Poway to hold youth only fishing derby

Anglers 15 and under will have a chance to test their skill and luck starting at 6 a.m. Saturday at Lake Poway in the Free Youth Only Fishing Derby.

The lake will close at noon Wednesday in preparation for the event.

“We do stock some smaller fish to get more in it, but there’s some good size fish definitely getting caught,” said Lake Poway Ranger Scott Cochran.

The event, including barbecues and fishing poles, is free for kids.

Activities start at 4 p.m. Friday with a fish taco barbecue put on by Tommy Gomes of Catalina Offshore Products and the Uni Goop Pro Staff Team. A free fishing seminar will be held at 6 p.m. It will be put on by Capt. Ron Baker, formerly of Fish Talk Radio. Families can camp in the Lake Bowl area beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, Cochran said. Camping is $15 per car for Poway residents and $20 per car for others.

Kids are invited to a barbecue lunch, as a treat from El Cajon Ford, after the derby. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m., and will include a raffle and prizes for winners in different age brackets.

Lake Poway reaches down 120 feet at its deepest, and is stocked with catfish, rainbow trout, bass, bluegill and sunfish.

Parents can help their children, but can’t cast their own lines. They can pay to rent motorboats to take their participating children away from the shore.