Plan for Fort Kent International Muskie Derby on August 15-17

    FORT KENT – The 2008 Fort Kent International Muskie Derby is going to be held August 15-17. The headquarters for weight-in and registration is Bee Jays Tavern in Fort Kent. Participants can also register at the Fort Kent Town Office or online at www.fortkent-muskie.com. Weigh-in will take place at Bee Jays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during the event. The public is invited to attend.
    The St. John River and its tributaries are legal waters to fish during this event. Anglers will have almost 400 continuous miles of river, lakes, ponds brooks and streams in which to try and come up with the largest muskie, determined by the longest length. A check of last year’s weigh-in board shows that a winning muskie could come from anywhere on the watershed. The 2007 winner, Alan Ashley, caught his 42-inch fish in the St. John above Fort Kent. Youth winner, Kelsey Pelletier, landed her 38.5-inch muskie on Glazier Lake. Over 400 anglers vied for a share of the $10,000 purse in 2007.
    Fishing is not the only entertainment during this event. The derby coincides with the Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ploye Festival on August 15-16, and the Firemen’s Muster on Saturday the 16. There will be a bonfire and street dance with the band French Toast following the cooking of the “World’s Largest Ploye” on Friday.
    Saturday starts off with a fishermen’s breakfast at Rock’s Family Diner with a parade following at 10 a.m. Bee Jays Tavern will host a second street dance from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will also be a fireworks display provided by the Muskie Derby Committee and its sponsors.
    Sunday evening at 7 p.m. is the awards ceremony for the Muskie Derby. The public is invited to come and watch, and sample the grilled muskie, baked beans and chili.
    For more information on the events and a complete set of rules for the derby, go to www.fortkent-muskie.com and www.fortkentchamber.com.