POWAY LAKE:AGGRESSIVE STOCKING
A few miles north of San Diego is another one of the top three winter trout lakes. Poway Lake is operated by the City of Poway and has gained a reputation because of two types of rainbow trout known as thunder and lightning.

These hatchery trout from Northern California are big and put up a tough fight. They’re unique in color and aerobatic when hooked. The lake also receives German browns and steelhead during the season.

Poway Lake is tucked into the rocky foothills east of Poway, but is close enough to the city that many regulars get in a few hours of fishing before heading to work.

The lake spans 60 surface acres, and its trout record stands at 17-14. From November to May, the lake is open from Wednesday to Sunday, sunrise to sunset.

Ranger Steve November said that Poway maintains one of the most aggressive trout-stocking programs in the county, with about 1,200 pounds per week and 30,000 pounds for the season.

The fish stocked at Poway are also monsters. Each winter, hundreds are caught that weigh 4 pounds or more.

“Last year,” November said, “we had four consecutive weeks where double-digit trout up to 11.25 were recorded.”

Things took off at Poway when the bright-gold lightning rainbows were first stocked a few years ago. The Mount Lassen Hatchery that supplies the fish then developed the companion thunder rainbows that have a greenish color and bright yellow stripe down their side.

“Both are great fish to catch,” November said. “They have pink-to-red meat that tastes great, and they are aggressive when hooked.”

Unlike many lakes where fish are always planted at the same location and seem to school in that area, the staff at Poway Lake put stocked fish in floating pens that are then towed to various locations for release.

“Many of our fishermen really like this because it eliminates everyone crowding into one area to fish,” November said.

Visitors to Poway Lake can fish from shore, float tubes or rental boats. No launch ramp is available for private boats. Poway also offers two trout derbies during the season, including a youth derby every February and the two-day Open Trout Derby in late March. There are picnic areas, a trail system around the lake and a concession stand for bait.