ROXBURY — The 35th annual Larry Mercier Ice Fishing Derby at Roxbury Pond will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15.

If it’s a stormy day, it will be held Sunday, Feb. 16, Gloria Patneaude of Roxbury said in a recent Mexico Lions Club news release.

The event is a fundraiser for the club and the entry fee is $10. The derby is traditionally held on one of Maine’s free family fishing days in February.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, on these days, any person, except those whose license has been suspended or revoked, may fish without a license. All other laws and regulations apply on these days.

There is a grand prize of $2,000 for catching a tagged fish during the derby, cash prizes of $200 each for the largest pickerel and bass, $150 each for largest trout and second-place bass, and $100 for largest perch.

Additional prizes include $100 each for third place for pickerel and bass.

During the derby, no one has ever caught the tagged fish worth $2,000. It is added to the pond a few days before the derby after being purchased at a state fish hatchery.

Last year’s event reeled in more than 400 anglers on a sunny day with temperatures in the mid 30s.

Lunch will be available from the Mexico Police Explorers operating the Lions Club lunch wagon. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, coffee and hot chocolate.

For more information, contact Roland Patneaude at 357-8175 or Jim Theriault at 357-1040.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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