Utah Lake Boating safe?

[Papasan]

I have never fished Utah Lake from a boat. I hear people talk about it here but have also heard that it can be dangerous because it is so shallow and folks running aground out in the lake on rocks and sand bars. Is that seasonal and how are the conditions currently? I have a fun little 19.5 outboard that I would like to give it a try in this weekend. Any tips/precautions? including fishing tips too!
[signature]

[Anglinarcher]

I sold my boat to my son a couple of years ago so I can't take you out, but, the answer is yes, it can be dangerous. But, so can every single lake in every land on earth.

I fished in Louisiana for about a year and most of their lakes, like Toledo Bend, have tree tops and trunks in the water that are just under the surface in 70 feet of water. Now that is dangerous, but they deal with it. Many of their lakes are under 5 feet of depth, entirely, but they deal with it. Much of their water is like UL, no visibility, but they deal with it.

My suggestion is to go slow at first, use a GPS to track your paths. Follow old paths until you learn the lake. USE A SONAR to track depth and learn to follow it. Get a depth map of the lake (none are great) and at least that will get you started.

If you are going to fish near shorelines, long points, or Bird Island, you had better bring up the big motor and go with the electric. And yes, be prepared to get out of the boat and push at times. And you had better have a spare prop or two on board. Learned that one the hard way. LOL[crazy]

Still, if I had my boat still, I would have no fear at all in going on UL, but I also would be smart about it.

I'll try to copy some on line maps, but remember that these are at full pool and UL is still only at -3.65' as of 4/22/2017. I will try to upload them later.
[signature]

[Kent]

I'm fishing Bird Island right now. Until the water comes up at least another foot be really careful in the marinas. Be extremely careful if you go out to Bird Island. Some directions it is shallow for at least a couple blocks away from the island.
[signature]

[SonOf_ACarDoc]

I have a dedicated Utah Lake prop for my boat and I'm on my third one. I find the harbors are the worst. After several hits, I've found where to avoid. Also be careful around bird island (especially the South East side) and the springs. Both areas have rocky bottoms. When we're out in the middle of the lake pulling the kids on tubes, I've never hit anything.
[signature]

[Anglinarcher]

[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[font "Calibri"][#0563c1][font "Calibri"][#0563c1][url "http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html#9.77/40.1875/-111.9282"]http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html#9.77/40.1875/-111.9282[/url][/#0563c1][/font][/#0563c1][/font]
[font "Calibri"][#0563c1][font "Calibri"][#0563c1]
I think/hope that this link will get you to a map, with levels based on full pool. You can purchase it or at least learn about it. I had to hand enter it because it kept shortening it on me.[/#0563c1][/font][/#0563c1][/font]
[font "Calibri"][#0563c1][font "Calibri"][#0563c1]
[/#0563c1][/font][/#0563c1][/font]
[font "Calibri"][#0563c1][font "Calibri"][#0563c1]Good luck on your ventures.
[font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
[signature][/#0563c1][/font][/#0563c1][/font]

[Kent]

I ended up dinging my prop on Saturday. I have to remember that it takes more depth to get up on plane than it used to take with my aluminum boat.
[signature]

[wall3y3]

That map is not accurate enough to rely on around Bird island. On the maiden voyage of my new Crestliner two years ago I 'found' a shallow rocky spot at least 200 yards north of the Island. There was no warning it went from 8-9 feet to like 3 feet almost instantly. Fortunately I was going slow and I only dinged my skeg a bit but it was still a bummer. Haven't been out on Utah lake since but that mostly because of the low water last year.
[signature]

[Kent]

[quote wall3y3]

On the maiden voyage of my new Crestliner two years ago I 'found' a shallow rocky spot at least 200 yards north of the Island. There was no warning it went from 8-9 feet to like 3 feet almost instantly.

[/quote]

I found that same shelf Saturday while moving with the electric. I had unwisely left the big outboard down while I was moving around using the electric and it found it.
[signature]

[doitall5000]

They posted signs, launch at your own risk. That's their own way of freeing the parks people from liabilities. Would be useful if hazard s were actually marked. Even the channel was not safe.
I hear they did some digging, good luck. At your own risk.
[signature]

[Anglinarcher]

[quote kentofnsl][quote wall3y3]

On the maiden voyage of my new Crestliner two years ago I 'found' a shallow rocky spot at least 200 yards north of the Island. There was no warning it went from 8-9 feet to like 3 feet almost instantly.

[/quote]

I found that same shelf Saturday while moving with the electric. I had unwisely left the big outboard down while I was moving around using the electric and it found it.[/quote]

I figure I have already spend good money (new prop - ouch) to find that spot, so it gets marked on my GPS for later reference. Fish are found there with that kind of depth change.
[signature]

[MRJ]

When it comes to Bird Island, the southeast arm is very shallow waaaay out from the main part. Literally, give it a half mile.
[signature]

[MRJ]

For the sake of those that fish Bird Island, what is the GPS location of that hazard? Thanks, MRJ.
[signature]

[Anglinarcher]

I had a nice long response, stopped to answer my wife's questions, the program froze and would not allow me to scroll in it. Happened again, so I give up. This forum is just too primitive to give detailed answers.

In short, go to Google Earth where it is clearly showing it. The island over a half mile from NW to SE and over a quarter mile from NE to SW. But, most of the length is a very narrow strip, with super shallow areas all around the island.

None of the island is much above current water levels and tons of it is inches to a couple of feet under the surface.
[signature]

[Anglinarcher]

[quote doitall5000]They posted signs, launch at your own risk. That's their own way of freeing the parks people from liabilities. Would be useful if hazard s were actually marked. Even the channel was not safe.
I hear they did some digging, good luck. At your own risk.[/quote]

Takes a ton of money to keep markers accurate. Wind shifts them, people move or steel them, ice breaks them off; we, as residents, could not afford to keep markers on all hazards.

Worse, if wind or ice or vandals move a marker and someone hits a spot, well, can you say law suit? Best to just put up general warning signs and make us take responsibility.
[signature]