Local fishing season continues to unfold. Trout fishing opened Friday at Lake Poway and several other lakes received loads of hatchery trout.

Poway was stocked with 1,500 pounds of trout on Nov. 18 and will receive another 3,000 pounds on Dec. 2, according to lake ranger Steve November.

The big change this season at Poway is that anglers will not be required to have a state fishing license. Poway joins some other lakes that do not receive fish or other services from the California Department of Fish and Game and are therefore exempt from the fishing license requirement.

Santee Lakes is the other operation in San Diego County where no fishing license is required. Anglers at Poway will still be required to have a daily lake permit, which costs $6 for adults and $3 for kids 8-15. Seniors and military are $4 on Fridays only.

A four-week trout fishing class begins at Lake Poway on Monday. The class is 3:30-5 p.m. on Mondays. Instructor Ron Baker will be teaching the basic tackle, lure and fishing skills to both kids and adults. Cost is $40 for Poway residents and $50 for non-residents. Classes will be offered through April. Call 858-668-4774 for more information.

Trout season is wide open at Dixon Lake in Escondido. The 31st annual Dixon Lake Trout Derby just ended with a 6.58-pound rainbow earning first place honors for Alberto Alvarez of Escondido.

Ranger Richard Studinka says most trout at Dixon are being enticed by nightcrawlers, Rainbow Power Bait, small crappie mini jigs and pink or orange Power Worms. The best lures are Kastmaster, Thomas Buoyant and Roostertail.

Miramar Lake is scheduled to receive 2,400 pounds of trout this week and rangers are reporting some good action at the lake inflow near Moe's Hole. Try a float tube and start near the dam and let the wind drift you toward the back of the lake, following the lake channel for some great trout action.

Lake Cuyamaca, south of Julian, is open from 6 a.m. to sunset daily for trout fishing. Duck hunting also starts at the lake in December.

The lake received 1,000 pounds of DFG hatchery trout this week along with an additional 1,000 pounds of Sierra Trout from the Mt. Lassen Hatchery. Lake visitors can also join a free fishing class at 10 a.m. every Saturday.

Trout season at Lake Wohlford opens Dec. 12 with a scheduled stocking of 4,500 pounds of trout. Lake Wohlford will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily after Dec. 12.

Waterfowl hunting

Duck and geese hunting at Lake Henshaw opens Dec. 2. Hunters will be allowed to set up the day before and the lake will open to hunters at 5 a.m.

Cost is $25 per hunter.

Henshaw will be open every Wednesday and Saturday through the season, which ends Jan. 25.

Boat rentals are available for $35 for two days and there are cabin rentals available. Call 760-783-3501 for more information.

Janice Mendenhall at Lake Henshaw said there are a lot of honkers on the lake now.

"There are as many geese on the lake (as) I have seen in a long time," she said.

Photo contest

The Anza-Borrego Foundation has announced a Jan. 15 deadline for entries in the fourth annual Anza-Borrego Desert Photo Contest. The contest theme is the unique and natural beauty of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

The contest is open to adults and juniors. Photos may be entered in five categories, including desert plants, animals, landscapes or skyscapes and people enjoying the desert and macro photography of a desert subject.

Awards will be given for first, second and third place and up to 10 honorable mention submissions in each category and each division.

For a contest entry form and complete rules, visit the ABFI website at www.theabf.org.

Ernie Cowan is the outdoors writer for the North County Times. If you have a story of interest, call 760-518-8050 or e-mail ernie@packtrain.com.