Derby set for March 7 at Mojave Narrows / With $1,000 Top Prize
San Bernardino County’s popular one-day trout derby is returning to Mojave Narrows Regional Park in Victorville on Saturday, March 7, giving High Desert anglers a shot at a $1,000 payday and a full day of family-friendly outdoor recreation.
Victorville, California (High Desert News Online) – Regional Parks will host its annual one-day trout derby at Mojave Narrows Regional Park on Saturday, March 7, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a $1,000 first-place prize and more than 1,600 pounds of trout stocked into the park’s lakes ahead of the event. Gates open at 6:30 a.m., and county officials are encouraging anglers to prepay derby and vehicle fees to ease traffic and speed up entry.
Event details and fees
Regional Parks will run the derby at Mojave Narrows Regional Park from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 18000 Yates Road in Victorville. Gates open at 6:30 a.m., and officials are urging participants to prepay using the county’s online reservation system to avoid delays at the entrance.
Derby fees are $20 per person and $15 per vehicle, with a valid California fishing license required for anyone 16 and older. Participants who register will receive a wristband and a packet that includes derby entry forms and rules for the day’s competition.
Stocking and temporary lake closure
For this year’s derby, Regional Parks will stock a total of 1,660 pounds of trout, including sought-after lightning trout, into Mojave Narrows’ lakes on Friday, March 6. According to county information, 830 pounds will be placed in Pelican Lake and 830 pounds in Horseshoe Lake, concentrating fish for derby day.
Because of the heavy stocking and preparations, public fishing at Mojave Narrows will be closed on Friday, March 6, and will remain closed until the derby concludes at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. County officials emphasize there will be no public fishing during that window, as the lakes are reserved exclusively for derby participants.
Prize structure and weigh-in rules
The derby offers cash prizes for the top three qualifying fish, with first place paying $1,000, second place $500, and third place $250. Winners will be determined through an official weigh-in process operated by Regional Parks staff at a designated station inside the park.
The event is scheduled to run rain or shine, and organizers note that entry fees are nonrefundable. Participants are urged to allow plenty of time to weigh and enter their fish before the 1 p.m. cut-off, with winners to be announced at approximately 1:15 p.m. at the weigh-in area; winners do not need to be present to claim their prizes.
Long-running High Desert tradition
Mojave Narrows, a longtime staple for High Desert families, has hosted trout derbies and seasonal fishing events for years as part of San Bernardino County’s broader Regional Parks fishing program. In recent years, the county has added and expanded one-day trout derbies at both Mojave Narrows and Prado Regional Park, drawing anglers from across the Inland Empire and beyond.
Past Mojave Narrows events have featured similar prize structures, with $1,000 top prizes and special lightning trout stockings that attract both serious competitors and casual anglers. County archives show that Regional Parks has also run month-long fishing derbies and recurring trout seasons at Mojave Narrows, underscoring its status as a regional hub for outdoor recreation in the Victor Valley.
Access, amenities, and conservative community appeal
Located along the Mojave River, Mojave Narrows Regional Park gives local residents a chance to fish, camp, and enjoy open space close to home without driving to the mountains or the coast. For many High Desert families, the trout derby is a chance to gather outdoors, pass along hunting and fishing traditions, and support a county park system that relies on user fees instead of new tax hikes.
The event is open to all ages, and a food truck will be on-site for those who want to spend the morning at the lake without leaving the park for lunch. With structured rules, prize incentives, and a family-friendly atmosphere, the derby continues to align with the values of many local residents who prioritize faith, family, and time spent in the outdoors.
How to register and prepare
Anglers can prepay derby fees and park admission online through the San Bernardino County Regional Parks reservation portal before arriving at the gate. A separate California fishing license can be purchased through the state’s online California Department of Fish and Wildlife licensing system.
Organizers remind participants to bring their fishing license if required, arrive early for gate entry, and review derby rules included in the registration packet. With stocked trout, cash prizes, and a focused schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Mojave Narrows Trout Derby is set to kick off the spring fishing season for High Desert anglers.
