Fishing Forum

You can not get to Newton unless your four wheel drive can make it through 3-5 ft snow drifts all on the road. I woke up early this morning to make it out at first light. I turned north on the road south of lake and made it half way down and I was halted because of a 5 ft. snow bank in the middle of the road just past the last house on the left. The road had not even been plowed by Udot. The road prior to this point seemed to be cleared by the local farmers. Where is UDOT? I backed up and turned around and headed around to the north to see if I could come in from the back way. Turned on the southbound road and only could go about a quarter of a mile before hitting the 5 ft snow drifts. Once again, where is UDOT? I turned around and went to Hyrum. Why would UDOT neglect to clear this road. There is always plenty of traffic on this road and yet it wasn't cleared. How about the DWR allowing public access to Newton by working with UDOT to ensure fishing for a citizen who pays taxes and wastes gas to not be able to reach the lake. I did not see a notice in the paper no any Road Closed signs. As you see, I want to point a finger. UDOT typically does a great job and I am grateful for their devoted service. I read another post of another individual heading to Newton today and I am sure he burnt more gas than I did. Who should I contact in this case? Is it a local issue that Newton is responsible to plow or is it UDOT?

Hyrum Report

Arrived a Hyrum around 8:00 or so and had hardly any problems accessing the lake. The slush monster is alive and well in Hyrum Four wheelers had some issues today. I instantly found the perch and kept a limit. I ended up catching 5 trout and 1 nice one got off at the hole. Others were catching perch and trout but it seemed I was in the hotspot. Caught most of the trout on a ultra, ultra light using a little orange and green tear drop. It was fun but it wasn't a slab crappie. Anyway, left around 11:00 to about 15 cars parked on the southeast entry into the lake.
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Lanee it was great meeting you out there this morning. Your poles were doing the 'bendo', and you looked pretty occupied when we stopped by. Yes, I would say you were definitely in the 'hot spot'. I wanted to stop right there and fish for a while longer to catch a trout or two.

We got there at about 8:00 and only managed 10 perch (and I didn't have to drive clear to Yuba []). Had one pan sized rainbow on my jig until he didn't want to cooperated anymore once he reached the hole.

The bite was slowwwww today, the weather wasn't bad though. And you're right, the slush monster is alive and well now at Hyrum. Four- wheelers getting stuck and all that jazz. Was thinking about trying over by the spillway by the dam next week. My buddy caught a 21" 'bow over there last week.

We'll see if the thaw is in full swing, or if it's just teasing us. Slush monster beware!
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Sucks the road is drifted in, but it's not a state road so it is up to the county to maintain it. They've had a hard time with budgets this year and I'm sure roads with houses on them are of higher priority.
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Thanks lavaman for stopping by. You should've drilled a hole beside me. I wouldn't have cared. Anyway, I am definately looking forward to the spring fishing. Let me know when you want to attack Newton for some Crappie and Muskie.
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I have heard that UDOT has been strained for money. Houses do have a higher priority to my fishing. What do you think can be done to get this area plowed out? Maybe I'll have to wait till spring. I have a neighbor who works Logan Canyon for UDOT so I'll ask him. Thanks for the info.
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I also encountered the BIG DRIFT at newton. I had my boy all ramped up to catch some perch and we were both disapointed. (I was pissed) I don't think a plow could clear that road now. It will probably take a loader and some time to work through the drifts I saw on the north and south side of the lake.
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UDOT has nothing to do with that road, zip, zero, nadda. I used to work for the county and when that road gets snowed in it won't be cleared for awhile since there are no feed yards or houses in need. You can call the county road department and see if it's on their schedule but it likelly won't get done till they don't have anything else to do. It's deffinately a low priority road. I couldn't even get them to clear it off for me!
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Thanks for the update. I guess ice fishing will be getting over soon but it sure would be nice to be able to get up there one more time. I could not get over how big the drifts were. Maybe this melting snow will help out. With a few days without snow, hopefully the county will be able to get out there and clear it for us poor fisherman.
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