Fishing at Lake McSwain in Mariposa County
Credit: MID
October 5, 2024 - It’s time again. The Lake McSwain Fall Trout Derby will be held this weekend on Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6. Anglers can begin fishing at 6 a.m. the first day with the derby ending at noon the following day.
The Fall Derby will continue to rely on the smart phone app FishDonkey.
“We are excited. Fall is a spectacular time of year to be at Lake McSwain with friends and family,” said Brooke Gutierrez, Director of MID Parks and Recreation.
“We will have plenty of fish planted by Calaveras Trout Farm and we know everyone will have a good time,” She added. “With continued summer temperatures, head out early to beat the heat or enjoy fishing for your prized catch in the evening. The derby is a fun, family-friendly event and is geared for the enjoyment of both kids and anglers with years of experience. There is no way not to win at this event.”
Campsites are still available at nearby Lake McClure.
For reservations visit www.LakeMcClure.com and clicking “Book Now.”
All registration for the Trout Derby and payments must be made through the FishDonkey app.
Participants are strongly encouraged to access the app early and become familiar with it before the Derby. All photos, videos and judging will be managed through the app.
On the day of the derby, participants will need to have both their smart phone – with the app available – as well as a non-expandable bump board for measuring and photographing their catch.
Anglers can practice using the FishDonkey app ahead of the tournament by joining a tournament in the app called “Practice Entering a Fish.”
The app will work without an internet connection at the lake during the derby.
Participants will need to join in advance, and should open the app before heading out.
They will need to tap on the name of the tournament — Fall 2024 Lake McSwain Trout Derby — followed by “Leaderboard/Enter a Fish.” This will have the tournament fully loaded on a phone, even in poor internet areas.
Fish should be entered in accordance with the app’s instructions while at the lake. Tapping on the fish icon will open the Digital Livewell and show any fish awaiting an internet connection to be moved to the leaderboard. After returning to an area with internet or WiFI, participants can then open their Digital Livewell and leave it open until the fish are moved to the leaderboard.
This video will provide a tutorial on how to use FishDonkey.
- This year’s categories will include the following:
- Longest trout for $2,000
- Stringer with three longest fish combined: $2,000
- Wild card – one adult winner is randomly selected for $500 prize
Kids Wild Card – a winner under 16 will be randomly selected to receive a fishing pole and tackle box. (Sponsored by Splash N Dash and the Reel Deal Market and Café at Lake McSwain).
*Please note new rule change*
A participant may only win one prize, even if they hold the top position in multiple categories. In such cases, the prize for the additional category will be awarded to the next highest-ranked participant.
The Reel Deal Market & Café at Lake McSwain will be open 6am-6pm on Saturday and 6am-2pm on Sunday for the derby. The Cafe’ is closed for the season but the Market will remain open for the derby.
“Our fishing derbies have become an annual tradition for so many of our park visitors,” said Gutierrez. “It’s going to be a great weekend.”
Source: MID
