NORWAY — The fourth annual Family Fishing Festival at Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway took place on Saturday, and according to Norway Recreation staff member Saara Leduc, there was no shortage of fish or fun.
The fishing festival is a collaborative effort by several local organizations.
Fishing poles for participants to use were provided by Cabela’s, and tackle and tackle boxes were provided by Mollyockett Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Orion Outfitters and Guide Service and Norway-Paris Fish and Game Association. Worms were donated by The Lake Store.
At the festival, there was also a display from the Bryant Pond 4-H Center, featuring numerous furs from different animals. A few members of the Game Warden Service were present, assisting children with their tangled lines and squirmy worms.
Emily Knapp of Healthy Oxford Hills brought a bike that, when peddled, activates the blades of a blender on the back, making a smoothie.
“It’s a great event that gets the kids outside and teaches healthy living,” said Leduc, who greeted the young fishermen and women with enthusiasm, and delighted in telling them when they came to return their pole, that they could keep it.
“I don’t tell them they can keep it right away,” Leduc said. “Some kids brought their own poles. But I really encourage them to take their pole home because fishing is such a great activity.”
Maine residents who were 15 or under who did bring their own poles were entered in the drawing to win the Stuart B. Cummings Lifetime Fishing award. This is the second year the Cummings family donated the award, which grants the recipient a lifetime fishing license.
“Stuart was an avid fisherman, and it’s so nice to be able to give the lifetime license. That’s a huge gift,” said Debra Partridge, Norway recreation director, who estimated a turnout of 70 children, 150 attendees total.
This year, Nate Barker, 11, of South Paris, who attended the festival with his grandmother, Pat Barker, snagged the prize.
According to Partridge, the Family Fishing Festival was held in Bethel for many years at Angevine Park, but the little pond is no longer available for public use, so Norway Recreation was asked to host the event.
“We were just delighted — and look — not many towns can say they have a pond on Main Street,” Partridge said.
emarquis@sunmediagroup.net
Bryce Gregory, 13, participates in the Family Fishing Festival at Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway on Saturday.
Lucy Frost, 6, peddles a special smoothie-making bike in the Family Fishing Festival at Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway on Saturday. The bike was brought by Emily Knapp of Halthy Oxford Hills.
From left, Renee Sutton, Roczen Sutton and Dana Hemingway pose with almost 3-year-old Roczen’s big catch at the Family Fishing Festival at Pennesseewassee Lake in Norway on Saturday.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.