Maine

Ice Fishing Season Could Come to Early End in Maine

Record-high temperatures mid-week may put one of Maine's most popular winter sports on thin ice.

The 2018 ice fishing season got off to a solid start, with arctic air helping large bodies of water freeze fast.

But this Wednesday, parts of Maine could experience mid-sixty degree weather, causing the ice to melt.

"Where they may have been a foot of ice last week, there may only be a few inches of ice this week," said Sgt. Jason Luce, with the Maine Warden Service.

The Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby is still scheduled for this weekend, despite the mild weather.

Wardens remind anyone going out on to the ice to check thickness often, and bring an ice pick in case of an emergency.

In Bowdoinham, the owner of a smelt camp isn't taking any chances.

Jim McPherson, owner of Jim's Camps, removed all his shacks from the water Monday. He cancelled 25 remaining reservations for the season, about a week earlier than usual.

"It'd be nice to have a longer season, but usually by this time of year I'm getting pretty tired anyways," he laughed.

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