PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — In preparation for the annual Presque Isle Elks’ “Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs” Youth Fishing Derby, the Enfield hatchery of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, stocked Mantle Lake in Presque Isle with 600 8- to 11 inch long trout on May 27. Third- and fourth-grade students from the Easton Elementary School will be assisting with the stocking by distributing the trout around the lake with five-gallon buckets.
On Saturday, May 3 during “Free Fishing Weekend” the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954, will host its 25th annual fishing derby at Mantle Lake Park. Registration for the fishing derby, which is free, will start at 8 a.m. and continue until 10 a.m. The fishing derby begins at 8 a.m. and ends at noon.
The fishing derby is open to all youth from 3 to 16 years old. A responsible, supervising adult must accompany each young angler registering for the fishing derby.
The young angler registered for the fishing derby who catches the longest fish will get first choice from a wide array of prizes, including a lifetime fishing license donated by the Aroostook Sportsman Association. Every registered fishing contestant will be able to choose an outdoor activity prize to take home.
Adults accompanying a registered young angler will also be eligible to win prizes, including a weekend stay at a lakeside cabin, donated by Macannamac Camps and a season pass donated by North Maine Woods, Inc.
For any youth desiring to fish, but who is unable to supply a fishing pole on his own, a beginner’s fishing rod and reel will be given to that youth’s family to keep.
Moosehead Bait and Tackle of Rockwood is again this year supplying worms free of charge for use by the young fishermen as bait.
The Presque Isle Elks will be providing, free of charge, grilled hot dogs, chips, juice, Houlton Farms Dairy ice cream and water to all in attendance at the fishing derby.
For more information contact the Presque Isle Elks at 207-764-0985 or 207-764-0131.
