The shores of Mantle Lake in Presque Isle were lined with young people fishing on Saturday, May 30, 2015, as the Presque Isle Elks, Lodge #1954, held its fifteenth annual "Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs" Youth Fishing Derby. According to Michael LaFrance, the Elks chairman for this event, a total of 250 youth, 111 girls and 139 boys between the ages of 3 and 16, signed up for the fishing derby. A total of 123 trout were registered as being caught during the contest from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Saturday. This is an all-time record, in the fifteen years of "Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs" fishing derby in Presque Isle.

The fishing derby had barely gotten under way when Matthew Hedrich, age 12, the son of David and Nancy Hedrich of Mapleton, registered the first fish caught in the derby, and the first of his five-fish limit. The biggest trout of the morning was taken by Michael Libby, son of Lisa Kelly of Limestone. Sammy Walker, age 4 of Presque Isle, son of Christine Walker, was the youngest successful angler. Noah Corriveau, of Presque Isle, and seven other youngsters caught their five-fish limit, but Noah had the longest total length of fish. Each of these winners received a gift certificate from Ben's Trading Post in Presque Isle.

Forty young people who arrived at the event with no fishing gear received a brand new fishing rod, reel, and fishing tackle from Cabela's "Big-Game" ProStaff, Nathan Theriault, President, OMM Outfitters of Eagle Lake, Maine, courtesy of Cabela's. Theriault also presented the successful young fishermen a tackle box courtesy of Plano, which donated eighty boxes for the event. Taylor's Worm Farm of Orono, Maine, provided live bait. A lifetime fishing license was given by the Presque Isle Fish and Game Club, as the first prize drawn, to Hunter Campbell, son of Jana Campbell of Wade, Maine.

In describing the event, the Presque Isle Elks Exalted Ruler Alan Harding said, "Everyone who attended the Elks' 'Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs' fishing derby was a winner. Not only did every child who registered for the event take home an outdoor activity prize, they enjoyed a beautiful day outdoors fishing with a parent or other adult. Learning to participate in these types of activities has been demonstrated to decrease the likelihood that the child will engage in drug abuse, a win for both the parent and child."

In addition to the outdoor activity prizes given away to every participant, the Elks served 540 hot dogs, over 150 servings of Houlton Farms Dairy ice cream, over 300 bottles of water courtesy of Aroostook Trusses, 200 cups of soda, and approximately 150 dishes of shaved ice.

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Contact:
Alan Harding, Esq.
Presque Isle Elks Club
427 Main Street
Presque Isle, Maine 04769
207-764-0131