Lake Chabot Offers Monster Rainbows In The East Bay Hills   By: Dan Bacher June 2, 2009 More Articles by Dan

Anglers fishing Lake Chabot in the scenic East Bay hills on the outskirts of Castro Valley have the chance to catch a trophy-sized rainbow trout over 5 pounds every time they fish this 315 acre reservoir.

Chabot regularly produces fish in the 8 to 10 pound class and fish over 20 pounds are possible. Witness the case of Ed Evans of Millbrae who nailed a 22.40 lb. rainbow, the lake record and largest ever trout to come out of an East Bay Lake, while trolling a fire tiger Rapala in April 2007.

More recently, anglers fishing the lake on Sunday, February 8 landed six huge trout over 6 pounds. Rosalio Gomez of Oakland enticed a pair of rainbows weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces and 6 pounds, 3 ounces while fishing green Power Bait from a rental boat. P.J. Vigil of Hayward also enticed a monster rainbow going 9.3 pounds while soaking chartreuse Power Bait from shore in Indian Cove.

Other anglers who caught big fish that day include Jacob Schober of Castro Valley, who nailed a 4-1/2 pound rainbow, and Joey Coelho of Hayward, who bagged a 7 pound trout. They put in their hours to catch the fish, fishing from 6 a.m. to dark with Power Bait.

Ausin Naranjo also landed a huge 10.75 lb. trout recently. He was shore fishing with rainbow Power Bait in Indian Cove, the same area where Vigil hooked his fish.

The big trout potential of Lake Chabot is made possible by the East Bay Regional Park District's aggressive trout planting program. The lake is stocked regularly from September through June with a combination of Mt. Lassen and Desert Springs trout, funded by the park district fishing access permit, and DFG catchable rainbows.

The district stocked a total of 23,050 pounds of rainbow trout, including 22,050 pounds from Mt. Lassen and 1,000 pounds from Desert Springs, in 2008. Approximately 15 percent of the district's fish are "whoppers" 5 pounds or over, according to Ryan Wong of the Lake Chabot Fishing Outfitters.

Although both shore fishing and trolling are effective methods for subduing the lake's big rainbows, Wong prefers to troll. Since the lake is a back up water supply, only electric motors may be used.

One of the most productive methods is to troll a nightcrawler behind a set of flashers or dodgers. Another effective trout trolling method is to use a rainbow trout pattern lure such as a Rapala.

"Let your lure out about 75 feet with no weight on the line, "said Wong. "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 spots include Half Moon Day, Bass Cove, The Dam, Coot Landing and Alder Point."

Bait fishing is also a popular method for hooking 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," said Wong.

Although Chabot's rainbows are hatchery fish, some native landlocked steelhead from Upper San Leandro Reservoir upstream of Chabot are occasionally washed down into the reservoir during high water years, according to Pete Alexander, the East Bay Regional Park District's fishery program director.

The construction of Chabot Dam and subsequent construction of Upper San Leandro Dam on Redwood Creek in 1926 created a unique landlocked population of steelhead that has maintained its genetic integrity and is genetically similar to the native coastal California steelhead.

In this time of declining salmon and steelhead runs in California, the steelhead population may be of significant value to restoration efforts due to its genetic integrity, since they have not been mixed with hatchery trout. In fact, 615 San Leandro Reservoir trout were used in the steelhead reintroduction project conducted on Wildcat Creek in Tilden Park in 1983.

During the summer months when water temperatures are too high to plant trout, the park district stocks channel catfish. The district stocked a total of 5,492 pounds of catfish provided by Mt. Lassen Fish Farm in 2008. Use chicken liver, anchovies or mackerel for maximum catfish success in Honker Bay and around the Island.

George Goveia of Castro Valley set the lake catfish record of 35 pounds when he fished chicken liver at an "undisclosed" location on the lake in 1981. This fish remains the largest of any species ever captured on the reservoir.

The bass population at Chabot is on the upswing, due to a habitat project conducted from 2003 to 2006 by Jon Walton of Walton's Pond and the park district in coordination with the Black Bass Action Committee and Alameda County Fish and Game Commission. Volunteers organized by Walton put 250 Christmas trees each year in Chabot to create habitat for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and other species.

Before they started the project, Chabot was essentially a big gravel bowl with little fish habitat. The lake's bass fishery was characterized by a population of a few big bass that gorged upon each year's juveniles, since there was little habitat for the smaller fish to find refuge from the larger bucketmouths.

"This type of habitat project allows us to build the food chain from the bottom up," said Walton. "The trees harbor plankton life and attract juvenile fish to use them as fish hotels. As the bass grow, they will use the fish hotels as ambush sites for forage fish."

The catch rates and the size of fish have greatly improved since the habitat project was started. "The lake has a very good population of bass, as evidenced by our spring bass surveys," said Alexander. "For example, in last spring's survey we caught a total of 132 fish with a minimum fork length of 8 inches, an average forklength of 15 inches and a maximum fork length of 27 inches."

The bass in the lake are northern strain/Florida strain hybrids. The park district first stocked Florida-strain largemouth bass in Chabot in 1972.

Luis Vazquez set the lake largemouth record in 2002 when he landed a 17 lb. 10 ounce fish. He enticed the fish with a Castaic bass lure in Bass Cove.

The park district tried but failed to establish a threadfin shad population in Chabot. The major forage minnow is the inland silversides, while crawdads are also abundant.

The lake management recommends the practice of catch and release to preserve the bass fishery. Walton's Pond provides live wells, free of charge, to anglers in pursuit of largemouths.

Chabot is one of the oldest reservoirs in the Bay Area, having been built in 1874-75 as a primary source of water for the East Bay. Currently, the lake serves as a standby emergency water supply.

"Although an older lake, Chabot hasn't exhibited the huge siltation that has occurred at nearby Cull Canyon and Don Castro reservoirs," said Alexander. "It has a well established bass, trout and catfish fishery. Even though it's located in the East Bay, you have no sense of being in a heavily populated urban area, since the lake is surrounded by parkland and there are no houses around it."

Lake Chabot Facts

Location: Lake Chabot Regional Park is located in the Castro Valley hills off Lake Chabot Boulevard. The reservoir features 315 surface acres when full.

Hours: The lake is open daily from sunrise to sunset, weather and patronage permitting. Fishing is most popular for trout and catfish, but the reservoir also features largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie.

Facilities: The Lake Chabot Fishing Outfitters provide a well-stocked bait and tackle shop, rod and reel rentals, boat rentals and a cafe serving cooked-to-order breakfast and lunch. The Marina and Cafe are open from 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fees and Permits: Parking is $5.00 and the Daily Fishing Access Permit is $4.00 A California State Fishing License is required for anglers 16 and older.

Camping: Tent and RV camping are available year-round at nearby Anthony Chabot Campground. To reserve a tent or RV site, call EBRPD at (510) 562-2267

Picnicking: Chabot has many first come, first serve and group sites available.

Boat Launch Information: Canoes, kayaks, float tubes with full chest waders and scull craft 20 feet and under may be carried in and launched for a $2.00 fee. No inflatable, rowboats or any other types of boats may be launched at Chabot. Gasoline powered motors are not allowed. Boat rentals include canoes, rowboats, kayaks, electric motor bots, pedal boats and new patio boats. The Chabot Queen is available for Lake History Tours and Chartered Tours. For rates and information on tours, call (510) 247-2526.

Facilities and fishing Information: Lake Chabot Fishing Outfitters, P.O. Box 2213, Castro Valley, CA 94546, Phone: (510) 247-2526. For fishing information, you can also call Walton's Pond in San Leandro, (510) 352-3932.

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