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A Splendid Frozen Frolic on the Belgrade Lakes

February 06, 2008 - OAKLAND -- The 34-inch, 111/2-pound northern pike may not have been a winner, but it sure was worth getting up for, according to 9-year-old Shania Handy of Waterville.

"I got up at 5 a.m. to be here at 6," she said. "I like it 'cause you get to catch the fish."

Shania was one of a half dozen young people running around the ice on Messalonskee Lake on Sunday, grabbing her share of the fun for the 17th annual Oakland Fishing Frenzy sponsored by the Oakland Recreation Department and the Oakland Lions Club, with the Messalonskee Lake Association also providing prizes.

At least 175 young people registered for the ice fishing bonanza on seven of the Belgrade Lakes, according to Oakland's recreation director, Eric Seekins.

"When we started this, we believe it was the first fishing derby in the state for kids only," Seekins said. "I think it is cool that a civic organization like the Lions Club has formed a partnership with the town's recreation department for such a successful event all 17 years."

Fishing shacks dotted many of the lakes, shelters for youngsters who competed for first-, second- and third-place trophies in 10 categories, including perch, bass, crappie, trout, splake, pickerel and pike.

Seekins said Shania's pike was impressive, but he was expecting some pike to weigh as much as 20 pounds. He said they would be coming from lakes including East, McGraw, Great, North, Salmon, Long and Messalonskee.

Not to worry, though. Shania and any other child who registered was going to get a prize, according to Dick Pierce, organizer for the Lions Club. He said the derby is an exciting opportunity for children under 16, who do not require a fishing license, and all would be compensated.

"Every child gets something, whether it's a T-shirt, a cap, a door prize, or something," Pierce said. "It's just so much fun for the kids."

There won't be any argument from Shania, who was showing off her pike, which was chilling in a hole in the ice alongside a smaller counterpart. "I like the bait, because you get to grab it," she said.

Shania's father, Doug Handy, said fishing at the Oakland boat landing "runs slow most days, but the kids don't care. They just love running around."

Bill Mullen of Oakland said the lake is short of trout because of the buildup of pike.

"If a trout is (small), they eat that like nothing," Mullen said.

Anthony Violette of Oakland, who has turned 16, said he is too old for the derby now, but never too old for a Sunday afternoon of ice fishing on the lake.

"It's fun and something to do on the weekend," Violette said from the Oakland landing. "They say there are 60-pound pike in here. There are pike that beat the state record, double the weight."


SOURCE: Portland Press Herald

DATE: 02-04-2008


Lakes: Dyer Long Pond, Great Pond, Messalonskee Lake, North Pond, Salmon (Ellis) Pond
Regions: Belgrade


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