Steven's creek reservoir- first fish 2025

Yesterday I drove past Steven's creek reservoir and I remembered a time I had been there to fish with Joel after his diagnosis and wasn't kayaking much. So today I decided that I'd bring a fishing pole when running some errands and I'd drop by and cast a line for the heck of it and remember old times.

That time I was with Joel there was a floating dock to tie up too when you launched, but alas it's gone now. But I remember that when Joel and I were there he was on that dock and just casting off the end while I was tossing a lure along the shore. At one point he started yelling for me to come quick, he had a huge bass on the line! I quickly reeled up and raced over to the dock and dove to the ground and made a feeble attempt to lip that bass but just as I reached it shook free with a good splash. Joel and I laughed so hard and then he told me how he was casting just a few feet on each side of the dock hoping a monster bass was there to bite his bait, and he was right.

Today I rigged a sort of similar creature bait, waled to the edge where the dock ramp would have been and made my first cast, visualizing the it would land just to the left of the dock if it was there. To my surprise it was fish on! Albeit not a monster, not more than a pound small mouth took the bait. I didn't want to harm it and fumbled getting a picture and it flopped itself free but I got a quick Pic before it went away.

It was the only fish I landed, but it made my day to feel like I was there with Joel and to enjoy a simple pleasure on a beautiful day. I miss him often, and today even more. His favorite phrase was Live Life, which we can all use a reminder once in a while to live and enjoy this life, it is the only one we have.

No other fish but snapped a few pics of the full lake. It's closed of course to boating which is unfortunate. It used to be the spot I would test out a new yak or bring newbies to fish. Still good for a quick shore pounding though.

Great memories and report.

Thanks for sharing
Al

I used to go there during the lunch break to make a few cast. Caught trout or bass on most of the days.

I used to go there during the lunch break to make a few cast. Caught trout or bass on most of the days.

those were the good old days when they planted trout.i used to take a couple guys at work there to fish during lunch too and sometimes we got limits in a couple hours.

Hell yeah.

Nice pics.
I just got back from King's Canyon. I posted a few pics on IG. I'll post some here later this evening.

That was my lake growing up. Used to hike through the hills to swim or fish off the dam - it was a popular spot. During the 76-77 drought it dried up and a friend and I got stuck in the thick quicksand mud on the bottom - left our shoes behind buried 2' deep. Learned to fly fish in the creek above. Skated the banks of the spillway a couple times with some difficulty before skateparks existed. Have not fished it in this century.

i used to take a couple guys at work there to fish during lunch too and sometimes we got limits in a couple hours.

……..ummm……how long was your lunch Al?   

……..ummm……how long was your lunch Al?   

a couple hours.

Scaring me

Stevens Creek Reservoir
- Limited power boating allowed​
- Reservoir open from mid-April to mid-October
This is one of the reservoirs I practice catching large mouth bass in. Hopefully things haven't changed with the discovery of the golden mussel, and just pass the normal vessel inspection to launch at Stevens Creek Reservoir...

To my surprise it was fish on! Albeit not a monster, not more than a pound small mouth took the bait. I didn't want to harm it and fumbled getting a picture and it flopped itself free but I got a quick Pic before it went away.

Double tail grub/Double tail hula grub. The best color too! Cinnamon Black Purple Flake

Very cool report. Pre-mussel inspection days, I paddled around there with the kids on an inflatable kayak a few times. Had no idea that there are smallmouth in that lake...