Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby showcases winners

By Ed Pierce

For yet another year, Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby has wrapped up a summer of fishing on Sebago Lake, creating lasting memories for participants and helping to fund a good cause.

Andries Elburg of Canton, Massachusetts,
right, is awarded first place in the Togue
category for an 11-pound 33-inch fish 
caught during the 11th Annual Sebago
Lake Togue & Pike Derby by Bob Chapin
of the Sebago Lake Anglers' Association
during an awards ceremony on Sunday,
Sept. 13. COURTESY PHOTO 

The 11th Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby was based at Port Sebago Resort’s Main Marina area in Casco on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13 with an awards ceremony conducted at the conclusion of fishing on Sunday afternoon.

Hosted every year by the Sebago Lake Anglers Association, event organizers said this is a community-based fishing derby focused on families and children but experienced fishermen and guides with clients are always welcome to participate.

Cash prizes were paid to the top three places by weight in the event, as well as a prize for the biggest fish caught on Saturday, three prizes for any Togue submitted in the Togue lottery, and one prize for the smallest Togue, caught by hook and line.

All Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife rules for Sebago Lake fishing applied with only fish caught during the derby’s legal fishing hours counting toward prizes.

Participants did not have to fish in the derby both days, and they did not have to be present to win a prize if a fish was legally entered and checked in by staff within the established time limits for the derby. Prizes for those who were not present during the awards ceremony may be picked up at Port Sebago Resort’s Main Marina during business hours for 30 days after the derby.

Some of the fish that derby participants didn’t want to take home were donated for an area church’s fish fry, and a local food pantry.

During the derby, there was no minimum length for togue and no bag limit on togue less than 26 inches. Anglers could possess one togue measuring 26 inches and above and derby participants did not need to fish on both days of the derby to qualify for prizes.

Among this year’s prize winners was Andries Elburg of Canton, Massachusetts who took first place in the Togue category with an 11-pound 33-inch fish.

John Sailhamer of Canton, Mass. was second in the Togue category with a 7.61-pound 30.75-inch fish. Sailhamer also won a prize for the largest togue caught during the derby on Saturday and was last year’s Togue category winner.

Third place in the Togue category went to Jay McMahon of Canton, Mass. with a 7.29-pound 30-inch fish.

All three Togue category award recipients were fishing from Sailhamer’s boat.

In the derby’s Pike category, first place for the most pike caught was Devin Prue of Steep Falls with a total of five pikes. He also won first place in this same category a year ago.

Second place for the most pike caught went to Geoff Sparrow of Windham with one pike. 

The winner of the Smallest Togue caught during the derby was Deane Gower of Standish, having caught one weighing in at .18 pounds. He also won the Smallest Togue caught during last year’s derby and his company, Gower and Son Construction, is a top sponsor of the Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby.

Proceeds from the Annual Sebago Lake Togue & Pike Derby are used to pay out the prize money for the event and to purchase Youth Lifetime Fishing Licenses for Maine children.

To learn more about upcoming events hosted by the Sebago Lake Anglers Association, visit their Facebook page. <