As the hot sun forced its rays onto icy lakes during this past winter, many lakes developed problems with thin ice, putting annual ice fishing on hold. Many of the lakes in the region, including nearby Sebago Lake, weren’t able to form sufficient ice thickness amid the mild winter’s temperatures, forcing fisherman to rethink weekend fishing derbies and other events.
An article in the Press Herald discussed how the Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby – the largest in the state – would still be held in early March, despite thin ice. This event has been canceled four times since 2001 due to lack of safe ice. The derby’s contingency plan is that when fishing on Sebago Lake is too dangerous, the derby moves to the 50 lakes and ponds in Cumberland County. However, these smaller lakes do not contain the large togue fish Sebago Lake is known for, meaning that these off years tend to draw fewer participants to the derby, in turn raising less funds for the charities the derby supports.
Thin lake ice did not affect as severely is Thompson Lake, though the lake still never achieved the usual levels of ice that we’ve come to expect. While ice fishermen were able to catch fish and enjoy a bit of winter angling, the lake saw a great deal of open water during the winter – definitely atypical conditions for the lake. In fact, in response to warmer-than-normal temperatures, the IFW opened fishing season two weeks early!
Fishermen were not as lucky as their fellow anglers last year when sportsmen were lucky to enjoy the especially chilly winter of an extended fishing season. Though ice fishing season typically ends at the end of March, the lingering winter weather allowed fishermen to stay out a few more days in April to enjoy some additional ice fishing.
If you had a home on Thompson Lake, you’d never have to cut your time short with ready access to the lake all throughout the year. Rated one of the 10 best bodies of water in Maine for water quality, Thompson Lake offers some of the best fishing in southern Maine, averaging five fishing tournaments a year for anglers to cast their hooks and compete for prizes and a chance to claim the title of largest fish. To learn more about finding a great property on Thompson Lake, call Terry Hewitt Real Estate today at 207-998-4516, ext. 203, and let me help find your perfect property today.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Thompson Lake area from Terry Hewitt. If you are lucky enough to live by the water … you are lucky enough!
One of the areas top realtors and started her career in 1996. Member of the National Association of Realtors, Maine Association of Realtors, and am a licensed broker.
