lake, Norway
- Weigh-in: Boat Ramp
Mount Tir'em Lodge #132
- All legal waters
- Weigh-in: Keoka Beach, Waterford
Wiscasset Rod and Gun Club
- All legal waters
- Weigh-in: Wiscasset Rod and Gun Clubhouse, 794 Gardiner Rd., Wiscasset.
Brady Nickerson Foundation
- Mattanawcook Pond, Lincoln
- Weigh-in: Prince Thomas Park by Mattanawcook Pond
Slab City Neighbors
- Heald Pond, Lovell
- Weigh-in: In front of Adams Camp
Jack Traps Youth Ice Fishing Derby
- Cochnewagon Pond, Monmouth
- Weigh-in: Kids under 12 only, no fees or cash prizes, catch and release. Free prizes for kids.
Peter Bolduc Memorial
- Statewide, All legal waters
- Weigh-in: Winslow High School, 20 Danielson St., Winslow
Chemo Pond Lake
- Chemo Pond, Bradley
- Weigh-in: Scotts Point Boat Launch
Richmond Booster Club
- Woodbury Pond, Litchfield
- Weigh-in: Just above Woodbury Pond boat launch, 120 Whippoorwill Rd., Litchfield.
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 24-25
Norway/Paris Fish & game
- All legal waters - Statewide
- Weigh-in: Norway-Parish Fish and Game Clubhouse, 744 Buckfield Rd., South Paris.
Dover Foxcroft Fire Department
- Sebec Lake, Dover-Foxcroft, Sebec Willimantic, Barnard Twp, Bowerbank
- Weigh-in: Greeley's Landing
Sunday, Feb. 25
AJ Davis Memorial Ice Fishing Derby
- Shaker Pond, Alfred
- Weigh-in: Launch/Boat Area
Phippsburg Sportsmen's Association
- All legal waters in Sagadahoc County
- Weigh-in: Phippsburg Sportsmen's Association, 272 Main Rd., Phippsburg.
Friday-Sunday, March 1-3
Greenville Fire Department Association
- Moosehead Lake
- Weigh-in: Greenville Fire Dept, 10 Minden St., Greenville.
Saturday, March 2
Cony Project Graduation 2024
- Cobboosseecontee and Little Cobbosseecontee Lakes
- Weigh-in: YMCA Camp, Winthrop, Monmouth Boat Landing, Turtle Run Winthrop.
Tremont Consolidated
- All Mount Desert Island ponds open to fishing
- Weigh-in: Tremont Consolidated School, 119 Tremont Rd, Bass Harbor.
Little Tim's Ice Fishing Derby
- Worthley Pond, Peru
- Weigh-in: 153 E Shore Rd, The Farm Event Barn, Peru.
Plymouth Cares
- Plymouth Pond, Plymouth
- Weigh-in: Plymouth Pond
Jeff Bradbury Memorial Ice Fishing Derby
- Statewide, All legal Waters
- Damariscotta Lake boat launch, Boat Launch Lane, Rt. 213, Jefferson.
Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3
Gateway Title
- Cold Stream Pond, Enfield
- Weigh-in: Cold Stream Boat Landing, Old Hatchery Road, Enfield.
Everett Hall Memorial Ice Fishing Derby
- Davis Pond, Shin Pond (Upper & Lower)
- Weigh-in: Shin Pond Villiage
Sunday, March 3
Town of Smithfield & North Pond Association
- North Pond Smithfield
- Weigh-in: 826 Villiage Rd., Smithfield
March 2-9
Blue Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club
- Moosehead Lake, Rockwood and Greenville
- Weigh-in: Moosehead Bait and Tackle
- Total Cash Prize Amount: $1,000
Saturday, March 9
Operation ReBoot Outdoors
- Ellis (Roxbury) Pond, Roxbury
- Weigh-in: Ellis Pond Public Beach
Gateway Trading Post
- Machias Lake (Little & Bit), Portage Lake, Carr Pond, Scopan Lake-Ashland, Portage & Nashville Plt.
- Weigh-in: Gateway Trading Post, 111 Garfield Rd., Ashland.
- Kids-only derby, no entry fee, no cash prizes
Kevin Millay
- Bog Lake, Northfield
- Weigh-in: Stone Cottage on Bog Lake
Sunday, March 10
University of Maine at Machias Fishing Club
- Patrick Lake, Marion Twp
- Weigh-in: Boat Ramp at Patrick Lake
Saturday, March 16
Madawaska Ambulance Service/Town of Madawaska
- Long Lake-Saint Agatha & T17 R3 WELS, Aroostook
- Weigh-in: Birch Point Beach
- For kids only, participants under the age of 16.
For the full list and contact information, click here.
Now grab your chisel and some warm boots; it's ice fishing time!