My buddy and I went to Birch Creek Reservoir Friday morning and walked up the hill to fish this reservoir.. we had great success with numerous fish in the 14-16 inch range one was the tiger trout that almost took the pole also..reminder that a walk in pass is needed (free)for about half the reservoir..
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How is the water level?
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As I'm new to Birch Creek Res. I don't know how it compares to other years.. but I'd say it's down 20-25 ft from the full mark..the first part that you drive past to get to the dike is dry.I was told it's possible to put a boat on at times.. I don't see how?
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Thanks for the report. It sounds like you had a good day.
The water level is about the same as in past years for this time of year. They are not pulling any more water out so the level is rising now. The only time there is water in the lower pond is when they are releasing water for irrigation so I wouldn't try fishing it unless you just want to get a tan or read a book without being bothered by a fish.[
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What do you mean "a walk in pass is needed" Where do you get this so called pass?
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There are a bunch of new signs that read "walk in access only". No need by the sign to call for a pass. The water is higher than the past few years, but lacks the weeds of years past. Alga has been crappy. Lots of scrappy bows. The tigers are few in number and i think that they aren't stocking them like years past.
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A walk in pass can be had by going to wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess then click on the walkinaccess web page, then click on get an authorization number.. fill out from print it off..
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there are portions of Birch Creek that you don't need a pass to fish
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Makes sense.[fishon]
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So if you walk up the dam section and float the reservoir on a float tube would you still be required to have the walk in pass?
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I doubt it, the WIA number is to trespass on property, as long as you are floating the water I would think you are fine...although I could be wrong [frown]
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I have been waiting for mine in the mail since April!!! No authorization number was given to me this year when I did it online.
Last year I called the number found on a WIA sign and recived my authorization number and my papers showed up a few months later.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]That's strange because I just purchased the free license online and printed out the temporary license and the actual license will be mailed to me. The whole process took maybe 3 minutes.[/#800000][/font]
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The shoreline at Birch Creek Reservoir has unlimited public access, regardless if it is BLM or private. The WIA# is merely to allow someone to access the reservoir via a road on the west side and walk a 1/2 mile after entering a gate on private property. This is on the DWR website.
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[quote Liprippa]The shoreline at Birch Creek Reservoir has unlimited public access, regardless if it is BLM or private. The WIA# is merely to allow someone to access the reservoir via a road on the west side and walk a 1/2 mile after entering a gate on private property. This is on the DWR website.[/quote]Thank you.
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Actually Liprippa's advice is incorrect, there is not unlimited shoreline access at Birch Creek, if you are on the bank anywhere west of the posted WIA signs and don't have a WIA number and are properly signed in you are trespassing and could be cited by DWR. The shore and bottom of the reservoir are privately owned, I know this because I was involved in the process of setting up this WIA area. Thanks and enjoy the reservoir.
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Thanks for the clarification and welcome to BFT Teddy.
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Thanks albinotrout for the welcome. Again as to Liprippa, I'm not sure we're reading the same information in your provided links. I have no interest in an online feud over who is right about what, just trying to help keep the information correct as I stated above so no one is misinformed. Nowhere in the Dept of water quality document from the 1990's is a right to use private shoreline discussed, nor is the term Recreational shoreline easement used. The conservation pool is correct but has nothing to do with fishing access. They do say that access to the reservoir is unlimited but that means only via the public portion of the dam and shoreline, in that there are no fees, no certain number of boats or users at any one time, ect. That is why the WIA area was put in, the DWR personnel are very good at what they do in regards to the research of the specifics of the properties they enroll. A quick use of the online property ownership map will show the rough boundaries and " the north half" is NOT all BLM. I have intimate knowledge of the property and area and the fisherman that use this place ought to call the Ogden office and thank the DWR for their efforts at keeping the place open to every one; as otherwise the private portions of the shoreline were to be posted and closed to use due to continued litter and especially vandalism and damage to the surrounding gates, fencing, and roads near and leading down to the lake on the surrounding private property. Its easy to just get the free WIA number and follow the rules, it only took me few minutes to get a number for myself and my family members online. Again, enjoy this great place and thanks for your interest and thanks UDWR.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I agree that Lipripa's interpretation of the rules for Birch Creek are incorrect. My conversation yesterday with John (the CO for that area) indicated that if you were anywhere on the shore outside the BLM boundaries, you would need to have the WIA authorization number with you. If you don't have it with you, you will be trespassing and subject to a citation. This came directly from DWR Law Enforcement yesterday. I mean no disrespect Liprippa, but in this case I firmly believe you are mistaken.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I read both of your links and can find NO mention of a recreational easement in either of them. What I did find was a statement that said: "With a Walk-in access authorization number, you may walk through the half-mile of private land and enter the reservoir from the gate on the west." Entering the reservoir says to me entering the water; not entering a recreational easement surrounding the water.[/#800000][/font]
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