RAYMOND – While the weather didn’t cooperate for the second year in a row, the 13th annual Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s Ice Fishing Derbies still yielded fun and some good fortune for anglers lucky enough to snag a winning fish.

About 460 anglers registered for the Cumberland County Derby, which allowed fishing on any lake in the county and offered a total prize pool of $20,000. While some anglers chose to brave Sebago Lake’s poor ice conditions, the Sebago Lake Derby was officially canceled due to the ice.

Besides the fishing, the popular Shaw’s Polar Ice Dip, held just off Raymond Beach, exceeded $100,000 in fundraising for the second year in a row, said organizer Jeff Purdy, who manages the Shaw’s supermarket in North Windham. More than 300 spectators watched 178 brave souls, many of whom work at Shaw’s around Maine as well as local businesses such as Buck’s Naked BBQ, jump into icy Sebago Lake.

“I want to thank our Shaw’s team members and the many people in our community who donated time, money, or jumped into Sebago to help raise funds for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program,” Purdy said. “The MCCP is such an important program for kids in Maine who are facing the fight of their lives. The funds that we raised will make an impact, and help keep cancer from getting in the way of kids being kids.”

While the Polar Dip is always a big draw, the fishing derby drew what organizers said was a lower-than-usual amount of fishermen. In good years, participation can number in the several thousands. But the flip side to lower turnout was those who did enter had a better chance of winning.

Adding to the increased odds this year were three categories of fish prizes. Fishermen could fish any lake in Cumberland County for perch, pickerel and cusk. The togue (lake trout) and northern pike species that the derby usually targets were pulled from this year’s contest since organizers determined last week that Sebago Lake’s ice was too poor for the crowds that can descend on the tournament, creating likely safety hazards.

Many participants fished smaller lakes with thicker ice, but two of the winning fish were caught by local fishermen on Sebago. Ryan Donnelly, 38, of Raymond, won first place – and $500 – in the perch competition after catching a 1.64-pounder. He also placed second in the cusk competition after reeling in a 5.10-pound cusk.

“I caught the perch at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday; 11:30 a.m. for cusk,” Donnelly said. “My kids were very excited about the whole thing, and I thought it was awesome. We were lucky that it was a nice warm day and we were able to bring the kids out,” Donnelly said of his two boys, Jonah and Coben, who have claimed the two trophies as their own.

In the cusk competition, Donnelly was edged by Brian LaBreck of Standish, who landed a 5.48-pounder in about 17 feet of water on Sebago Lake. LaBreck, like Donnelly, has never won a fishing derby.

LaBreck, 45, said he plans to share the $500 prize money with his brother, whom he fished with and described as a “cusk master.” He also said the derby was a success despite the lack of ice. While he stuck to Sebago Lake, he likes the addition of the Cumberland County Derby.

“It’s awesome. I think the tournament turned out well considering,” LaBreck said. “Unfortunately, the togue part we couldn’t fish. But I think the Rotary has done a good job turning it into a Cumberland County tournament because the advertisers are down around the Windham area, so I feel it’s a much better tournament than the state tournament.”

Sebago Lake Rotary Club President Steve McFarland, who helped organize the event along with two dozen other Rotary Club-associated volunteers, said the weekend’s derby went off without a hitch.

“For having to cancel the Sebago portion, we’re very pleased with the results of the Cumberland County Derby. We had about 800 fish when all is said and done,” he said. “It wasn’t the greatest weather, but we pulled it off anyway.”

The glory and the goosebumps 1The glory and the goosebumps 2The glory and the goosebumps 3The glory and the goosebumps 4The glory and the goosebumps 5Sebago Lake Rotary Club President Steve McFarland hands Brian LaBreck of Standish his first-place trophy for landing a 5.48-pound cusk. Courtesy photo

Organizers set out planks so jumpers in the Shaw’s Polar Ice Dip didn’t have to plow through foot-deep snow and slush on their way to the hole last Saturday. Staff photos by John Balentine

Activity at the Sebago Lake Station weigh station was a lot quieter than usual Saturday morning, evidenced by the relaxing Rotary volunteers, from left, Karl Hartwell, Jordan Pennels and Larry De Hof. Fishermen, who usually descend by the hundreds on Lower Bay, were mostly fishing other lakes in Cumberland County since the Sebago Lake portion of the derby was canceled. 
Waves of jumpers, totaling 178 brave souls, splashed down into a pre-cut hole in Jordan Bay Saturday afternoon as part of the 11th annual Shaw’s Polar Ice Dip. Jumpers raised more than $100,000 for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program for the second year in a row, organizers said. Above, the team from Buck’s Naked BBQ takes the frosty leap, egged on by their pink mascot, Buck. Staff photos by John Balentine

After removing his signature penguin outfit, Mark Shapp, an employee of the Westbrook Shaw’s Supermarket, strikes a victory pose after raising $7,673 this year. The annual participant has so far raised $48,500 for the dip, all proceeds of which go to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. “I do it to support the kids’ cancer program and what they go through is a lot worse than what we go through for a couple minutes jumping in.”