April 15, 2025 - The 2025 Lake McSwain Spring Trout Derby reeled in dozens of anglers for a weekend of fun, competition, and great weather on April 5–6 — and now, the winners have been announced. 

Taking home the top prize for Longest Trout was Gael Oviedo Virgen, who earned a $2,000 cash prize for reeling in the weekend’s biggest catch.

 In the Stringer of Three category, Anthony Marquez combined skill and strategy to land the three longest fish, earning the $2,000 prize for the longest combined length.

 The derby also awarded Wild Card prizes, chosen at random from all eligible participants.

• The Adult Wild Card winner, Ruben Kravchuk, was selected to receive a $500 cash prize.

• The Kids Wild Card winner, James Roque, from the age 16 or under category, won a fishing pole and tackle box — courtesy of Splash N Dash and the Reel Deal Market & Café at Lake McSwain.

 “It was a fantastic weekend,” said Brooke Gutierrez, Director of MID Parks and Recreation. “We had amazing participation, beautiful weather, and a lot of fun. Congratulations to all our winners — and a big thank-you to everyone who came out and made this a memorable derby.”

 This year’s event once again utilized the FishDonkey app, which allowed anglers to enter fish digitally using their phones, even in areas with limited cell service. All judging was managed in real time via the app.

The Reel Deal Market & Café was open throughout the derby, and campgrounds at Lake McClure and Lake McSwain saw strong turnout as families and fishing enthusiasts gathered for the spring tradition.

For more information on future events, campsites, and fishing at Lake McSwain or Lake McClure, visit www.LakeMcClure.com.
Source: MID