June 4, 2024 - After a thorough review, organizers of the popular Lake McSwain Spring Trout Derby announced a new winner. Tadeh Arakelyan of San Jose won both categories of the longest fish and the longest combined stringer of three fish.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Arakelyan on this remarkable achievement,” said MID Parks and Recreation Director Brooke Gutierrez. “His dedication to the sport and commitment to fair play exemplify the spirit of our event.”

The derby was held from 6 a.m. Saturday, April 6, to noon on Sunday April 7. The tournament was managed through the smart phone app FishDonkey, with 228 anglers participating. 

Mr. Arakelyan won the Largest Trout with a fish spanning 19.5 inches. The prize was $2,000. 

He also won the Stringer of Three Longest Fish with his entry totaling 55.5 inches. This netted an additional $2,000 in prize money.

“We couldn’t be more excited for Mr. Arakelyan,” said MID’s Gutierrez. “This was well deserved.”

She added that people are already inquiring about the fall derby and potential camping reservations.

“The derby just seems to be getting more and more popular,” she said.

A winner was previously announced following the April derby for both the longest fish and longest combined trio of trout. However, it was revealed that the winner was disqualified from participating in the derby. Thus, the next runner-up was Mr. Arakelyan. 

“This is a great event for many anglers, and often brings together friends and family for a weekend of fishing,” said Gutierrez. “Webelieve that the vast majority of participants fish fairly and follow the rules.”

She added: “We are already gearing up for the fall derby and can’t wait to let people know when it’s planned.”


Source: MID

Related: Anglers Haul in Big Trout and Awards at 2024 Lake McSwain Spring Derby in Mariposa County