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10,235-acre reservoir near Jasper. The lake tops out around 43 ft. The depth chart comes from Texas Water Development Board bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 9,626 acres of water rimmed by 197.1 miles of bank — 143 islands included. An index of 14.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 87% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Figure 9.5 mi of water from one end to the other, 4.9 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Tyler County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Sam Rayburn Reservoir, 27 mi north of here.
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 10 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (13 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season spotted bass use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 40 ft, then a winter hold in 13 to 43 ft. Put Sharp break first on the milk run — a drop-off near 13 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot over brush or an underspin + fluke (schoolers) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft | midday | Sharp break (13 ft) | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
Early season white bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 40 ft. Put Neches River inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Neches River inflow (9 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (13 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (35 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: crappie in 2 to 8 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 25 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 35 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (6 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (10 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (7 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (35 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Neches River inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 9 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Neches River inflow (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (7 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (7 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Deep basin (35 ft) |
Spring blue catfish on B.A. Steinhagen Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 40 ft, and by winter most fish are in 13 to 43 ft. The chart's best answer is Old creek channel — creek channel, 7 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (7 ft) | |
| Summer | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (35 ft) | |
| Fall | 13 to 43 ft | dusk | Deep basin (35 ft) | |
| Winter | 13 to 43 ft | midday | Deep basin (35 ft) |
B.A. Steinhagen Lake also holds flathead catfish (8 to 30 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 16 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 35 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024* | Bluegill Sunfish (fingerling) | 262,173 | — |
| 2024* | Lone Star Bass (fingerling) | 249,173 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: TPWD stocking history, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Texas waters are set by the Texas Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to B.A. Steinhagen Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Texas fishing regulations →
B.A. Steinhagen Lake is about 43 ft (13 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from Texas Water Development Board bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, bluegill on B.A. Steinhagen Lake.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 10 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per TPWD stocking history records, B.A. Steinhagen Lake was most recently stocked 2024 with 262,173 bluegill sunfish (fingerling). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on B.A. Steinhagen Lake is regulated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Texas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir 27 mi · Sabine River 36 mi · Lake Kurth 50 mi · Anacoco Lake 52 mi, LA · Toledo Bend Reservoir 54 mi, TX/LA · Vernon Lake 55 mi, LA · Lake Livingston 58 mi · Pinkston Reservoir 59 mi · Lake Nacogdoches 64 mi · Lake Naconiche 67 mi · Sabine Lake 71 mi, TX/LA · Lake Raven 81 mi
See how B.A. Steinhagen Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best white bass lakes in Texas · best crappie lakes in Texas · best bluegill lakes in Texas
Browse all Texas fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry: published agency survey data. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.