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 will stock Mantle Lake in Presque Isle with 500 8- to 11-inch long trout on Thursday, May 28. Fourth grade students from the Zippel Elementary School in Presque Isle, as well as students and faculty from the Fort Fairfield Elementary School will be assisting with the stocking by distributing the trout around the lake with five-gallon buckets.
During “free fishing weekend” on Saturday, May 30 Presque Isle Elks Lodge #1954, will host its 26th annual “Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs” derby at Mantle Lake Park on Pine Street. Registration for the fishing derby 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 ages 3 to 16. 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 be able to choose from a wide array of prizes, including a lifetime fishing license donated by the Aroostook Sportsman Association. Every registered fishing derby 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 a prize for attending, including a season pass donated by North Maine Woods, Inc.
If any youth desires to fish, but does not have a fishing pole, a beginner’s fishing rod and reel will be given to that youth’s family to keep free of charge.
Moosehead Bait and Tackle of Rockwood is again this year supplying worms free of charge for use by the young anglers as bait.
Registration for the fishing derby, as well as all food and beverages offered during the fishing derby, will be provided free of charge. The Elks will be serving 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.
