The ALR Youth Ice Fishing Derby was a tremendous success in its first year, reeling in more kids than the 500 the organizers expected Friday.

Charles Small of Gray said he tried to register his son Tyler on Thursday night and was told all the slots had been taken, but he cut a deal to get his son in. No money exchanged hands, but Small had to arrive early the morning of the derby and drill 520 holes into Thomas Pond.

An ATV-mounted volunteer said he drilled another 100 holes Friday afternoon for the crowds of kids who showed up.

Registration was free and all participants received a fish trap with the logo of the main sponsor ALR, a South Portland-based project management firm.

“There were plenty of kids who were not registered who showed up as supportive entourages,” said David Spaulding of ALR, who estimated that there were 1,500 people on Thomas Pond at its peak.

“It gets the kids outside,” said Ken Nelson of Raymond, who was there with his son Kyle, 6.

“What do you want to do, knock me out with karate?” Kyle yelled at the flopping brook trout he had pulled from the lake.

“I go fishing with my dad a lot,” said Cassidy Gaudet, 12, of Raymond. She caught a brook trout and her brother Cooper, 6, went home with a pickerel. Cassidy said her father usually handles the bait and she reels the fish in.

“It gives you a suprise when a fish bites,” said James Adams, 10, of Gorham when asked why he enjoys fishing. Adams didn’t have any luck with his ice fishing trap so he cast it aside and dipped a worm into the lake from a hand-held rod, landing him a 2-pound brook trout.

“A kid fishing is a kid not in trouble,” his father, James Adams, said.

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