Child receives youth lifetime fishing license

Sebago Lake Anglers’ Association President Bob Chapin recently presented a Youth Lifetime Fishing License to 3-year old Marcus McKeon at the Sebago Lake Scenic Overlook in front of his father, Sean, and his great grandparents, David and Phylis Kent.

Sebago Lake Anglers' Association President Bob Chapin
presents a Maine Youth Lifetime Fishing License to
3-year-old Marcus McKeon, left, at Sebago Lake Scenic\
Overlook. At right is his brother, August McKeon, also
a Youth Lifetime Fishing License recipient.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Marcus’s brother, August McKeon, also a Lifetime License holder and the boys are now sporting new fishing rods courtesy of their great grandfather. Both boys have been fishing on Grandpa’s fishing boat on Sebago Lake and word has it they have both caught fish.

The Sebago Lake Angler’s Association presents Youth Lifetime Fishing Licenses to many children during the year to help get them up and off their couches and devices and outdoors to learn a hobby that will serve them well throughout their lives. The funds that the association uses to buy the licenses ($150 for 5 years of age and under and $300 for ages 6 to 15) comes primarily from the Togue Derby that the association stages every September.

This year, the Togue Derby will be conducted Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 and will be based at the Sebago Lake State Park primary boat ramp. Look for announcements in future editions of The Windham Eagle and posters around town over the summer about the event.

Chapin said that when the Sebago Lake Angler’s Association started awarding Youth Lifetime Fishing Licenses, it only submitted kids, grandkids, nephews and nieces of current association members.

“It was so successful that we expanded it to neighborhood kids and then to those vendors who supported our T-shirt ad program who would spend $200 to get their name on the back of the shirt,” Chapin said. “And that is where the eligibility stands today. Kids have been nominated more than one year and sometimes members who have run out of kids, nominate someone else’s nominee giving the child more chances to win.”

He said that depending on how well the association does in its September Togue Derby, association members set a budget of how much they can spend on youth lifetime licenses and usually award between six and 10 licenses a year.

“The licenses cost us either $150 or $300 depending on the ages of the kids, 0 to 5-years-old or 6 to 15,” Chapin said. “Kids off the street cannot win unless their parents or grandparents join the association or buy a t-shirt ad. We budget in September and pick in October.” <