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B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir
Lakes in the East Texas Area
 Map showing the location of the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir |
In East Texas, there are over 50 lakes offering a variety of outdoor sports for vacations or weekends. These lakes provide fishing, swimming, water skiing, houseboats, jet skis, sailing and other outdoor and hiking activities.
Within easy driving distance are lakes such as Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake, Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn, Lake Tawakoni, and many others.
Steinhagen Reservoir Location & Characteristics
The B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir is located on the Neches River 14 miles west of Jasper, crossed at its midpoint by U.S. Highway 190. It has a surface area of 10,687 acres, a maximum depth of 35 feet and stretches 8 miles long and 4 miles wide.
The borders of Tyler County and Jasper County are defined by the bed of the Neches River, and therefore bisect the reservoir on a north-south line. The lake was created as part of a project that focused on creating lakes for recreation, power generation, and water conservation on the Neches River and the Angelina River. For many years, locals have referred to both the lake and dam as "Dam B".
 Aerial view of the Town Bluff Dam at Steinhagen Reservoir |
The project is one of four reservoirs authorized in the Angelina-Neches Rivers basin. The Sam Rayburn Reservoir, formerly known as McGee Bend Reservoir, was completed in 1965. The other two projects, "Dam A" and "Rockland" are classified as deferred.
In July, 1967, "Dam B" was renamed Town Bluff Dam and B. A. Steinhagen Lake. Town Bluff Dam is derived from being in the close proximity to the community in Tyler County of that name. B. A. Steinhagen was a prominent citizen of Beaumont, Texas who was active in initial planning, authorization, and other water conservation activities.
The purposes of B. A. Steinhagen Lake are to reregulate the intermittent power releases of Sam Rayburn Dam, provide head for hydroelectric power and diversion into a water supply canal, and provide some water storage.
The purposes of the Steinhagen Reservoir are to 1) assist Sam Rayburn Reservoir in providing flood control to the Angelina & Neches River basins, 2) supply water to the Lower Neches Valley Authority and the Beaumont area, 3) produce a clean source of electric generation, and 4) to offer fishing, camping, and birding in Texas opportunities.
Bridge over the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir in East Texas |
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Outdoor Recreation at the Steinhagen Reservoir
Boat launching facilities are provided at Texas State Park units and Corps of Engineers parks located around the Steinhagen Reservoir.
Facilities at Martin Dies State Park include restrooms with hot showers, screened shelters, campsites with water only or water/electricity, lighted fishing piers, fish cleaning stations, and hiking, biking and nature/interpretive trails.
Read more about public access to the Steinhagen Reservoir at the website of Texas Parks & Wildlife
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Fishing at the Steinhagen Reservoir
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Due to the shallow nature of the reservoir, the most popular game fish at B.A. Steinhagen is the catfish. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are all present in good numbers.
An average population of largemouth bass is present and fishing is fair. Good numbers of spotted bass are present in the Angelina River. A good crappie fishery exists, especially in the spring. Low numbers of white bass are present and the fishery is limited to the early spring during the spawning run above the reservoir.
Bluegill and redear sunfish are present in high numbers and provide good fishing, especially for youth or inexperienced anglers.
Read more about fishing the Steinhagen Reservoir at Texas Parks & Wildlife
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
In the 1960s, development of a new state park along Steinhagen Reservoir began, with support from local East Texans and their state senator, Martin Dies, Jr. Today, Martin Dies, Jr. State Park is a 705-acre recreation area nestled next to B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir between Woodville and Jasper. The park has three units in Jasper and Tyler counties. TPWD leased the park’s land from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1964, and officially opened in 1965. The park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including camping at over 200 campsites, paddling, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking and more. The park is located at 634 Park Road 48 South, Jasper, TX 75951 |
Map of the Steinhagen Reservoir Area
