A youngster prepares an ice fishing trap during the 2024 Pennesseewassee Lake Ice Fishing Derby in Norway. Contributed photo

NORWAY — The third annual Pennesseewassee Lake Ice Fishing Derby is set for this weekend, with more than $5,000 in cash prizes and an additional $5,000 in raffle prizes.

The derby will be Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a food truck on the ice both days. For those who have not preregistered, registration closes at 10 a.m. Saturday.

A total of 370 people competed in last year’s derby, the second organized by Travis Turgeon, 20, of Oxford, and Emmett Hand, 19, of South Paris.

Proceeds will benefit Moose Maine Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting outdoor activities for children.

Each youth will be entered in a drawing for a free moose hunt, which includes permit, meals, lodging and a guide.

One of the raffle prizes includes a youth-guided bear hunt, with food and lodging included.

The raffles will be drawn Sunday about 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for the derby are $15 for ages 16 and older, and $10 for ages 15 and younger. They are available here.

Weigh-ins will take place at the boat ramp .

Prizes will be awarded in several categories for the longest fish: trout/salmon, bass and pickerel.

The adult trout/salmon winner will receive $1,000, with second place earning $750. The top two adult bass winners will receive $750 and $500, while pickerel winners will receive $500 and $250.

Youth prizes for the longest fish include $400 for the top two, except in the bass category. The winning youth will receive an ice shack, heater and five traps, while the runner-up will be awarded an auger and $50 gift card to Jack Traps.

Children ages 1 to 10 will have a special category for the largest perch. The top boy and girl will each win a lifetime fishing and hunting license.

In the event of a tie for the longest fish, weight will determine the winner.

A total of 370 people competed in last year’s derby, the second organized by Turgeon, 20, of Oxford, and Emmett Hand, 19, of South Paris.

The largest fish caught last year was a 22¼-inch pickerel weighing nearly 2½ pounds. The largest bass measured 21½ inches and weighed more than 5 pounds. The longest trout/salmon was 17 inches.