Lake Poway held another very successful Midnight Catfish Craze on Friday night, July 23. Over 300 anglers enjoyed pleasant temperatures, great prizes and a raffle courtesy of the City of Poway Community Services Department and Rex Trophies of Poway.

The winners were:
1st place (Grand prizewinner): Jeff Kopischke with an 8.15 pound catfish. He took home about $500 in prizes.
2nd place: Anton Newman - 3.92 pound catfish.
3rd place: Celina Newman - 3.17 pound catfish.
4th place: Justin Greene - 2.78 pound catfish.
5th place: Gabrial Martinez - 2.61 pound catfish.
Smallest Catfish: Kai Noa - 0.79 pound catfish.

FISHING TIPS:

Decent Bite This Week The weekend's night fishing and Midnight Catfish Craze had a good bite. The top water bass bite is very good, over most of the Lake wherever shad are boiling and near the rock pile in front of the Log Boom. The bluegill/sunfish bite is slow. Water temperature is at 73 degrees and the level of the Lake has stabilized and will be held for another 30 days.

Use of Shad as Bait - The following is an excerpt from the rules concerning the use of Shad as bait and how to catch Shad. If you give the appearance of snagging a Staff Member will talk with you.

Excerpt from California Department of Fish & Game 2009-2010 Fresh Water Sportfishing Rules.

2.00. Fishing Methods - General.
(b) Snagging is prohibited. Snagging is defined as impaling or attempting to impale a fish in any part of its body other than the mouth by use of a hook, hooks, gaff, or other mechanical implement.

4.05. Bait Fish Capture Methods.
(a) Approved bait fish may be taken only by hand, with a dip net, or with traps not over three feet in greatest dimension. Such bait fish may not be purchased, bartered, sold, transferred or traded; or transported alive from the location where taken. Any other species taken shall be returned to the water immediately. Traps need not be closely attended. Dip net use: A dip net must be hand held, and the motion of a dip net shall be caused only by the physical effort of the operator. A dip net may not be moved through the water by any mechanical force or motorized device.

4.10. Bait Fish Use in the Southern District.

Except as provided below, live or dead fin fish shall not be used or possessed for use as bait in the Southern District:
(a) Dead threadfin shad and live or dead longjaw mudsucker may be used in all Southern District waters.
(b) Live threadfin shad may be used only at the location where taken.
(c) Golden shiner and red shiner may be used in San Diego County.

LAST FISH STOCK
Wednesday - July 21
1,090 pounds of Catfish

NEXT FISH STOCK
Wednesday - August 4
850 pounds of Catfish

During the month of July the gates to Lake Poway will open at 7:00 AM. Senior and Military discount rates for fishing permits and boat rentals are now available every day that Lake Poway is open for fishing and boating. Night Fishing now on every Friday and Saturday night through August 7, 2010. Fishing in boats until 11:00 PM and fishing on the shoreline until 11:30 PM. The catfish stocking schedule is posted on our website, www.poway.org..

A State of California Fishing License is no longer required to fish at Lake Poway. Each angler is allowed to use a maximum of two rods. The trout limit is now 4 trout. Adults (anyone 16 years of age and older) require only a City of Poway Adult Fishing permit to fish at Lake Poway. Youths between the ages of 8 and 15 years of age only require a Youth Fishing permit. Youths under the age of 8 only require a Youth Fishing permit when their accompanying adult is not fishing. All permits can be purchased at the Lake Poway Grill & Tackle. You must carry your permit with you at all times.

Quagga Mussels - In order to protect the integrity of the Lake Poway water system the following temporary restrictions are now in effect. Until further notice, the following items are prohibited at Lake Poway:

 ? Float tubes
 ? Private motors and anchors
 ? Live Bait Containers
 ? Fish Finders
 ? Floating Catch Baskets
 ? Live Bait (shiners, crawdads, etc) from any source other than the Lake Poway Concession
 ? Any other items, determined by Staff, to be potential contaminants

No Smoking at Lake Poway. Smoking is prohibited on Lake Poway, in the park and on the trails. Smoking is only permitted in the designated smoking area that is located on the Northeast side of the Lake Poway Grill & Tackle building. From now through October 31 there is a $5 parking fee for non-residents of Poway on weekends and holidays. If you are fishing the fee is waived. The Entry Station opens when the gates open and closes 30 minutes prior to sunset.