Watching Madigan “Maddy” Ross, 5, catch her first fish was a family adventure.
She had a chance to stay home and bake with her mother Amanda Ross or go with her brothers Declan, 11, Griffin, 9, Keegan, 7, and their dad Patrick Ross for an ice fishing trip with Bucks, Bass and Beyond Guide Service out of Sebago.
Maddy chose fishing, much to her mother’s surprise. It was her first time trying the sport. The boys had gone with this guide service several times, but Maddy had never wanted to go before.
“Maddy told them they weren’t going without her,” Amanda said.
The family, who lives in the Boston area, bought a property in Aroostook County’s town of Oakfield in 2022, just after the pandemic. Amanda works for Bank of America and Patrick is a brewer in Massachusetts. They already had connections in Maine. Patrick’s brother is Col. William Ross, chief of the Maine State Police.
The Ross children are really big into fishing, but this was their first year of trying ice fishing, Amanda said. Usually the family spends their winter recreational time on the slopes downhill skiing.
The Oakfield house had only ever been in the seller’s family and they were looking for the right people to take it over. Amanda thinks they may have been drawn to the Rosses because the seller also had four children at home. A fifth Ross child, Brady, lives on his own in New York, Amanda said.
The people in Maine are so wonderful,” she said. “The kids love it.”
Maddy fished her first time using a jig rod, while comfortably seated in a chair just right for her size. Registered Maine Guide Charles McGee of Bucks, Bass and Beyond set the hook for her, then filmed the epic battle the little girl had with the fish, while her excited brothers cheered her efforts.
McGee helped whenever necessary, although her brothers were ready to jump in if needed.
Maddy’s fishing adventure resulted in a 33-inch, 10-12-pound pike. She didn’t want to touch the fish, Amanda said, but she wanted to know immediately if they were going to put it back in the water. Which they did.
“She’s tough as nails and sweet as pie,” she said.
Maddy’s brothers were proud of their little sister and bragged about her accomplishment at school, Amanda said.
It was a wonderful family day, she said.
