NORWAY — The Norway-Paris Fish and Game Association’s annual fishing derby on Feb. 27 and 28 is still a go for this weekend, but organizers of area fishing derbies in this area are being warned to be careful on the ice.

Deborah Turcotte, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said Thursday that the combination of warm temperatures and snow that are predicted for Thursday night and Friday may make the ice susceptible to thinning.

“Anyone having fishing derbies this weekend should exercise good judgment,” said Turcotte, who said that no vehicle should go on the ice.

The department raised the concern this week after seven people and a number of cars and all terrain vehicles went through the ice at the annual Lake Sebago fishing derby. A 53-year-old man died Monday on Lake Sebago in Raymond when he dove down to try to retrieve his submerged ATV.

Turcotte said this week’s storm is going to contribute to the thinning of ice in most of the state. In a statement released by the department, officials said “heavy rains and winds will create slush or thin the ice. Plus flooding is possible in many waterways, including tributaries to lakes and ponds. People should avoid inlets and outlets of lakes where there is flowing water as the ice could thin quickly or there already is open water.”

Sylvia Bosse, publicity director for the Norway-Paris club, said the derby is still being held as of Thursday.

Fishermen out Thursday morning on Norway Bog, which is adjacent to Lake Pennesseewassee on Route 118, said they were measuring about 14 inches of solid ice. Corey Devoe, of South Paris, who was on the ice with his father, said the ice levels are down at least 4 or 5 inches from last week but still significant enough to be safe.

Bosse said derby participants can fish in any lake from sunrise to sunset Saturday and Sunday but they need to go to the Little Red School House on Route 118 in Norway to have the fish weighed during that time.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the largest bass, togue, pike, salmon, pickerel, brown trout, brook trout/splake and rainbow trout. Any junior (12 and under) bringing in a fish will receive a prize. Trophies will be presented to juniors with the largest fish in all categories.

According to information from the association, derby tickets are available from club members, local sports shops and at the derby. Tickets are $1 and each ticker will be entered into a drawing for prizes, including an L.L. Bean spinning rod outfit with tackle box and tackle donated by L.L. Bean, TD Bank 250 race tickets donated by Oxford Plains Speedway, and a new design ice fishing trap donated by Little Man Traps and other prizes. Raffle winners will be drawn at sunset on Sunday, Feb. 28, at derby headquarters.

Prizes and trophies for the fishing winners will be presented at the March 18 meeting at the Norway Municipal Building on Danforth Street in Norway. For more information, call Jim Alberi at 743-8339, or Fern Bosse at 739-6070.

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