Stay Away from Lake Chabot!!!

This algae can & will become a respiratory issue as it dries & gets blown around.  I would avoid it all together.  We had a local lake here with the same issue.  They closed it to all contact for about a year.

I need to vent. After finding out the hard way that Los Vaqueros doesn't allow kayaks/outside vessels, we decided to try lake chabot. We were a little shocked to find out how much it costs to kayak there. We paid like $6 for parking, and then each of us had to pay $5 for a fishing permit, $2 for boat launch, $4 for the kayak inspection. Then we find out you have to walk your kayaks and all your stuff from the parking lot to the boat ramp.  For how much we spent, we were expecting to pull our car up to the boat ramp. Then we get our boats inspected and they don't like the dirt we have on our relatively clean kayaks, but they allow us on the lake. We get our kayaks on the lake and its super nasty with all the algae floating. We fished 4-5 hours and between four of us got one 4 lb trout. We didn't see many fish caught that day. We ate at the overpriced cafe but at least they made our food to order and the food wasn't bad. We took our fish home and filleted it, and then I saw 2 posts on ncka. Definitely would have left that mutilated thing at the lake if I had seen this earlier.  After leaving that place I just wanted to get in my shower. The real question is why are they inspecting our boats before we get in the lake. I feel like my kayak is much more of a threat after being in that lake. (don't worry it got a good scrubbing) If I had known that it would be so expensive and that I would be leaving with an invasive algae, I wouldn't have even considered going. If I keep one person from going to that place I will feel like I got something out of the experience haha!

.....now the rest of the local lakes, wont allow you into their clean lake, with all the Chabot Crap on your yak.

i think they should be power cleaning all kayaks when departing,,,,,,or tell the public that the lake is "poisoned" and should be avoided.

I know Clearlake gets this stuff EVERY year, but somehow it has lived at Chabot for over a year.

I need to vent. After finding out the hard way that Los Vaqueros doesn't allow kayaks/outside vessels, we decided to try lake chabot. We were a little shocked to find out how much it costs to kayak there. We paid like $6 for parking, and then each of us had to pay $5 for a fishing permit, $2 for boat launch, $4 for the kayak inspection. Then we find out you have to walk your kayaks and all your stuff from the parking lot to the boat ramp.  For how much we spent, we were expecting to pull our car up to the boat ramp. Then we get our boats inspected and they don't like the dirt we have on our relatively clean kayaks, but they allow us on the lake. We get our kayaks on the lake and its super nasty with all the algae floating. We fished 4-5 hours and between four of us got one 4 lb trout. We didn't see many fish caught that day. We ate at the overpriced cafe but at least they made our food to order and the food wasn't bad. We took our fish home and filleted it, and then I saw 2 posts on ncka. Definitely would have left that mutilated thing at the lake if I had seen this earlier.  After leaving that place I just wanted to get in my shower. The real question is why are they inspecting our boats before we get in the lake. I feel like my kayak is much more of a threat after being in that lake. (don't worry it got a good scrubbing) If I had known that it would be so expensive and that I would be leaving with an invasive algae, I wouldn't have even considered going. If I keep one person from going to that place I will feel like I got something out of the experience haha!

Your work is complete, you convinced me that it is not worth my time, OR my money.

I need to vent. After finding out the hard way that Los Vaqueros doesn't allow kayaks/outside vessels, we decided to try lake chabot. We were a little shocked to find out how much it costs to kayak there. We paid like $6 for parking, and then each of us had to pay $5 for a fishing permit, $2 for boat launch, $4 for the kayak inspection. Then we find out you have to walk your kayaks and all your stuff from the parking lot to the boat ramp.  For how much we spent, we were expecting to pull our car up to the boat ramp. Then we get our boats inspected and they don't like the dirt we have on our relatively clean kayaks, but they allow us on the lake. We get our kayaks on the lake and its super nasty with all the algae floating. We fished 4-5 hours and between four of us got one 4 lb trout. We didn't see many fish caught that day. We ate at the overpriced cafe but at least they made our food to order and the food wasn't bad. We took our fish home and filleted it, and then I saw 2 posts on ncka. Definitely would have left that mutilated thing at the lake if I had seen this earlier.  After leaving that place I just wanted to get in my shower. The real question is why are they inspecting our boats before we get in the lake. I feel like my kayak is much more of a threat after being in that lake. (don't worry it got a good scrubbing) If I had known that it would be so expensive and that I would be leaving with an invasive algae, I wouldn't have even considered going. If I keep one person from going to that place I will feel like I got something out of the experience haha!

They were inspecting for the INVASIVE quagga mussel.  Pretty much done at all lakes in CA now.  Certain lakes here in CA, I'm told, that won't even let boats from other states in it for fear over the mussel.

Dan Bacher got back to me and said he did not write the article about "poisonous fish" at chabot… I'll ask my wife again, but she's says she saw an article on a fish sniffer gig on goggle I guess.

I did see a forum post where people were complaining about the taste of the trout coming from Chabot…

  Frankly, I rather eat a sturgeon than a planter from any of these lakes!!!   

Dan Bacher got back to me and said he did not write the article about "poisonous fish" at chabot… I'll ask my wife again, but she's says she saw an article on a fish sniffer gig on goggle I guess.

I did see a forum post where people were complaining about the taste of the trout coming from Chabot…

  Frankly, I rather eat a sturgeon than a planter from any of these lakes!!!   

Does sturgeon taste bad? I have yet to taste/catch one.

I need to vent.

Yeah, it's pretty spendy to boat/fish there.  All the EBRPD lakes that are stocked are this way. Only real way around it is the year pass that gives you free parking.  The "Angler Pass" upgrade includes free boat launch and free fishing access. I did the math and it takes going once every two weeks or so to break even on the Angler Pass. Includes Shadow Cliffs, Chabot, Temescal, Del Valle, and I think the Quarry Lakes among others. Also a lot of nice places that don't have lakes.  I mean, if you're into such things.

You guys ever notice that the fishing reports for Chabot is always HOT?      That Marina shop never gives out an honest report. 

That said, I've been there once and heard bad stuff about it here and there, but now hearing all this, it just seals the deal...never again!  Thanks for the heads up Danglin.

Yeah, it's pretty spendy to boat/fish there.  All the EBRPD lakes that are stocked are this way. Only real way around it is the year pass that gives you free parking.  The "Angler Pass" upgrade includes free boat launch and free fishing access. I did the math and it takes going once every two weeks or so to break even on the Angler Pass. Includes Shadow Cliffs, Chabot, Temescal, Del Valle, and I think the Quarry Lakes among others. Also a lot of nice places that don't have lakes.  I mean, if you're into such things.

I live in Sonoma County and don't trout fish very often, so it definitely wouldn't be worth it for me to get it! I guess I'm just trying to fill my rock fishing void with other types of fishing and it's not working out so well. 

I live in Sonoma County and don't trout fish very often, so it definitely wouldn't be worth it for me to get it! I guess I'm just trying to fill my rock fishing void with other types of fishing and it's not working out so well. 

 

...and the worst part is they "CHARGE" xtra for dogs.......take your money.......dont tell you a thing.......then to find out the water is "infected".

San Pablo Res is the best lake to fish in the eastbay........it holds BIG Largemouth,,,,,healthy Spotted Bass.....Crappie.....Catfish.....and Mt.LassenPinkMeatedTrout.

No dogs allowed on the water though.

 

  I feel bad for the families, not a dog person, but to loose a family member that way (Anyway) really sucks.  Shame on the people that run the lake, for not taking the algae more seriously!
 

It's supposed to rain this weekend so maybe it'll wash some of the algae away.