Practice Ponds in San Jose Area?

I finally broke down and bought a kayak.  Does anyone know of any practice ponds in San Jose Area? (preferably free).  The only quiet pond I knew is now closed to boating.  Thanks in advance.

yeah all are either closed to boating or you have a fee for mussel inspection....Will be interested to hear if there are any responses. I would recommend the redwood city harbor. pretty protected, never crowded and its free...not exactly south bay but I think that is the closest protected bay water that doesn't have constant sewage spills

Free you say??? Only one place comes to mind for the area, the Alviso Boat Launch for the bay.  There is also Shoreline Park in Mnt. View.  Then there are the 17$ Santa Clara County Parks, such as Calero, Anderson, Coyote, and you can save a lil' cash at Stevens Creek res. by not parking in their lot, there are some parking spots just outside of it for free.  Farther away you can hit a number of lakes that will cost you 5-15$ to launch/park or fish, but free is hard to find unless your hitting the ocean.

Let us know where you end up, and WTTM! 

All the lakes managed by Santa Clara parks is out of the question now, including Stevens Creek.  They all require zebra mussel checkpoints and the outrageous fees for parking. 

My only two thoughts are Lake Elizabeth and Lake Cunningham.  Free parking at Elizabeth but $7 launch fee, $6 parking at Cunningham but no fee for launching.

Cunningham....park outside, wheelez through the gate to the lake 


Alviso, but the wind is kicking up something nasty in the afternoons......and the funk of sewage treatment. 
I'll only admit this since I've already been outed for swimmin in the poo lagoon that is the redwood shores, I fell off my paddleboard in Alviso too. 



Can you paddle in the campbell perc ponds?

Can you paddle in the campbell perc ponds?

Nope...I got busted there 2 yrs ago...fishing for panfish. "Ranger" yells at me.....I paddle over. All pissed she says "NO BOATS, Didn't you see the sign?" I say "huh? what sign?" We walk over to the gate area and its laying face down on the ground covered in dirt and leaves. She just says. "Oh. OK well this is just a warning"....The sign is now attached to a pole. You can fish just no boats. Sucks cuz its 2 min from my house! I would live to take the kids for a paddle there.

Can you paddle in the campbell perc ponds?

Not unless we talkin' bout Kampbell Perc Ponds LOL  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,20312.msg206902.html#msg206902

Do Stevens Creek like AHO suggested by parking outside the park and wheel in it.  I swam there four days ago in a race and it was about 60/ 61 degrees.  Saw four guys in an inflatable get blown off the lake at around 6PM.  The bass should be perking up about now, even if there are no trout plants.

http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/parksarticle?path=%252Fv7%252FParks%2520and%2520Recreation%252C%2520Department%2520of%2520%2528DEP%2529&contentId=8562ec18084e9110VgnVCMP230004adc4a92____&cpsextcurrchannel=1

or these.....vid on bottom of page 1

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,26401.0.html

I know of a super small crappy pond in Milpitas you could try.  No regulations, free launch.  Bass/carp in there.  Seen both species caught. 
How much 'paddling' are you hoping to really do? this pond is pretty small

I went to alviso last week, but it would be great to have a spot to try self rescue.  Is the pond you have in mind hidden lake?  That one might be little too small to suit my needs.

I know of a super small crappy pond in Milpitas you could try.  No regulations, free launch.  Bass/carp in there.  Seen both species caught. 
How much 'paddling' are you hoping to really do? this pond is pretty small