Popular South Lake Tahoe fishing derby canceled for 2020

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The 18th annual South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge Kids’ Fishing Derby has been canceled due to the pandemic. The Lodge has sponsored the tournament at Lake Baron inside Tahoe Paradise Park for 17 years and said they feel it important to follow state and county guidelines to avoid group gatherings and the safety and protection of children is paramount.

The Lodge had been planning on having the Optimists Club as co-sponsors this September after the Optimists had to cancel their fishing derby at Sawmill Pond earlier this summer.

The Lodge made the decision to cancel after conferring with the county supervisor and the county health department, and acknowledging that holding the Derby while the South Lake Tahoe area is seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections would not be safe for the children, parents, and volunteers.

Each year the Lodge stocks Lake Baron with approximately 5,000 pounds of catchable trout for the Derby, paid for by fundraising events and community donations. With the Lodge shut down for most of spring and early summer, the Lodge has not been able to raise the needed funds, and will not be able to stock the Lake this fall.

Funds generated so far will be applied to stock the lake for next year’s Derby.

The 18th Annual Kids’ Fishing Derby will be rescheduled to September 2021, and the Lodge has set a goal to make it the best event ever.