ST. AGATHA, Maine — Fortune was on Kaleb Jacob’s side ahead of this year’s Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby.
The event, Maine’s biggest ice fishing derby which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is a major draw to this town of just over 700 people in the northernmost part of the state.
As such, the only major hotel in town, the Long Lake Motor Inn, is usually booked a year ahead of time by longtime derby participants.
But Jacob, a New Hampshire man participating in the derby for the first time, was able to score a hotel reservation at the last minute, after a separate snowmobiling and fishing trip with one of his friends fell through.
“I got really lucky, because when I realized that was this weekend, I immediately called here,” he said. “They had one room left for Friday and they didn’t have anything for Saturday. And then the next day, someone canceled and I was able to get in on time.”
The speed at which the Long Lake Motor Inn is booked for the weekend is one measure of the big impact the derby has on St. Agatha. Typically, anyone who tries to make a reservation after the weekend of the last derby must be placed on a waiting list.
“If someone’s coming up here without a reservation, they’re in trouble,” said derby organizer Paul Bernier. “That’s what this event has created. I can guarantee you that people who have rented this year are booking for next year when they leave. That’s guaranteed.”
Tammie Lerman, who owns the Long Lake Motor Inn with her husband Doug after purchasing it in 2018, put it more directly: “If they didn’t make their reservations when they left this year, they’re not getting in next year.”
There are short-term rentals in the area and hotels in surrounding communities, but the Long Lake Motor Inn is an ideal spot near all of the action. It is located on Main Street just off the shore of the lake.
Business has its ups and downs throughout the year, but Lerman said the time surrounding the derby is among their busiest periods.
“Snowmobiling is definitely busy, and ice fishing is getting to be a little more popular,” she said. “But in the summertime we have vacationers coming in July, August and September. Those are our busy times as well.”
Like last year, this year’s snowmobile season got off to a late start. The snowmobile industry brings about $600 million in revenue to the state each year, and many local businesses depend on the season.
“Now we’re getting a little bit of snow,” Bernier said. “We’re seeing some snowmobilers and now we’re bringing hundreds of hundreds of people into the area to fish.”
Bernier said that while they have never calculated the economic benefits of the derby and snowmobile season in the St. John Valley, he is sure that it is immense.
Lerman said that while most guests come to the derby from within the state, some travel from as far away as New York.
Jacob is CEO for Eagle Network Solutions, a cybersecurity business with offices in both Bedford, New Hampshire and Scarborough, Maine.
He said he frequently travels to Maine. On Friday, he was looking forward to the festivities at the Lakeview Restaurant for the opening night of the derby, which was set to feature a performance by Dueling Pianos, along with the rest of the events planned for the weekend.
“I hope everybody has a safe and fruitful weekend,” he said.
Donna Chamberland, who works as a receptionist and manager at the motor inn, said her family has participated in the derby for all 20 years.
“My husband’s a big fisherman,” she said, “and they’ve placed a couple times.”
Chamberland said her daughter, who lives in the Bangor area, comes up with a large group of friends, and that it is a major event for the family, full of massive meals and festivities. Chamberland said that about 40 flags on the lake are from just this group.
“This is like Christmas for us,” she said. “My daughter texted on Tuesday saying she had 30 breakfast sandwiches made. The breakfast casseroles were made. My daughter-in-law was making lasagna. I’m making the big turkey, and we provide meals and everything.”
And while she helps prepare for the family festivities, Chamberland said the motor inn is also busy for the derby.
“The phone doesn’t stop ringing,” she said.
