Lake Chabot, Castro Valley CA

Surrounded by the Cities of Oakland and Castro Valley California, one would not expect to see a sight like this. In the center of the Urban Squrall known as the East Bay sits this beautiful Lake.  Lake Chabot Reservoir was built in 1874-75 as a primary source of water for the East Bay. The 315-acre lake was closed to recreation for 91 years. Legislation passed in the 1960s opened the lake for controlled recreational uses. Currently, the lake serves as a standby emergency water supply. For this reason, visitors are asked to observe centain neccessary regulations to keep the waters pure.

The 315-acre, well-stocked lake is open for fishing and boating throughout the year. It is a popular Bay Area fishing destination, ideal for kids out for their first fishing experience. The Lake Chabot Marina Cafe offers a well-stocked bait and tackle shop and is open year round (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). It features a restaurant that serves snacks, breakfast, and lunch. Fishing at Lake Chabot requires a current California Fishing License with stamps and an EBRPD Daily Fishing Access Permit for all anglers aged 16 and older. California Fish and Game regulations apply. Fishing licenses and EBRPD permits may be purchased at the Marina Cafe. No live fish may be used as bait. All other legal bait and lures are permitted. Fish may be cleaned only at the cleaning station along the walk near the parking lot. Catch-and-release angling is encouraged for bass, bluegill, and crappie. However, the release of badly hooked game fish and all non-game fish is not allowed. Please bring any unwanted and tagged fish and your completed creel census card (on back of fishing permit) to the Chabot Marina. With your cooperation, they can maintain an effective fish management program to ensure that you will always have good fishing.

Lake Chabot trolling in the Spring is one of the most productive ways to catch trout. There are many different methods and different lures for trolling. One of the most basic, but still very productive ways, is to troll a nightcrawler behind a set of flashers. Use a ball bearing swivel above you flashers and 18 to 20 inches of leader between your flashers and your nightcrawler.

Another productive trout trolling method is to use a rainbow trout patterned lure such as a Rapala. Let your lure out about 75 feet with no weight on the line. If you get a hit, be sure to double back over that spot for a second shot at what could be a school of trout. Top trout trolling sports at Chabot are Half Moon Day, Bass Cove, The Dam, Coot Landing and Alder Point.

Bait fishing is also a popular method for catching trout at Chabot. Use a sliding-sinker-rig with a small treble hook for Power Bait or for nightcrawlers use a size 6 or size 8 snelled hook. This same rig works well for catfish with a much larger hook, try a size 1 or size 2, and chicken liver, anchovies or mackerel. Honker Bay and around the Island are great spots to try for catfish during the summer months.

• Fish early in the morning these months to take advantage of the increasingly good trout fishing. Regular trout plants should help to boost the action.
• Catfish can still be found behind the Island, as well as in coves. Use mackerel or anchovies for best results.
• Dough baits are the best bet for trout fisherman. Experiment with colors
  like chartreuse and white.
• Broken back Rapalas in greenish colors are great for trollers. Use sizes
  that can take you between 15-25 feet.
• Take advantage of limited crowds and boat specials during the week.

GENERAL CONDITIONS AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 2009

Water level remains around 6.5 below full. Water clarity around the lake remains good, some of the shallow areas are a little muddy.  The water temp is in the low 50’s.  Fishing remains good with a lot of limits getting caught, this past week two whoppers were caught over on the shoreline. The Dam and Half Moon Bay area continues to be a hotspot for trolling while the second dock.  Indian cove is a great spot to fish off shore.  With this cool temperature the trout are getting caught near the surface of the water. This past week got a 750 lb trout plant from Mt. Lassen. If you catch a whopper bring it into the marina and get a free whopper hat. No, this is not a typo, Whopper Hats are BACK!

HOURS OF OPERATION

Café & Marina: 6:30am – 5:00pm
Boat rentals available 6:30am – 4:00pm
Boats due in at 5:00pm

TROUT

Trout fishing is great this time of the year, limits are getting caught from both the shore and boat trolling. Most of the fish caught this week were from the island, Half Moon Bay and Dam area. This past week Ausin Naranjo landed a huge 10.75 lbs. trout while bait fishing in Indian Cove with rainbow Powerbait.  Also, a few weeks ago on 1/18 Michael Schmitz of San Jose landed a nice trout weighing in at 6.3 lbs. Michael caught his whopper trolling a Rapala back in Bass Cove. So far we have planted over 26,000 lbs. of trout into Lake Chabot. The average size trout pulled out were in the 2 lbs. range.  The best way to fish for trout right now is using a sliding sinker set up and using Powerbait or Powereggs.  When trolling for trout, the lure to use is a J-7 Rapala.  The current hotspot for trolling is going toward Bass Cove and Half Moon Bay using a J-7 Firetiger. The hotspot for bait fishing is the burner on the west shore trail and Indian cove on the east shore trail. If you have any questions or you’re new to fishing come by the marina and one of our staff will help you out.

BASS

Bass fishing was a little slow this week, no bass were reported caught.  During the hot day do as the bass do and find some shade. Livewells can be provided upon request thanks to Walton’s pond.  Please practice catch and release for bass as they are not stocked into the lake and their population depends on you.

CATFISH

Cat fishing was a little slow this week.  No reports of catfish were reported caught this past week.  Catfish usually bite all day, but the best time to fish is during twilight hours. Some of the best spots to hook catfish are in shallow areas where they have shade.  Try Honker bay, Bass Cove, and Raccoon Point. Catfish tend to eat anything that sinks, but the best bait to use is mackerel. Make sure to use magic thread to hold the bait onto the hook to insure that the bait stays on.  When fishing off a boat there is no need to use any weights whatsoever.  Cat fishing on shore is the only time you want to use a sliding sinker.

The 315-acre Lake Chabot offers a number of activities including fishing, boat rental, a marina and restaurant, and boat tours of the lake.

• Vehicle Entry Fee: $5 per vehicle, $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
• Boat Launch: There is no boat launch facility. Private watercraft may not be launched except for car-top canoes, kayaks, and scull craft 20 feet or less. Personal watercraft and inflatables are not permitted. Float tubes may be used at Lake Chabot. Persons using float tubes must wear waders or other wetsuit material to prevent body contact with the water in the reservoir.
• Boat Launch Fee: $2 car-top canoes, kayaks, and scull craft only, 20 feet or less.
• Boat Rental: Visit Urban Park Concessionaires’ website for rate and rental information or call (510) 247-2526. Rental boats include row boats, canoes, pedal boats, kayaks, and boats with electric trolling motors. Guided lake tours are also offered. See fees below.
• Lake Tour: Guided lake tours are also offered by Urban Park Concessionaires, visit their website or call (510) 247-2526 for information.

Boat Rentals are based on the type of boat and for how long you want the boat.  The Rowboats are $20.00 an hour and can e rented from 6:30 am and need to be returned by 4:30 PM. Talking to some of the guys that were fishing off the shore they said that it was a rip off. The Trout and catfish were biteing and the bass have started to show up but none have been caught yet. As to bait being used, the monsters in this lake are attacking anything and everything.

So all I can say, if the Bass Brigade makes it out here, then I’m sure some of those monster Bass will be caught this weekend.

Until next time — “Keep your lines wet and your bait fresh!”

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.