ST. AGATHA, Maine – The ice is already out on Long Lake in St. Agatha, roughly a week earlier than the average time, according to data from Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Officials reported this year’s ice out on Tuesday, April 23. It normally occurs about one week into May.
The early ice out coincides with what has been an uncharacteristically warm winter throughout the state. This year’s weather led to the cancellation of Fort Kent’s Can-Am sled dog race event for the first time in 30 years. The Can-Am is an international event that brings in mushers from Canada and across the country. It is the longest sled dog race in the eastern United States.
This year’s warmer weather also abruptly ended the Aroostook County snowmobile season.
The department’s data goes back to 2003. There have been five ice outs on Long Lake in April in that span, with the earliest on April 21 in 2021. Other April ice out dates were April 22 in 20212; April 23 in 2010 and this year, and April 28 in 2006.
The majority of ice outs in this timeframe occurred in May.
The latest ice out date on Long Lake reported during this timeframe is May 10. Ice outs on May 10 occurred in 2018, 2016, and 2014. Ice was out on May 9 in 2020, 2011, and 2008, and on May 8 in 2019.
All other dates within the 18-year period were in early May.
Long Lake is popular among local sportsmen and snowmobilers, and is also the central focus of St. Agatha’s Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby. The derby, which occurs in late January, was not affected by this year’s warmer winter. This year’s derby actually saw the largest turnout in its history, with a total of 1,852 signed up.
But organizers for other Long Lake events, such as the Acadian Pond Hockey Classic, have moved their dates earlier in anticipation of warmer weather. Last year’s Pond Hockey Classic, scheduled for mid-March, was canceled due to warm temperatures creating uncertainties about the ice. The event now takes place in late February.
Officials with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recommend walking on the lake when it has 4 to 6 inches of ice and to not drive a truck on the ice unless there is over a foot of good ice. In early January, a pickup truck broke through the lake after driving on ice that was 2 ½ inches thick.
The region’s 2,300-mile trail system is one of its primary tourist attractions. The lack of snowmobiling this year dealt a blow to the local economy, leading some business owners to even request state relief to offset lower revenues caused by the short season.
Currier Flying Service reported ice out on Moosehead Lake on Saturday, April 20. This is five days earlier than last year’s ice out. Moosehead is the state’s largest lake.
