Lake McSwain fall fishing derby canceled because of drought

Merced Irrigation District’s parks postponed the annual Fall Fishing Derby at Lake McSwain until spring because of warm water temperatures caused by the drought.

MID expects to resume regular trout planting “in the near future,” according to a statement.

Bret Theodozio, the director of parks and recreation at MID, said many who participate in the derbies fish from the bank. Because the fish have gone to deeper water in the middle of the bank, participants without a boat would be at a significant disadvantage.

The spring derby is tentatively scheduled for April 9-10, 2016.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife soon will resume fish plants in Lake McSwain. Plants ended earlier this year after Calaveras Trout farms was forced to close its doors. CDFW will resume plants in the coming weeks as the water temperature cools, MID said.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Lake McSwain fall fishing derby canceled because of drought."