WILTON — The Wilton Fish and Game Association and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are co-sponsoring the annual Ice Fishing Derby on Wilson Lake. The event is being held on Sunday, Feb. 17, Maine Free Fishing Day, so that everyone young and old can share in the fishing experience and the great outdoors. No license is required to fish on that date.

A new addition to the day will be a tagged brook trout worth $300, stocked by MDIFW.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased prior to the event at the Wilton Hardware store. The day of the derby, tickets will be available for purchase at the registration and weigh-in hut at the Wilson Lake Boat Launch from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. All events will be held at the boat launch. Everyone who purchases a ticket will have the opportunity to be a winner for several door prizes drawn throughout the day; names will be posted on a board at the registration hut. Prizes may be picked up at the boat launch at 4 p.m. Final weigh-in is at 4.

Emily MacCabe from the MDIFW will be presenting the program “Hooked on Fishing” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the boat launch area. This is a free family clinic. No experience required. Equipment, bait and instruction will be provided. All ages from young and old can try their hand at ice fishing. When attending the program, youth 15 years and younger will be asked to register for a free lifetime fishing license donated by Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

Adult derby prizes include heaviest togue, trout, salmon and pickerel. First-, second- and third-place youth prizes will be awarded for heaviest fish of any species.

Wilton Dunkin Donuts has donated free coffee and hot chocolate for those attending throughout the day at the Hooked on Fishing area. The Wilton Rimfire and Firing Pins Youth League will be serving lunch and snacks as their fundraiser.

Contact Alan Hart at 778-2450 for more information.