So this weekend me and a buddy are going to utah lake to go after some monster cat fish. We plan on taking our float tubes. Both of us know where it is , but its obviously huge so we'd appreciate it if some1 could tell us exactly where we should park, where good fishing would be, is there a fee u have to pay to go there and such? I've heard the water level is low so where's good access where we will be able to paddle, etc. Thanks BFT!
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There are several locations where you can launch a float tube for free, Lincoln Beach, the Knolls and Pelican Bay marina There is pretty good catfishing outside the dikes at Lincoln Beach and the knolls is always a decent bet. You may have to search a bit to find them. If you catch a small white bass you could use it whole if small enough or you can cut strips from it. White bass is excellent bait for cats. You may also use worms or shrimp. With the water as low as it is you may have to kick out into 4' water to find them, sometimes they are shallow. There is a storm front moving in this weekend and Utah Lake can get nasty fast so wear a life jacket and be cautious. Get off the water before it gets to a point where you cant. Be safe and have fun
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If you are not sure of the location of some of the places I will see if I can dig up Tube Dudes map of utah lake it has a lot of info. And here it is
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for posting up the map pack. Glad someone has some use for it. I guess it's true that once you put something on the Internet everybody owns it. That's cool. That's what it's for.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]This is probably a good place to post an announcement on the Knolls. A fellow tuber was evicted from the area last weekend by a sheriff. Seems that property owners have united to try to make the whole area off limits to the public...trash and careless shooting are mostly to blame. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Until recently it has still been allowable to follow the access road in from Highway 68 and park and fish along the shoreline road...up to a point. Not now. All off limits. The sheriff did not issue a citation and provided info to help contact the landowners (including the LDS church) and to get access restored. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I got in contact with the regional offices of DWR in Springville and John Fairchild has already made the necessary contacts and has meetings scheduled with landowners to try to negotiate something. DWR has been working hard to increase access to Utah Lake for use by anglers and other recreational folks. The closure was not something they wanted to hear about and I am confident they will work something out. They have had a lot of experience with various land owners around the lake and are pretty good at getting concessions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I hope to hear better news soon and will post it as soon as there is a definitive position. In the meantime it might be best to avoid the Knolls. Even though the sheriff is sympathetic and not writing tickets it can ruin a planned trip to get chased out without getting in your fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][quote]] Thanks for posting up the map pack. Glad someone has some use for it. I guess it's true that once you put something on the Internet everybody owns it. That's cool. That's what it's for. [[/#0000ff]]
I hoped you would be ok with me sharing the MAP PAK. That is not good news to have the entire knolls area shutdown. I hope they can reach an agreement but as all of us have witnessed there are a lot of folks that show no respect for the area. There is trash and no matter how much or how often it gets cleaned up within a few days it is trashed again. The new tresspassing signs making it a long ways to favorite fishing areas but total loss of access would be
indeed. I hope they work something out.
Thanks for the info! So let me get this straight..If I were to go to the "Knolls", they'd be able to make me get out of the water? What I mean by that is if I entered somewhere else and paddled out to it but never actually walked on their land, they could tell me to get out? Like I said, We've never fished it and don't really know what it looks like and that kinda thing. Nice map u made! My guess is we'll just drive up earlier than we actually plan to fish and kind of scout out the area and when we're ready fish the spot we thought looked best.
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[cool][#0000ff]There are several popular fishing spots around Utah Lake that are accessible only by the water. Land owners control land access and if they choose to fence it off or post it they are able to do so. Lots of controversy and argument over the legality of restricting public access to a state owned lake. And in the past there have been land owners who were legally required to supply easements or road access to the lake at low water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Legally, the landowner can control only the property that extends to the historic high water mark. Below that is state land and should be useable by the public. But the prudent angler would not choose to argue with an irate land owner who is fed up with trashing and vandalism and who is pointing a loaded gun at you..."requesting" that you depart hence. If you have a cell phone you can call for a sheriff to show up and clarify the issue. But in many cases the officer who shows up might be kin to the landowner and you lose.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Short answer...you have no problem if you come in by boat or other water device after launching at a public launch site. And you should have no problem if you enter the water in waders at a public access location and wade beyond the closed boundaries. The landowner cannot make you get out of the water. The concern for them is people leaving gates open, tearing down fences, trashing the property or damaging wells, irrigation equipment or structures on the property. And last year at the Knolls there was also the incidence of people crossing the posted fence, killing cattle and carting off the choice cuts of meat...leaving the rest to rot. That would arouse my ire and contribute to a feeling of wanting to shut it all down too. As always, a few idiots can ruin it for everybody else.[/#0000ff]
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Interesting! I've always been against people being able to restrict where u fish because its "on their property". I remember I fished the Weber river and caught my first river fish there...Beatiful 18 or so inch fat brown trout. After catching it I tried fishing more in that area but got nothing. So me and my dad went looking for another stretch of the river and it said "private property no fishing". I was furious because I had just caught an awesome fish and wanted to continue. I can see how nice it would be as a land owner to own that stretch of water and have exclusive access to it but no one else, but I don't think that's right. At the same time though I can see their point by how u talked about people leaving a mess and doing all sorts of shinanigans. So I found out we're going saturday in the morning. Hopefully we'll do good and if not, we'll at least know how it looks for the future
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[cool][#0000ff]Private control of public waters is a BIG issue in Utah...with ongoing legislation, legal battles and reinterpretation. See HB 141.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck on your trip. Every trip is a good one. Some better than others for catching but all should serve as learning experiences and to expose you to new places, new species and new tactics and techniques. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been fishing the big Utah County pond for over 50 years. But I gotta admit that I still learn new stuff almost every time out. There is an old saying that you can never step into the same river twice...obviously. The same is true of almost any water when it comes to fishing. Some aspects don't change much but in matters of depth, water clarity, temperatures, weather, species population changes, species habits at different seasons, etc. there are a lot of variables. Those of us who fish UL a lot will confirm that fishing the same spot the same way two days in a row can produce vastly different results. Hey...that's fishing for ya.[/#0000ff]
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I'd just like to say, "WOW!" That is the single most detailed lake report by an individual I've ever seen.
I've read quite a few of the threads here about Utah Lake and the various fishing locations, but had no earthly idea what they meant. I do now, and Utah Lake is now on my list of "gotta go" places. Before this encyclopedia, the drive from Ogden with no knowledge of exactly where to go was daunting.
The only other thing I'd appreciate seeing included would be an idea of the fees the marinas charge. If for no other reason than for bringing the right change.
Thanks again and a crisp salute, TubeDude.
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Yeah TD does good work[
] As far as fees American Fork Harbor is 8 bucks, 5 if you are a senior Im not sure on Lindon he used to be 5 but I think he raised it. Provo is a State Park and they charge 9 bucks
Pelican Bay as TD stated does not charge unless you are launching a boat. I think it is 8 bucks to launch. You would be safe to bring a $5. bill and 5 ones. Hope that helps
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[cool][#0000ff]There are only about 3 public access areas that charge a fee for day use or launching. More for a boat than for launching a tube or toon...or shore fishing. Figure about $10 for launching a boat at Provo, Lindon or American Fork. Also the Saratoga Springs Marina...not the private harbor. No fee for trailerless access at the latter but about $5 at either Lindon or American Fork...with a slight senior discount at AFBH. Provo charges the same day use fee for boats, tubes or toons. It is a State Park. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]No fees at Lincoln Beach. It is a Utah County Park. Most of the other access points are no fee also.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]All that is to the best of my reckymembry. Might be slightly different and subject to change. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am also attaching a PDF file on the Utah Lake Access pamphlet recently put out by DWR in their efforts to encourage UL use by the public. These are available at most DWR license and info outlets or at the DNR building on North Temple. A great little booklet to keep handy in your jaunts around the lake.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Glad you liked the Map Pack. It is a very condensed partial version of the CD/Book I put together on Fishing Utah Lake. I am shamelessly attaching the info on that also.[/#0000ff]
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The book and the new chapter on ice fishing make it a must have for serious newbies to Utah Lake. It is one of my favorite early season ice fishing spots. With big catfish, a variety of pan fish lots of area it is a great place to play even for a 1 hour drive. Besides the book a visit to TD's Tackletorium is an experience in itself.
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just get a hold of tube dude and buy your self a copy of the utah lake book! it is hot spot on!
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