Due to this week’s bone chilling, sub-zero, deep freeze temperatures, ice fishing conditions should finally improve on many of our local lakes and ponds.Some of the larger lakes may have several inches of ice near the shore but deeper water locations could be skimmed over or just appear to have thick ice. Anglers are still cautioned to test the ice depths as they go. Lake trout fishing on Maine’s Sebago Lake has been very productive. Tallies of 10-15 fish are being caught during an outing with many being returned to the water because they aren’t between 23- and 33-inch slot limit. The main part of the lake is still wide open.In New Hampshire this weekend, the town of Meredith is host of one of the Lakes Region’s biggest winter events, the Great Rotary Fishing Derby. Presented by the Rotary Club, this event brings ice fisherman from across the country to Meredith for a weekend of fun, fishing, and seeing what your tolerance for cold and frostbite is.In the end, the payoff is being one of the lucky few who gets to experience the pride of having their catch hung up on the wall of fame, and winning an amazing grand prize. Driving around the Lakes Region you’ll notice the frozen waters of Lake Winnipesaukee transformed into a metropolis of fishing shanties of every shape, size, and color while the fishing derby is underway.If there is a sense of fierce competition in the in the air, it must be near prize time! Tickets are $30 and are available at more than a dozen locations around Lake Winnipesaukee, including AJ’s Bait and Tackle, the Winnisquam Trading Post, Skelly’s Market, Alton Circle Grocery and at Paugus Bay Sporting Goods.You can also purchase tickets directly at derby headquarters in Meredith, or online. If the event is postponed, your tickets cannot be refunded, but will be honored when the event is eventually held. In departure from prior years, this year’s prizes will all be in cash, First Prize: $15,000, Second Prize: $5,000, Third Prize: $3,000, not bad for catching a fish!uThe New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo show is about to become the region’s biggest, most talked-about annual fishing and outdoor event. On Feb. 6-9, Worcester DCU Center will be transformed into an outdoorsmen’s paradise. Come experience the latest innovations in fishing, hunting, boating and camping.Try out the best gear, talk to top manufacturers and learn from world-class outdoor sporting professionals. The Bass University’s bass fishing educational classes taught by six of the top pro anglers in the sport will return this year by popular demand. Classes will be at the New England Fishing & Outdoor Expo at the DCU Center on February 8th and 9th, 2014.uAs in the past, freshwater fishing licenses, sporting licenses, and hunting licenses as well as stamps and permits will be available for purchase at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife booth at the New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo at the Worcester DCU Centre February 6-9, 2014. New for the Worcester show, please note, cash and checks will not be accepted. Computers will be set up for license buyers to purchase on the internet using their credit cards. Purchase price will include the credit card fee. DFW staff will be on hand to assist with license purchases.uFrom the Kittery Report, Pete Santini at Fishing FINatics reports, “the hot spot here is in the small ponds in the Harold Parker State Forest. There are some ponds managed for trout fishing and some for bass, pickerel and perch.Walden Pond in Concord is producing some really great fishing for brook trout, with the small rosie-red minnows accounting for much of the action with night crawlers also doing their share of catching.”uThe New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA) is sponsoring a Youth Outdoor Writing Contest for school students in grades 6-12 across New England. Students are invited to submit a writing entry pertaining to any outdoor activity by Feb. 15.The contest is a perfect opportunity for teachers and parents to co