For one November morning, one of Stockton’s most popular park lakes is about to become a whole lot more crowded beneath the surface.
More than 2,000 pounds of rainbow trout will be planted in the 10-acre lake at Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park ahead of the Annual Trout Bout on Saturday, November 21, setting the stage for a morning of fishing, friendly competition and family tradition.
Hosted by San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation with the Delta Fly Fishers, the annual derby welcomes anglers of all ages, from experienced fishermen hoping to land the day’s biggest trout to children who may be holding a fishing rod for the first time.
And for the youngest anglers, there is an especially good reason to give it a try.
Children 15 and younger fish free.
More Than 2,000 Pounds of Opportunity
Oak Grove Lake is regularly stocked with seasonal trout and catfish, but the Trout Bout brings a much larger infusion.
Organizers say more than 2,000 pounds of trout will be planted before this year’s tournament. Once the gates open at 6:15 a.m., anglers will spread out around the lake looking for the perfect spot and, hopefully, a fish worthy of the weigh-in.
There is no tournament registration fee, and prizes will be awarded in both youth and adult categories.
Participants can keep up to five trout, with all California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations applying. Anglers must also bring their own fishing equipment.
But while prizes provide some friendly competition, the event’s longevity suggests there is more happening around the lake than a race to catch the biggest fish.
The Trout Bout has been bringing generations of local anglers together for decades. In 2022, the event was already celebrating its 38th year, with anglers of all ages gathering before sunrise along the shoreline.
For some families, mornings like these become the place where fishing traditions are passed from one generation to the next.
A Chance to Get Kids Hooked on the Outdoors
A child’s first fishing trip does not always produce a fish.
There can be tangled lines, lost bait and plenty of waiting.
But when the bobber suddenly disappears beneath the water, everything changes.
Making the event free for children 15 and younger lowers one barrier for parents, grandparents and guardians who want to introduce a youngster to fishing. Adults can handle the knots and bait while kids wait for that first tug on the line.
For anglers 16 and older, there is a $5 fishing permit fee and a valid California fishing license is required. Vehicle parking is $6.
Those relatively simple requirements make the Trout Bout an accessible introduction to an outdoor activity that families can return to long after the tournament ends.
And Oak Grove provides plenty of reasons to come back.
The 180-acre regional park near Spanos Park West includes the 10-acre fishing lake, an oak forest, nature center, picnic areas and two nature trails. The 1.5-mile Mi-Wuk Trail winds through the grove, while the quarter-mile Yokuts Trail is accessible to people with disabilities.
Fishing Before Breakfast
Trout Bout morning starts early.
The park gates open at 6:15 a.m., giving anglers a chance to claim their preferred shoreline spot as daylight arrives.
Registration remains open until 10 a.m., so families do not necessarily have to arrive before sunrise to participate. The final weigh-in takes place at 12:30 p.m., with prizes awarded shortly afterward.
For the more competitive anglers, the goal may be obvious: find one of the lake’s biggest newly planted rainbow trout and get it onto the scale.
For everyone else, success can be measured differently.
Maybe it is a child catching their first fish.
Maybe it is a grandfather showing a granddaughter how to bait a hook.
Maybe it is simply spending a Saturday morning outside instead of in front of a screen.
That is what gives the Trout Bout broader appeal than the word “tournament” might suggest.
A Stockton Tradition That Keeps Coming Back
Stockton has plenty of events built around stages, stadiums and city streets. The Trout Bout represents a different kind of community gathering.
There are no elaborate decorations needed.
The attraction is the lake, the oak trees and the possibility that something is about to bite.
Over the years, hundreds of anglers have gathered at Oak Grove for the annual derby. Previous editions have stocked anywhere from more than 1,000 to more than 2,500 pounds of trout depending on the year.
For 2026, organizers are again promising more than 2,000 pounds.
That's a lot of trout swimming around a 10-acre lake.
And somewhere among them could be the fish that gives a young Stockton angler a story they will tell for years.
Event Details
What: Annual Trout Bout
When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Where: Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park
Address: 4520 W. Eight Mile Road, Stockton
Gates Open: 6:15 a.m.
Registration Deadline: 10 a.m.
Final Weigh-In: 12:30 p.m.
Trout Stocking: More than 2,000 pounds
Tournament Registration: Free
Children 15 and Younger: Fish free
Ages 16 and Older: $5 fishing permit and valid California fishing license required
Parking: $6 per vehicle
Fish Limit: Five trout
Equipment: Participants must bring their own fishing gear
Information: San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation, (209) 331-2050.
Annual Trout Bout event information
Whether the goal is a prize-winning rainbow trout or simply a child’s first catch, the Trout Bout gives Stockton families a good reason to get outside, grab a fishing pole and find a spot along the water.
With more than 2,000 pounds of trout going into the lake, the odds of coming home with a fish story just got a little better.