‘It’s going to be a great weekend.’ Lake McSwain Spring Trout Derby making return
The Lake McSwain Spring Trout Derby is back for 2022, featuring cash prizes for a variety of fish anglers catch this year.
The event is scheduled for April 2-3, starting at 6 a.m. on April 2 and going through noon on April 3.
The derby this year will involve the use of the smartphone app FishDonkey, the same app other McSwain derbies relied on, according to a Merced Irrigation District news release.
Registration and payments for the derby must be made through the FishDonkey app. MID officials urge derby anglers to download and become familiar with the app early, as all photos, videos and judging will be managed through the app.
All participants in the derby must have the app on their smartphones and a measuring board to photograph their catch, according to the press release.
The “practice entering a fish” feature on the app allows users to become familiar with the app before the derby, and the app will work during the derby without an internet connection.
Once out on the lake, anglers should tap on the name of the tournament and then “Leaderboard/Enter a Fish.” Fish should be entered according to instructions in the app while at the lake.
Tapping on the fish icon will open the digital livewell and show a fish awaiting an internet connection that still has to be moved to the leaderboard. Derby participants can then return to an area with an internet connection and return to the digital LiveWell on the app and leave it open until fish are moved to the leaderboard.
“Our anglers always have a great time at the spring derby,” said Brooke Guitierrez, the director of Merced Irrigation District’s parks and recreation, in the release. “The weather tends to be good and the scenery that time of year around the lake is incredible.
Whoever catches the longest trout will win $2,000, as well as stringer with the three longest fish combined. The wild card prize will go to a randomly-drawn winner for $500, and the Kids’ Wild Card Winner, also randomly drawn, will go to a participant under 16. This prize includes a fishing pole and tackle box.
Anglers should note that the campgrounds at Lake McSwain are full over the weekend, but additional campsites can be booked at Lake McClure. The website for Lake McClure, www.LakeMcClure.com, allows visitors to virtually tour the campground and select the site they want.
The Reel Deal Market & Cafe at Lake McSwain will be open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. for the derby, according to the MID press release. Breakfast burritos, coffee, tackle and bait are available at the cafe, as well as the bump board needed to measure anglers’ entries.
“This is a popular event and we want to let anglers know as early as possible so they can make their plans,” said Guitierrez. “It’s going to be a great weekend.”