Fishing
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
- Good places to take kids fishing?
- Camp Site with Fishing over Father's Day
- Place near Berkeley to go fishing
- Weekend Get-Away for Fishing?
Good places to take kids fishing?
Aug 2013
Hello! My 5-year-old can't stop talking about how much he wants to go fishing. Neither his dad nor I have ever gone ourselves, and have no idea where to go. Any advice on good fishing spots in the bay area (the closer to Berkeley, the better)? And any advice on getting equipment (rentals, second-hand, appropriate for kids)? Captain Ahab shamps
Definitely the San Pablo Reservoir -- Long Time Reservoir Lover!
Hi - My teenage son is a fishing maniac. He now takes his own boat out on the California Delta, but when he was younger and even now when he has a short time frame he fishes in the regional park lakes. Lake Chabot, Lake Anza in Tilden Park, etc are stocked with fish periodically. Lafayette Reservoir is probably his favorite locally, also San Pablo dam reservoir. You can fish from the shore or rent small boats at some of these facilities. You can check the EBMUD website for other locations, or regional park flyers. They have fishing clinics for kids at some of the regional parks, especially at Lake Chabot where they will teach the basics. Most cub scout and boy scout troops also have camps and outings that include fishing and access to leaders with more experience then you may have with teaching fishing to kids. My son has taught many younger kids through the scouts (I know scouts are not totally P.C., but for outdoorsy kids it's one of the few organized options.) You might also consider a family trip to Clearlake or other beautiful destination where fishing is available. I would recommend you try Bay Tackle in El Cerrito for equipment. The owner, George has helped us with equipment at all price points over time. He occasionally has used equipment. Obviously, you can also try Craigs list or other such venues for used equipment. If you are not too P.C. you can also usually find reasonably priced gear at Walmart and other big box stores. Maybe not the highest quality, but ok for kids. Good luck. Fishing can be a great hobby and social activity for boys. It keeps my son out in the great outdoors, physically fit from hiking around lugging his gear around, and is a great social activity for boys when they get older, better than many activities that teenagers can potentially get involved in. Good luck, fishing mom
This looks like a good fishing place, Troutmere Fishing, in La Honda, CA. Sure, a bit of a drive but would make an excellent day trip. They have chickens and other fun things for kids to do as well. They basically guarantee that your kid will catch a fish, which is pretty important after renting all the stuff and devoting a day of your life. Check out their yelp reviews. They have all the gear as well. - I think we'll take our son here too
Camp Site with Fishing over Father's Day
May 2012
I am looking for a place to take my family car camping over fathers day weekend. We need something toddler, we have a 1 1/2 year old, and dog friendly. My husband would also like to fish. Other than those 3 requirements we are pretty open. Oh and of course someplace that won't already be booked up. Thanks for any recommendations. Camp Mom
You asked for a camping/fishing location for Father's Day. Try Lake Del Valle, just southeast of Pleasanton. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle#activities Rise and Shine Campers
We loved, loved Summerdale Campground which is located on Big Creek, 1.5 miles south of Yosemite National Park south entrance. We camped right next to the stream which was stocked with trout (be sure to bring salmon eggs, they did the trick to catch the fish). Dog friendly too. Susan
Place near Berkeley to go fishing
March 2009
We would like to take our to kids fishing, near Berkeley, just for a day. Could you recommend a place? Thanks! Amy
San Pablo Dam near Orinda/El Sobrante.
Lake Chabot
Lake Temescal
Berkeley pier
Lafayette Reservoir?
Longs at 51 and Broadway in Oakland sells fishing gear.
I believe that you can fish in Lake Temescal in Oakland and that it is stocked. Contact Oakland Parks and Recreation. Laura W
Lake Temescal is great. Next to the junction of highways 24 and 13 in Oakland, so super easy to get to, though once there you feel like you are away from it all.
The lake is stocked periodically with rainbow trout through the winter months and catfish in the summer. Other fish in residence include large mouth bass, red-eared sunfish, bluegill. Fishing is not allowed from the dam, in the swimming area, or in the stream. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/temescal Janelle
San Pablo Reservoir. There is an article in The Chronicle on it today: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/26/SPCR164184.DTL&type=living -- a mom
Lake Chabot (Oakland) anon
Weekend Get-Away for Fishing?
July 2003
I'm planning a birthday surprise for my husband for the end of September and would love to take him away for the weekend somewhere where he could do some simple fishing.
I'm looking for recommendations of places that are not too far from the East Bay, where we could rent a relatively affordable but nice house for us and our infant son, with easy access to good fishing. Ideally this place would also have a nice beach/swimming hole for me and the little one, so we could relax while big daddy catches our dinner!
I'd also like to set him up with a nice set of fishing supplies to get him started, so I'd appreciate any pointers on what essentials his starter set should include. (He's got a cheap-o rod that he bought at the corner store last time we went camping.)
Thanks! evelyn
If you like Salmon now is the time to get out and do some fishing off the Marine coast. The fish are starting to move to get ready to go upstream by coming thru the Golden Gate. Call Robert Galia and tell him you would like to go fishing, he is the captain of the commercialsportsfishing boat Eldorado at Berkeley marina. The bait shop and boat ramp is at the foot of University I think the address is 225. Bob has one of the fastest boats in the fleet and he gives his all to get on top of the fish. Call Robert at 207-3474 after 3pm and get the details. Rich Good fishing!
Check out Small World Park in Pittsburg for crawdad fishing! I looooved this place when my kids were little. https://www.pittsburgrec.com/services/parks-and-recreation/swp
Hi! My fiance, 20 month old and I went to Lake Chabot and they do have poles to rent, I can’t remember off the top of my head how much but I want to say about $15. They also have bait, bobbers, etc. it was so much fun!
Yes at Lake Chabot Marina you can rent fishing rods and buy several types of bait in the cafe. We recently took our 4 yo for her first fishing experience and it was a lot of fun. You can rent a boat and go out on the lake which is beautiful or you can walk along the shore path too a few piers or access spots to fish.
According to this website, there are rod and reel rentals at Lake Chabot: https://lakechabotrecreation.com/attractions/. We went pre-pandemic and had a nice day cruising the lake and fishing (though we didn't catch anything).
I’m pretty sure San Pablo reservoir rents fishing equipment.
My son and his father took a 1-day fishing class through I think it was REI or else a Parks and Recreation department, where all equipment was provided.