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Sebago Lake: Lake Trout are Running Scared

February 27, 2011 - Sebago Lake - Usually, the plump and proud lake trout (a.k.a. togue) in Sebago Lake have nothing to fear. They're literally the big fish in a big pond. They crowd out the salmon population and voraciously feed at will on smelt and alewives.


But that all changes this weekend as the throng of brave ice anglers don their cold-weather gear, grab their jiggin' sticks, pay their entry fee and take part in the annual Sebago Lake Rotary DerbyFest.


Togue, which are targeted mainly because they are contributing to the decline of the formerly world-renowned salmon population on Sebago Lake, drop a step in the food chain, and many will meet their demise at the hands of thousands of skillful fishermen.


This year, the togue have more than good reason to be running scared. Event organizer Tom Noonan and his several dozen derby volunteers have put a massive bounty on their fish heads. In addition to the customary bevy of lavish fish and door prizes, the Rotary DerbyFest will award $100,000 to anyone who catches a togue that breaks the current Maine record of 31.5 pounds.


That $100,000 prize, which will no doubt have anglers a little more eager while checking their tip-ups for signs of life, came about last Wednesday when Noonan asked Jeff Vermette of Cross Insurance to see what he could do to ramp up the prize purse. Vermette knew of a company that specialized in insuring prizes, SCA Promotion based in Houston, Texas, and last week secured the financing.


"This is all they do. They insure prizes: holes-in-one contests, all types of tournaments. They crunch the numbers, figure the odds, and offer a contract," Vermette said.


In the spirit of DerbyFest - which donates all proceeds from the weekend's events (minus expenses) to local and statewide charities such as the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Camp Sunshine and Maine Children's Cancer Program - Cross Insurance took no fee to write the contract.


"I did this purely for Tom Noonan. There's little I wouldn't do for that man because of what he does for our communities," said Vermette.


Noonan, in his 11th year heading up one of the area's largest events, said the largest fish caught so far in the Sebago Lake derby is 22.4 pounds, so fishermen have their work cut out for them to reach the 31.5-pound state record. The state record still belongs to Hollis Grindle, who in 1958 caught a 31-pound, 8-ounce togue in Beech Hill Pond, located between Bangor and Ellsworth. Despite the half-century record, Noonan believes a record-breaking fish can be had.


"Yes, I've had a lot of guys tell me they've been seeing some big fish," Noonan said earlier this week. "They seem to be feeding heavily on the alewives and putting on the pounds."


Alewives are a new trend on Sebago. Physically larger than Sebago smelt, togue and northern pike are growing larger due to a more robust alewife population.


Francis Brautigam, fisheries biologist for the Department Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, agrees with Noonan that this year could be a banner year for the derby.


"Early fishing reports on the lake were outstanding, and the expectation is that there will be a fair number of togue harvested at the derby," Brautigam said. "There seems to be an awful lot of togue in the 18- to 21-inch range. So I expect a good event."


Ice is in


Last year's derby was a dangerous one, with ice conditions rapidly deteriorating almost by the hour on the first day. Pressure ridges claimed more than one ATV or snowmobile, with even a game warden falling through at a widening pressure ridge near Deep Cove off Raymond Beach in Jordan Bay. In total seven different incidents saw people and snow machines falling into the chilly waters, although no one was hurt. A local man, however, died while diving to retrieve his sunken ATV the Monday after the event.
This year, Noonan and Brautigam expect better ice conditions, allowing for safer fishing on all parts of the lakes.


"The warm spell we had last week was actually just what the doctor ordered," Noonan said, referring to temperatures that touched 50 degrees the week of Feb. 14. "Warm days and cold nights helped to knock down the snow on the lake, and while it's a bumpy ride out there, we're actually pretty pleased with the way things are shaping up."


Brautigam agreed that this week's cold temperatures have helped solidify the ice.
"As far as ice conditions out on Sebago, that east, south end of the lake - everywhere from Jordan Bay down into the Station - you're looking at 18 inches of ice, more or less. The Big Bay, which set up later, has less than that. But, overall, ice conditions are pretty good on the lake," he said.


Due to a cold and relatively wind-free January, Big Bay set up "fairly early" in mid-January, Brautigam said, allowing the largest bay in the lake to accumulate ice as the weeks have gone by.


Out in Sebago at Jordan's Store, Greg Cutting says folks are parking their vehicles on the lake, but that he wouldn't recommend it.


"Parking on the ice is always at your own risk. I've seen people parking off Long Beach, but I wouldn't," Cutting said.


All in all, Brautigam said, the ice, while not as thick as in years past when Jordan Bay has seen more than 30 inches at derby time, is thick enough so that fishermen should have a good weekend, certainly better than last year when much of the lake never froze.


"I expect good access for the upcoming derby," Brautigam said. "Folks should be able to fish most of the lake."


John Balentine, Keep Maine Current, February 2011


Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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