UL Access

[ProfessorChaos]

Anyone know where I can access the lake without paying to park in a boat harbor or state park parking lot?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]One of the best spots...for a nice area and good fishing...is Lincoln Beach. It is a Utah County park.

Here is a synopsis of the better access points around the lake...put together from the DWR website.
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[ProfessorChaos]

Thanks. I'm on my way down now in hopes of some afternoon serenity and possible fishing frustration. Haha. I guess I'll try Lincoln Beach.
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[ProfessorChaos]

Thanks again for the info TubeDude. Went to Lincoln and caught 13. 12 of those smaller yellow buggers and 1 ok channel that was 21" and 3 lbs. not much to write home about, but fun nevertheless.
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[albinotrout]

Good on ya! I hope to do well there soon as well.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]Hey...tugs is tugs. Any kind of fishing is good therapy...or a "brainbroom" as I call it.

From the tone of your pre-departure post it sounded like you needed something like that.

Glad you found something.

I am guessing you fished off the end of the south dike. Definitely a bullhead condo this time of year. But also some big cats taken in close while the shallows warm faster than the main lake. And if you get lucky there should be some post spawn walleyes showing up there too.
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[ProfessorChaos]

Yeah that's pretty much where I was. There were buoys starting about 200 yards-ish off shore to the northwest of where I was. I believe marking that pipe or whatever that is out there. I was sitting just south of a small point south of lindon harbor. I saw several walleye jumping, or at least what I "identified" as walleye. I didn't try to get them though.
And yes it was a much needed brain broom. I had learned earlier in the day that an old friend of mine had passed away. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Sounds like a miscommunication on venues. I understood that you had gone to Lincoln Beach...not Lindon. The buoys are the markers for the bubbleup pipe. It seems that you ended up down by the Vineyard County park...with the pavilions and the sandy beach, etc.?

Sorry for your loss. I am at the age when more of my peers are taking dirt naps. My old aunt in Idaho says that whenever she wants to visit her best friends she has to go to the cemetery. Just gotta be thankful for every year we still have on this side of the grass...and fondly remember our family and friends who left before us.

Fishing is always good therapy. As a former fishing buddy used to say..."You can fish or you can worry. But you can't fish AND worry."
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[ProfessorChaos]

Thanks for the kind words man, yeah it's hard to be worried and fish at the same time! I actually just found out a college friend passed yesterday too. I'm only 29 so these are pretty young people. Too bad.
About the venue thing... Yeah I didn't think Lincoln was at Lindon, but I don't know Utah Lake very well at all. When I put Lincoln Beach into google maps that is where I was directed. I'll have to reference that link you previously posted about access points. Now I feel stupid for posting about going to Lincoln, oh well.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]No worries. Another of my favorite expressions is "Anything not clearly understood...is misunderstood."

Here's something else that may be of use.
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[ProfessorChaos]

Wow! That's really helpful, thank you very much. Did you do all that for fun or are you somehow involved "officially" with Utah Lake?
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[zburninator]

I made the same mistake. when i typed in Lincoln beach in google maps it took me to the beach by Lindon. On google Vinyard comes up as Lincoln beach its weird.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]All of the R & D has been for fun. Love the lab work involved in learning Utah Lake. But the writing was merely another "pay it forward" project. I have had the benefit of a lot of help from others over the years and well understand the value of getting good input to save time, money and frustration. So I always take a lot of pictures...and I put together a lot of "writeups". A couple of years ago I put together a compilation and added some more chapters.

If you check the 4-Sale board you will see that I have a CD book available on "Fishing Utah Lake".

I have fished Utah Lake since the early 1960s and have maintained an ongoing study of the overall ecology of that much maligned pond. I participate whenever possible with DWR programs and have been active in promoting the Utah Lake Commission.

In short...I love Utah Lake and spend a good part of my annual fishing time there. And it has been good to me.
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[fish_fear_me2]

TD also catches a ton of fish out of Utah Lake.... Most the big catfish in Utah lake recognize his flippers...Thats why he went motorized...
Figured he could fool em again. Seriously not a better resource around for fishing Utah Lake than Tube Dude. His CD book has a lot of info in it. If you are new to Utah Lake fishing its worth having.
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[ProfessorChaos]

That's awesome that you've taken the time to compile all that info and even cooler that you're willing to share it with the general public. You seem to be a good man TubeDude, thank you.
My buddy and I are thinking of going to the lake tomorrow after work to catch some more catfish. We wouldn't be arriving until after 8 if we go. I know night time fishing is good in the summer, but would you recommend it this time of year? I'm especially concerned about tomorrow night, with the colder temps we've been having... Or would you suggest we let it warm back up before we go out?
When I went on Sunday I was catching them until I left, which was about 10-15 minutes after dark... but it was warmer then too.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as always.
Thank you.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]The best time to go fishing is whenever you can get away. But this time of year Mama Nature can mess up a good trip with some nasty weather. Catfish bite best after a couple of days of calm weather...following the last front. And they usually don't bite well for at least a day or two after a big blow. Utah Lake is shallow and when there are big swells marching across the lake it unsettles the fish.

I had planned a trip on Thursday but now that looks iffy too.

The one thing about fishing late afternoons and into the evening after a warm day is that fish tend to move into the shallows for the extra warmth. That's why a lot of the biggest cats of the year are taken this time of year...and close to shore.

If you can find a spot that has been somewhat protected from most of the wind...and has been warmed a few degrees...you might find some fish. But if you haven't gotten any love after an hour or so you can figure the fish are not gonna play.
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[ProfessorChaos]

A spot like one in a smaller boat harbor? Or even more protected?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000FF]I generally make plans based upon prevailing wind directions. If I am fishing for cats I try to fish from a leeward bank...offshore breezes. And it helps if the wind direction remains more or less consistent for a day or so.

All that goes out the window tomorrow. Winds in the early part of the day are from the NE...then the North. Later they rotate around to the West and the Southwest. In other words, if you set up where you were a couple of days ago you will have wind-driven waves coming right into your face.

Actually, during variable weather periods it can be a good bet to pay the fee and fish inside one of the harbors. With their dike systems they are usually more protected than the open lake...and they warm up faster too.

There have already been some good cats caught inside both American Fork and Lindon harbors. If you want to get out of the weather influence of the open lake it could be worth considering.

On the other side of the lake is the Saratoga Springs Marina at Pelican Bay. They do not charge for shore fishing...only if you trailer a boat. The cat fishing is not always as good over there inside the harbor, but if the winds come in from the west or southwest you can fish the open lake from one of the dikes and have some protection. Should be some white bass showing up there soon...and maybe a walleye or two off the rocks.
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[ProfessorChaos]

I really appreciate the info and you taking the time to share it. I have one last question. I know the sign entering Provo Boat Harbor says it closes at 10. Are there any harbors that allow you stay later than that?
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[BigEZ]

Every harbor allows you to stay later, they just might not let you leave when you want. []
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