Fishing a Bay Area lake amid the pandemic

FISHLESS FOURTH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS MAKE FOR A SLOW FREE ANGLING DAY ON BAY AREA’S LAKE CHABOT

By Chris Cocoles

CASTRO VALLEY–As we headed up the residential streets and then a winding road – we missed the first turnoff and had to backtrack a bit – on the way to Lake Chabot, I was more curious than excited.

Normally, a sunny day, a lake full of

trout and catfish and the promise that fishing would be free on this Fourth of July Saturday would be reason enough to be thrilled just to be there. But in a COVID-19 world, everything I do carries a what-about-the-pandemic subplot. This would be no different.

Still, any chance to cast out the Shakespeare spinning combo I purchased about a year ago brings some anticipation. But our routines are anything but routine in the coronavirus era. As we packed up my sister Charlene’s SUV early on July 4, I was just as much concerned about carrying my facemask and having enough antiseptic wipes as confirming that we had sunscreen

July 4 was the first of California’s two annual Free Fishing Days, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bay Area’s Lake Chabot was mostly quiet, with only a handful of anglers participating. (CHRIS COCOLES)

and some cold drinks.

Welcome to a whole new ballgame.

DESPITE GROWING UP JUST across San Francisco Bay from Chabot, I hadn’t fished the lake before. My favorite childhood destination, San Pablo Reservoir (California Sportsman, March 2020), along with San Francisco’s Lake Merced and nowclosed Parkway Lakes south of San Jose were always my preferred spots to get in a fishing fix. I’d always read about Chabot’s solid fishing for trout, catfish and bass, but I’d never made it. But in perusing some options as I planned to take advantage of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s first of two Free Fishing Days for 2020, Chabot (ebparks.org/ parks/lake_chabot) looked intriguing enough to give it a go.

So we packed up the gear, our dogs and chairs – plus all the COVID-19 essentials – and headed across the bay. When we finally reached the right parking lot and saw all the cars, I assumed the shoreline would be filled with anglers. After all, why not take advantage of a day when a state fishing license isn’t required to wet a line? And during the pandemic, Chabot’s usual $5 daily fishing permit is being waived by the East Bay Regional Park District, which also suspended fish releases at its recreational fisheries, such as Chabot, Lake Del Valle and Shadow Cliffs Lake.

So we already knew these were strange times. But after we found a parking spot in the already nearly full lot, it didn’t take long to see that the coronavirus was in charge. Warning signs greeted us at nearly every turn. They read: COVID-19 Visitor Information; Social Distancing Tips; and Inspection Station Closed: No Watercraft Of Any Kind Allowed On The Lake.

Yellow caution tape was wrapped around several tables in a picnic area. And like us, as we walked from our car toward the water, a lot of folks wore facemasks.

Despite all the people milling about, it was strange to see that the store and cafe at the marina were closed (we didn’t see the sign that it would open about 90 minutes later at 9 a.m.). That led me to wonder about what we’d use for bait until I remembered the

COVID-19 restrictions were omnipresent at this popular East Bay recreation area. (CHRIS COCOLES)

Despite this holiday-weekend Saturday not requiring a state fishing license or even a daily fishing permit, the shoreline was mostly sparsely populated with anglers. (CHRIS COCOLES)

Berkley Gulp! jar I had in my tackle box from our last trip, so we made due and headed for the shoreline.

I STILL EXPECTED THERE would be a fair number of bank anglers, given the holiday weekend, beautiful sunshine and, most importantly, the lure of fishing without a license. But while the trail was crowded with walkers and joggers, we didn’t have to go far to find a spot to fish from.

A few anglers had claimed the small fishing pier and a section of shoreline next to it. But we only had to go maybe 50 feet past that cluster and set up shop just below the stairway dropping down to the water’s edge.

After our trip, I asked Peter Tira, information officer for CDFW, if the state had surveyed whether this most unusual scenario we are in had affected fishing participation

The author’s dog Emma found some relief and solace in the shade. (CHRIS COCOLES)

on the free day. Tira said no official count was made on July 4, but with the pandemic limiting Californians’ entertainment options, more people do seem to be interested in fishing.

“I know I purposely stayed off the water that day to avoid the mob

Rental boats finally got out on the water after the marina opened at 9 a.m. (CHRIS COCOLES)

scene. However, California fishing licenses and sales are up overall this year compared to last year and growing,” Tira said. “Everyone is out fishing, it seems like.”

So maybe the diehards and even some without a license shared Tira’s fears about big crowds. But that was fine for us and the others who showed up at the 315-acre lake. There was plenty of room to socially distance. Across the small inlet – accessible by a bridge on the other end of the parking lot – a few anglers also casted from that side of the bank. After we found our spot, a family with a couple adorable kids came down the stairs and politely asked if they could walk past us and claim a stretch of bank beyond us.

“My daughter might be a little scared of your dogs,” the dad said with a smile. My German shepherd/Lab mix Emma and my sister and brotherin-law’s puggles Angel and Nala were mostly oblivious to the visitors.

While we could hear the chatter of hikers shuttling back and forth behind us and musical sounds coming from a device on the pier, we settled in for a mostly relaxing morning. Unfortunately, nobody’s line was getting any action either.

THE SUN BECAME TOO much for my sister, who graciously grabbed the dogs and found a spot in the shade. But my Gulp! wasn’t attracting any nibblers.

The fishing may have been for the birds on this holiday weekend, but getting outside and safely social distancing can be cathartic in these very difficult times. (CHRIS COCOLES)

The pier anglers had their music but no bites. The family’s bobber rigs were floating aimlessly. I started having flashbacks to recent Bay Area trips of fishing failure.

Just after 9 a.m., we started to see signs of life on the water – just not in terms of much fishing action. Suddenly, rental boats emerged from the marina – small fishing craft and larger patio boats. Some occupants had fishing gear and others seemed to just be pleasure boaters seeking some Fourth of July fun (maybe next time we’ll rent a boat too, but we figured that with the dogs we would stick to shore fishing).

My brother-in-law Alan walked to the store to investigate and I texted him a request to buy some nightcrawlers. He came back with a container and quickly made the switch. (When the folks next to us gave up a short time later, the father generously offered his remaining ’crawlers, though I knew even more worms weren’t going to be needed with bites so scarce.)

Oh well. I was thrilled to just be outside and spend time with my family and our dogs during my visit to the Bay Area, which I stayed away from the previous four-plus months due to stay-at-home orders.

After a couple more hours and with the sun burning a little warmer, it was time to reel ’em in, pack up the gear and chairs, put the masks on and head for home.

I couldn’t tell what won the day more: the fish or COVID-19? CS

EUGENE, OR Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 1700 State Hwy 99 N lloyd@maxxummarine.com www.maxxummarine.com