Lake Chabot Stocked: Add Pole, Bait & License

Recent rains have swelled the waters. East Bay Regional Park officials have stocked Lake Chabot with trout. It's what outdoor writer Tom Stienstra calls a magic time for fishing in the region.

And 315-acre Lake Chabot offers the closest freshwater spot to try your luck.

Fishing docks ring the shore. You'll need a California State fishing license and you must also pay a $4 access permit to fish the lake. The fee helps keep the lake stocked with bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill and carp, in addition to trout.

If you're new to the lake, you can get a leg up by that meets regularly to compare stories and swap tips about Chabot.

To get there, take Castro Valley Boulevard to Lake Chabot Road and turn into the parking area. There is a $5 parking fee.

If you have a canoe, kayak, or scull 20 feet or shorter, you can carry it from the parking lot to the nearby boat launch. There is a $2 launch fee, and $5 boat inspection fee.

If you don’t have your own vessel, head into the main building at the marina to rent rowboats, kayaks, pedal boats, canoes, patio boats, and motorboats. Rates and hours for the rental service can be found at this link.

If you prefer to stay on dry land Lake Chabot Regional Park covers 5,000 acres criscrossed by trails.

By water or land, you can't go wrong.

(This article includes material from a story previously published on Patch by outdoor writer Samuel Sampson.)