BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 11, 2026
The Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby in St. Agatha has been a fixture for the past two decades, and its 21st edition is slated Jan. 24 and 25. This year’s derby promises the largest bounty ever, with prizes worth more than $75,000, including a $26,500 cash purse. But the anticipation of prizes isn’t what hooks many of the stalwarts who return year after year. Gathering on the lake with friends and family, mixing tradition and camaraderie — that’s the strongest pull. Mike Thibodeau of Frenchville, who caught the derby’s largest cusk at more than 12 pounds last year, is a hardcore cusk fisherman. He travels fairly lightweight, with a portable cabin that is easy to move around, an auger, stove and heater. “We have everything we need to make it through the weekend,” he said.