NORWAY – The Norway-Paris Fish & Game Association will hold its annual Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26 and 27.

The event, held every year since 1971, is one of the major yearly fund-raisers and is instrumental in sending area youths to the Maine Conservation School in Bryant Pond.

Norway-Paris Fish & Game volunteers will be stationed at the Little Red School House off Route 118 near the beach on Norway Lake.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments may be purchased there during the event. The building is also the site where all fish need to be registered and weighed.

A $50 first prize will be awarded for the largest fish in each of six categories: brook trout, splake, salmon, brown trout, pickerel, lake trout (togue) and bass. It is possible for an individual to win first prize in multiple categories.

Also, there will be a consolation prize for the largest fish caught in any species, including species not associated with one of the cash categories.

Fishermen need to be aware that all fish are to be weighed on the same day they are caught.

The Ice Fishing Derby will continue its tradition of allowing children less than 12 years of age to win trophies in a junior division without having to buy a ticket.

However, if a junior wants to submit a fish for the cash awards, he or she will have to purchase a derby ticket.

Another tradition that will continue is that any fish submitted by a junior angler is rewarded with a small prize.

It is possible to support the Norway-Paris Fish & Game in its fund-raising efforts even if a person chooses not to fish.

Any person who buys a $1 ticket becomes eligible for one of the door prizes via a random draw.

Door prizes include two sets of tickets to the July NASCAR Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway, an L.L. Bean fly rod outfit, two dozen streamer flies, and a fishing trip slated for the first weekend in June courtesy of Fern Bosse.

Bosse is an active member of the Norway-Paris Fish & Game and will utilize his camp in Wilson’s Mills for the trip.

Other prizes could be added as the club continues to prepare for the event.

All lakes and ponds in the state of Maine are acceptable fishing spots providing that a person is able to get their fish to the Red School House for weigh-in the same day it is caught.