Anyone fished Steinhagen?

I thought they drained it

Wasn't that 3 years ago?

Fished it last September. Put in at that ramp off the side of 190.

Idle. Do not even bother getting on pad. It was a mudhole when I went, only caught like three dinks. I'll go try it again if it cleans up a little.

They did in 2019, completely. Sent everything into the Neches River. It's back full again, as of right now, about 3" over pool.

Yeah, I've heard it was shallow with a ton of stumps. I was just wondering what the quality of fishing is like. Camping there in the coming week. Thanks for the info.

I’ve heard it’s a good catfish lake.

My uncle lives near the lake and catches a lot of catfish there. If you go into the river north of the lake, lots of good bass have been caught in the Angelina river backwaters. Neches is muddy and Angelina is clear normally.

it used to be amazing for flipping and frog fishing, but that was before they drained it. I would think with as high as rayburn is right now that dam b would have some water in it.

I grew up there. The lake itself provides pretty good fishing, especially the Spring creek area.Launch at Martin Dies park and fish the grass back to your right with a frog. Follow the creek channel out to the Neches river fishing the cypress trees and stumps with a square bill and a Brush hog or swim jig. Go upriver to the forks of the Neches/Angelina rivers, take the right fork which is the Angelina and fish the oxbows, grass beds and any laydowns. Fishing will be much better if they are generating at Rayburn, I usually check the generating schedules with the Corps of Engineers. Great lake/area to fish, with beautiful scenery and you can get away from the lake crowds. Be VERY,VERY careful when fishing around the numerous cypress trees, as many have huge wasp nests, some larger than a basketball!

Don't let my comment discourage you.. I've only fished there once, and it was only a few hours that evening after having a bad day at Rayburn. That was just my impression from my limited time there. I'd love to go back though and learn more about it and explore the lake a bit more for sure! All of my fishing was exclusively around 190, because it was getting late and I didn't want to venture off too far. I'd like to go back and ride around the entire lake next time and check it out

It's a hidden gem, but you have to know how to fish it... We have a lake house out there.

Thank You!

That's good info. Thank You! I am allergic to those A$$holes.

I live about 25 miles west of there. Almost have to fish the main river(s). Since the late 90's I think they (USCOE) have drained the lake completely 3 times. Dam repair once and vegetation control twice. Lots of gators. Used to be a lot of nutria but not anymore. A few years back there was talk about raising the dam and thus the lake level about 3 feet. That would make the fishing awesome IMO as above the highway the water depth prolly averages 3-4 deep. Thats why you don't run hard except in channels/ Really an aluminum flat bottom shines in the main lake but you can fish a big glass rig if you get to know the cuts and channels up lake, I honestly have never fished south of US 190 except right by the highway.

Was great duck hunting in the 80's and 90's. Good deer hunting but hard hunting. Lots of channels and backwaters between the rivers above the forks. Can get turned around.

The Forks

Use caution running even the river as there are floaters and logs that sweep out from the bank when Rayburn's gates are open. I worked in Beaumont as a trauma ICU charge RN and took care of a patient that hit a floater in the Angelina at WOT in a Ranger. He was pretty busted up. Life flighted in. Grandson to Ann at Ann's Tackle in Jasper.

The Bevilport launch north of the forks on the Angelina puts you right in some good fishing.

Ken Smith video on the Angelina: