The Steps

Sorry did'nt mean to get on the Somerville thread and talk about the steps. They are off Hwy 95 (going north) first left after bridge like said cord 347. Cant miss it, there will be plenty of cars parked there.

So sorry, first RIGHT!! DUH

Whoops, sorry, I brought it up too. It's easy to forget that there are other threads on this forum. I definitely want to get up there this weekend, but I'm not sure if it's going to work out.

^^^^Good luck coming this weekend, the river is still running pretty good and it is MUDDY!!!!!

I will be going to the steps this afternoon to check it out for my first time. Wish there were more people.posting results about this place. All I know is that the river is up and muddy. Did some whites come upstream?

Fishytx, I was looking at lake levels for Granger and seems it is about 2.5 feet over pool. Might make fishing at the steps a little difficult with all that water. I was thinking the bridge at Hwy 95 might have more moving water. Anyways, curious to hear what you report back.

Got a report of a stringer with 15 and another with 19 on Tuesday
Yesterday was slow in the afternoon. Been more productive in the morning

Fished today and caught 8 whites and 1 black bass. The water is awesome and there are plenty of fish up there. Only place I could find a bite was in deeper water. The lake water is backed up above the steps. So at the bottom of the steps, the water level looks to be about a foot deeper than normal, maybe more. But yeah,plenty.of fish up there to be caught. I know a guy who has already hauled six limits out of there. Talked to one guy up on the street who was leaving with his limit for the day. He said the morning bite was the best. In fact several anglers told me the best bite is in the morning. I can't figure out how to post a picture on here so I have no picture to add on to this post.

Thanks for the report, fishytx!

Thx 4 the report🎣👍🎣
Hopefully, be out there early morning...
Just need to get fishing license first, just realized it expired yesterday😧
But hoping can get at 24 hr. Walmart, on the way there😉👍

Order online and you'll be good to go!

Wish I could of made it out there! Too busy getting ready for my gulf fishing trip tomorrow!

Got here about 9am...Quite a few people here already, but seemed most are spread out downstream, haven't worked upstream, yet😉Worked aways downstream from Steps...Caught about a dozen, but all small barely 10" at most...Mostly on yellow, white, chartreuse and chicken chain? curly tails and tandem rigged 1/32nd white crappie jigs😉Only seen small stringers, and really nothing of size😥Headed back upstream towards steps, going to work a rooster tail, then may try just upstream from there...And will try to post pics later, can't seem to download any at the moment?🤐

Where is "Steps" located?

FishingFool - Appreciate the report. Hope you catch a few more upstream.

JILAS - Just google maps Circleville, TX. The 'Steps' area is located just east of Hwy 95 on the north side of the river. You will see vehicles parked along the side of the road. That's how you know you've found it.

Ray and I fished together this morning. We started by heading to Waco and fishing the South Bosque. We fished for about an hour in a few different areas that are normally very productive. We didn't get a bite so we headed to The Steps.

We got to the Steps and started fishing about 10 AM. We fished a couple areas just upstream from the Steps and caught about a dozen. We decided to head upstream past the open area where the creek enters. That was a great choice. We started catching fish and the further upstream we went the better the fishing. I caught 7 in a row in one spot.

I ended the day catching 61 white bass. Average size was about 11 inches. Mostly males, with a few small females mixed in.

Sounds like a great day of fishing! Thanks for the report.

The lake water is so high, I think the water up by 95 bridge has a bunch of fish. The banks up there are difficult though.

Oh man what a struggle bus it was today. Most numbers caught that I saw were around 12-16 all caught with minnows either on bottom or under a float. It didn’t matter how you presented them they wanted them. Only had one hard swipe on a grub in the yellow color, no takers on white or chartreuse. No takers on clousers for me today either. But of course local Mr. Robert was having success more than others were. All in all beautiful day water felt ice cold but it was a nice day. Maybe a few more weeks for the lake to warm up and the river shed to drop a little and warm up too would probably set things off real good down there. I keep hearing reports about how one day it’s fire and the next it’s totally slow. Seemed to be the trend today, can’t wait to see what the next few weeks brings but should get real good soon God willing.

Sitting in my truck at the steps. Water looks great. Caught six in an hour. Really slow, one here, one there type thing. A bank anglers stands no chance here, you need waders in order to fish the good holes. Fishing from the bank, you are so limited to where you can fish. I feel like my hands are tied. But a few guys wade fishing with live bait are doing good today. But here again, they have access to the fish. Right now I'm sitting with the heat in my truck seat on high. I might go back down there and catch a few more or I might just go back home. Only one fish I caught was ten inches, the others were bigger.
To be honest, I was going to fish Cedar creek, Nails creek and Yegua. But I had a reminder pop up on my phone that I had an appointment today to get an injection in my lower back, so I had to drive to Roundrock. On my way home I decided to try the steps. A when I got here it wasn't to crowded, but anglers are rolling in one after another, so it's about to get crowded. Lol. Nice fishing weather, enjoyed the six I caught. Not sure I'm sticking around though, just not enough action for this old guy.

Thanks for the reports!

So I put this medicine on my back and continued to soak up some heat from my truck seat. I did get out periodically to go chat with anglers returning to their vehicles. My lower back was feeling a little better, so I went upstream to the gravel bar. The bite up there was better than right below the steps. I caught 13 more fish, one was 14 inches. Nice slab for this river, pulled like crazy in the current. But the fish were staged in deeper slow moving water, I couldn't get bit in the shallow water were fish like to feed. Over all, I had a good time. Only reason I went back down there to fish, I'm gonna be tied up for the next four days, possibly longer. But I ended the day with 19 whites.

Now to report what I saw. I saw at least six limits leave the river. How long had those guys been fishing? That I don't know. But I do know those limits were all caught with live bait.

Today I took my wife for a follow up appointment with her doctor and everything is good. Took her to eat and asked if she was up to me stopping at the steps for 30 minutes. She gave the okay so we went. Fished for 30 minutes and caught 4 nice ones. On my way to take her home and probably go back for the afternoon bite. Ill.post later if I decide to go. Just in that short time frame my lower back was giving me a fit. And my breathing was worse. But there's something about catching these fish that has a stronger drive that makes me go no matter what, so I'm about 95% sure I'll return.

Great to hear the wife is recovering! Hope you catch more this afternoon!

Man I self medicated to the max and I still don't feel so great. I've got everything ready for round two, but I'm not sure I'll go. My allergies are all jacked up. But I did a double trip yesterday. Only took about an hour break in my truck and then fished for another three hours. Probably did five hours yesterday. Three hours on my back is pushing it. I never stand up straight when I fish, I'm always bent over a little when working that bait. But the water sure is calling my name.

The rain is going to make those banks extra slick this weekend. Be safe out there.

Guess I'm a gluten for punishment, because I went back to fish the last two hours of daylight. That place was packed when I got there, I almost turned around and left. The place where I caught four in thirty minutes was flat covered up with anglers. But you know, they always say there's a reason for everything that happens in life. I had to go find a different hole to fish and it turned out for the better. I caught 20 more whites in two hours. I had 19 and I was bound and determined to catch that last fish to make it 20. It was almost dark, but I kept at it till I finally caught that last one. And yes, people kept throwing their lines in the same place I was pulling fish from. It was to the point where a little aggravation was starting to set in from time to time, I'm not gonna lie, but I just ignored it and kept on fishing and catching. For people to crowd me to the point of aggravation it has to be really bad. And it got that way a few times. Guys with bobbers throwing in there and floating it right in my casting area. I kind a find it hilarious though, I'm still hooking up pulling fish in no matter what the situation was and I did not see one person catch a fish out of that hole.
Oh well, one more fun trip under my belt. Caught a total of 24 whites today, added the 4 to my count from when I was there earlier.

Wow, now that I think about my post above I realized something. The hole where I was catching fish left and right out of, there was a angler across the river that was fishing that small hole and I kind a moved in on him in a scene. In fact, I might have crowed him so bad that he finally packed up and left. Or he got tired of watchimg me catch fish and he wasn't. But I have to admit, I did kind a crowd him out. But I was very respectful about it, I always left him more water to fish than what I had. After he left, it did open up 50% more water to fish and I was catching fish right where he was standing. Soon after he left another guy moved right in though. Down there you have to be willing to fish with or around people when it's that crowded, you just have to. Or wear some waders so you can escape the crowd.

I have waders and just got some new wading boots, I just don't know how to fish ...

Average Joe, no time like the present to learn.

Went to steps for a few hours. Water is real nice. Caught 14, largest being 15 inches. Also found an arrowhead on the gravel bar.

Awesome, glad to hear you had another good trip down there...And sounds like, some of the bigger boys are starting to move up from the Lake...Thx 4 the report

Okay, so I had so much fun yesterday, that I had return today. Unfortunately I didn't have the same results today. Fished for 3 hours and caught 9 whites. The water has cleared up somewhat, so maybe that was the difference. My largest catch today was close to 12 inches, nice little piggy. Everything else was 10-1/4 to 10-1/2. Oh well, that's better than getting skunked. It was fun, and that's the main goal when out enjoying a nice weather day on the water.

Thanks for the report fishytx! Sounds like fun! I can't wait to get back on the creek banks!

I think there will be a good bite tomorrow, Friday. Warm temps today and tonight should get these fish moving and feeding. Plus the bite always seems to pick up right before a weather change, which is forecast for tomorrow night. It's gonna get a little chilly Saturday and Sunday which will cause the bite to slow down. Saturday may be okay, but after that it will be slow again for several days. Of course this just my predictions based upon the years in the past. Just an assumption. Hope you can get out there before the cold front arrives.

Steps were very crowded and most were not doing so well, small stringers. Me, I had a blast. Caught 27 whites, 4 crappie, 2 small black bass, and 1 perch. When the cold front arrived, the bite simply stopped for me, therefore my trip ended. But this has been my best trip so far.

If I had to guess, I would think the bite might be slow due to these few cold nights. Thursday and Friday next week should be okay, then we have another cold front next weekend.

I hope you are right fishytx about the cold weather shutting down the bite.. Sunday at Somerville and Monday up near Huntsville I couldn't buy a bite.. Reports from last Friday suggest it was a peak of significant proportions most everywhere.

I went Friday evening, down to Irwin, for a couple of hours and managed 1 nice male on a rooster tail. Throwing upstream into a current and not snagging on structure was not easy, and expected. Lost 3 rooster tails, got a few hits and one got off right at the bank. I let the one lonely one on the stringer go back when I left. It was muddy, but there were fish in there.

I've never been good at throwing lures upstream. I get hung up too much. I stick with throwing downstream to straight across. Very rarely upstream. Thanks for the report!

The weather was so nice I couldn't resist going fishing. When I first arrive, I like to look off the bluff at stringers anglers have. Today I saw two to five fish on stringers, they were not loaded. So I go my place and start casting. OhLord, it is not looking so good. I fished for twenty minutes without one single bite. Sao now I'm trying to decide if I really want to wade across the river and continue to fish ot not. My thoughts were to go back home. But if I did that, then I would be skunked and that I have a problem with. So I crossed the river..
Just going to give the short version. Caught 12 whites, 1 crappie, 1 perch, and 1 black bass. I can only think the bite.will be better this afternoon and tomorrow because it can't get any slower than it was today.
Even this guy who fishes a fly rod down there daily wasn't catching anything at all, or I never saw him hook a fish in thirty minutes I was around him.
I really have no complaints, the weather was amazing and I caught a few. The bite was in deeper calm waters, the fish simply were not feeding.

I'm with you on that one, I hate to cast upstream, almost guaranteed to hang up. But there are times and places where you have to in order to get bit. One break off and I'm done though, I won't do it twice. I only cast upstream out of desperation.

Usually the only time I'll throw the jig upstream is if it's the only option in a spot that looks like it could hold fish. Or if it's a spot that looks relatively snag free.

Fished yesterday afternoon and was horrible. It's acting like the end of the spawn but I haven't seen them.soawn yet. So I don't know how that can be, but it's fishing Ike that. Any how, I ended up with 7 whites 1 crappie. Might have to hit yegua and see what I can do on that creek.

Driving 45 minutes for catching 3 keepers in 3 hours(7-10) this morning, not good but still enjoy the outdoor.

Fished the steps for three hours. From 11 to 2pm.
26 whites
6 blacks
2 crappie

Thanks for the report, fishytx. Sounds like a good day.

Thanks, it was a fun day. For one, I watched about 10 of them strike my bait. The water is pretty clear and I was fishing shallow in fast moving water. I was pulling fish out behind guys standing in the water. Literally right behind where they were standing. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Lol.

The professor showing how it gets done!

Wow fishytx! Sounds like a blast! We were out there last Thursday with only a few caught, and a warmouth. Cool looking perch. Anyway, we lost a set of keys down by those rapids where the creek bends to the left, and then that deep wide part. Just putting this out there, in case somebody reading here found them.
Thanks!

Fish On!

I met with my wife's cousin at the steps, he asked if I could show him the ropes. So I hooked him up with one of my ultralight rods. We fished from 1:30 to 3:30 with blue bird skies. I ended up with a catch of 26 and he caught 4. He just couldn't get the hang of it. But there are a lot of fish up there right now.

Have the crowds thinned out yet?

Nope, it's been crowded since it's Spring Break. I was out there yesterday and managed to catch a few. Got my first few fish on the fly as well.

Congrats!

So I've been dealing with a bad chest cold, but I try to get out there on any day that I feel about half good. I went this afternoon for three hours and caught 30. That's three more than my best day this year, so now 30 fish is my target to beat. There is about a half moon right now and the white bass are moving up shallow in schools right before the sun sets. With that said, there should be one heck of a good bite when the sun comes up. So these fish are really moving around and trying to spawn. I was told that there has been a lot of spawning action going on last week and that most of the females have spawned out. I can only go by what others have seen because I haven't been going. I did see big schools swimming upstream today, so I know a lot of this information given to me today is true based upon what I saw today. My guess is this, we have about one week of better fishing still left and then the bigger fish will return to the lake leaving small males upstream to finish out the spawn.

30?? Hahah awesome and glad you feeling better! I just caught one on the fly Sunday evening after the big storm. Water was murky and fast flowing but I had fun.

Neat thread.

I fished the steps again. Caught 34 and all were released. I caught better quality this trip. The water is clear. Saw so many fish charge my bait and turn on it. Presentation had to be just right to get bit. Had several grab my bait and short strike it. With that said, I had better luck at hooking up in the faster moving water. I left before the fish turn on in the last hour of day light, I still had 2-1/2 hours of daylight left. The fish were moving around most of the day with the heavy overcast we had, so I found a bite just about anywhere on the river. Had a great day, wife got tired of hearing me say, I had so much fun today. But yeah, days like this just make me happy. I could do this everyday. More fun than any amusement park. But catching fish is my thing, just love it. And I'm not picky, catching any kind of fish is what I live for. Guess that's why I fish for numbers, it's all about catching. I don't like the fishing part, it's the catching part I enjoy. The fly rod anglers were doing good too. And there wasn't that many people on the river either. I had access to any place I chose to fish.

Went to steps Saturday, fished for four hours and caught 27. Unfortunately we are on the tail end of this years spawn. So now there are five times more small fish than decent fish to keep. Out of those 27 I caught, I might of had six good keeper fish, everything else was super small. Most small fish I've caught this year. Small or not, I still enjoy these fishing trips. Almost all of my catch was caught in shallow swift water, so the fights were great. I'm sure I'll continue to catch these whites as long as they are up in this river.

See everyone next season! I'll continue to practice casting the fly till then!

Oh my gosh, what a difference in two days. I went back over there today, and caught 30 good quality fish. There might have been six undersized fish, I had 2 at 14 inches, 2 at twelve inches and most were eleven inches. Even had three females full of eggs ready to pop. I'm gonna quit trying to analyze these fish and just continue to go after them till there is no bite at all.

Had a doctor appointment in Roundrock and thought I would swing by the steps to get a little morning fishing in. Fished for two hours and caught 15. Did not wade fish at all, everything was caught from the bluffs. Caught one that was 14 plus inches, wasn't sure if I could get up the bluff, but I did. Only two fish where undersize, the rest were decent.

I was fishing another area near the steps so decided to stop by and check it out. First time fishing it this year. Water was up with swift current and slightly muddy. Only took a handful of casts before I left.