Lightning Trout Added To Quarry Lakes

FREMONT, CA — There's a special treat for fishermen at Quarry Lakes, Lake Chabot, Del Valle, and Shadow Cliffs — the East Bay Regional Park District has stocked the lakes with lightning trout.

Anglers have been asking for the fish for years, and the park district was finally able to get a supply from Mt. Lassen Trout Farm. The fish are golden in color with a bright red stripe down their sides. For people who love the sport of fishing, they are known as fighting fish. Their meat resembles salmon.

The park district says they look like neon lights shooting through the water. Lightning trout are a unique genetic strain of rainbow trout, native to East Bay waterways. They are specifically bred to be planted in waterways for recreational fishing and are not able to reproduce.

“Lightning trout are a beautiful, unique fish that you don’t get to see every day,” said Park District Fisheries Program Manager Joe Sullivan. “We’ve been trying to get lightning trout for quite some time, but it’s been difficult the last couple of years due to the drought.

“I’d like to get out there and catch one myself, but I’ll leave it to our anglers to have the fun,” added Sullivan.

About 2,000 pounds of lightning trout have been planted, approximately 500 pounds per lake. Trout typically bite during the mornings and evenings this time of year.

Daily fishing permits and a state fishing license are required to fish in regional lakes. For avid anglers, the Regional Parks Foundation sells an annual angler membership which covers the cost of parking and fishing permits.