GRAY – Due to poor ice conditions, organizers have postponed this Saturday’s Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby. The event will instead take place Saturday, Feb. 25.

The rescheduled derby, which is sponsored by the Gray-based Liberty Family Foundation, Kittery Trading Post and L.L. Bean, will now take place between the Feb. 18-19 Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby and the March 3-4 Statewide Ice Fishing Derby, both hosted by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club based in Windham.

Commissioner Chandler Woodcock of the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, which permits all derbies, made the decision Wednesday afternoon when ice thickness ranged from 4.5 to 9 inches on the lake in Gray.

“It was actually my recommendation that they postpone the derby due to the quality of ice down there,” Woodcock said.

Woodcock said the permit hasn’t been pulled, but rather just postponed for the later date in February when ice should be thicker.

Many people had already signed up for this Saturday’s derby with only 400 of about 2,100 tickets still available. Derby organizer Todd Bagetis expected those 400 to be bought by fishermen waiting until the day of the event to decide whether to attend. However, with the postponement, those remaining tickets ($10 for adults; $5 for children under 12) will be available at Hannaford in Gray and other locations for the Feb. 25 event. Check www.crystallakederby.com for details on where to purchase tickets.

For those entrants who can’t attend Feb. 25, Bagetis said they don’t have to be present to receive door prizes, Bagetis said.

“We’ll pull them, call them, and we’ll make sure they are either mailed or they can come pick them up, that’s not a problem,” he said.

He said the non-fishing events, such as a polar plunge, sleigh rides, L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery School events, sledding hill, crafts for kids and helicopter rides, will also take place Feb. 25.

“Everything is still in place. Everything that was going to be there for the 28th is still going to be there on the 25th of February. We haven’t lost a single thing,” Bagetis said.

Organizers were excited about this weekend’s planned event, but said safety was of paramount importance.

“We’ve been measuring the lake constantly over the last two weeks,” Bagetis said. “We did a measurement today with the (derby) committee. We approached the Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, we had a big meeting, we all went out there together, but while it appears to be fine for individuals to go out there, our big concern is about a massive crowd.

“Safety is No. 1, and we’re all about the charities and putting safety first, making sure everybody has a good time, and we didn’t want to take that 1 percent chance that something bad could happen. It’s not worth it.”

Bagetis added, “It was a very tough decision, but with my background as a lieutenant in the U.S. Coast Guard, safety comes first and I’m going to push the same mentality with this event, too.”

The event is in its third year and experienced good ice in the previous two editions. Despite the postponement, Bagetis is already looking forward to the rescheduled date of Feb. 25. He said the committee chose it primarily because there are no conflicts with other charity derbies, such as the ones organized by the nearby Sebago Lake Rotary Club. Also, the derby will occur during February school vacation, so “chances are, we’re going to have an even bigger crowd,” Bagetis said.

This winter has been rough on outdoor events dependent on snow or ice. Dog sled racing for the annual Musher’s Bowl in Bridgton was postponed from last weekend to Feb. 18-19. However, late February historically is when ice is thickest in Maine, so Bagetis has his fingers crossed that this year will continue that trend.

“It was a perfect date all the way around, plus according to history, that weekend offers maximum ice conditions and offers the possibility of having outrageous ice,” he said. “So we’re looking good.”