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Yesterday after work I took a drive up Hobblecreek to check things out. I have never been there before but I have heard about it for years. Well, I was a little disappointed with what I saw. First the stream was just a trickle. And there is virtually no access due to all of the posted private property. It is hard for me to image that stream as a great fishery due to the low water. Or maybe I just missed something.
Could you guys who know the place enlighten me about it? Is there a good section that I did not see? As a side note, what are the prospects for hunting deer and elk up there? It looked awesome for that if you can get access to the national forest.
Thanks,
m
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Hey Matador how far up did you go?
There is plenty of access to Hobble Creek, and plenty of public land with close to the road places to fish. Miles of it in fact. In the winter there's snow up there and they only maintain the road a little ways up. There is a gate across it. You can park there and walk upstream, wading the stream or whatever and go up for quite a ways with lots of good holes. Higher up the water is probably deeper too. The runoff hasn't really started yet either so flows should be small. Hobble Creek never was a big stream, it's always been pretty small. It can be lots of fun though.
As for hunting, yes there is TONS of National Forest land up higher, and lots of hunters do well up there. In fact, you can take the road all the way across from Hobble Creek and you'll end up by the Renegade boat ramp at Strawberry. It's a beautiful drive too.
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Thanks for the info cat_man. I went up as far as I could on the main road. There was a bridge there near the entrance to a big estate. I could see that a road(I think it was dirt under the snow) went on up further past the bridge but there was a pile of snow blocking the way. There was a small sign about a BSA camp. I did not take any of the side roads along the lower canyon because it appeared that they just led to more private land. About midway up to where I had to stop there was a forest service sign that implied that going up a certain road near the sign would get you to forest service land, and that offroading was not permitted. That side road was gated, but later in the year what would I find up that road?
m
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I have fished just above and just below the golf course before in the summer and had plenty of water to wet a fly. I am a beginner fly fisherman and was still able to catch some fish even with my limited knowledge. I do know where some great sized browns are on the golf course and would love to try for them. I don't think anybody would bother you if you fished the golf course but I'm sure they wouldn't bother me too long. At the bottom of the canyon is the catcher basin that has water in it until half way through the summer. I have fished just up the canyon from there and done ok. There is lots of land and plenty of water once you get away from the road and start walking the river. PM me if you want to go next week and we will go play on the golf course. I am usually available after 4:00 pm so we could hit it for a couple of hours. If anybody wants to go I would love to show you some spots in exchange for some advice and tips on fly fishing.
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Hobble Creek has two main forks -- the left (North) fork and the right (South) fork. The north fork has a lot of private land and I really don't know much about it. The south fork, however, I do know something about. I believe the Scout area you're talking about is called Kelly's Grove. Just continue on up the canyon past that. The road up the canyon is paved for many more miles.
I believe if I remember right the road if you go perfectly straight will take you up the north fork. It's much smaller and is probably too small to hold fish in it. The South fork is still a main road, paved and all but you sort of have to turn right onto it. Coming BACK DOWN from the South fork, you have to stop at a stop sign before you can turn right to go up the north fork or left to go back down the main canyon. You might have been up the wrong fork.
The south fork has some campgrounds along it, and in the winter will be gated at some point but continues on paved after the gate. It is paved much farther up than the north fork. The north fork to get past the paved part you must have 4 wheel drive. The south fork can be managed in a minivan. I haven't been up there for awhile so sorry if I'm not being very clear. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
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cat_man,
Oh, I see. I think I was up the north fork. I remember the intersection with the stop sign. Going up the main canyon, the road naturally curves left where the stop sign is. And yes, I would have had to make a deliberate turn, slightly to the right, to go up the other road past the stop sign. I don't recall any campgrounds where I was at but there were some park-like places with pavillions and such. But they looked like they might be part of the uppity resort outfits I saw along there. So I bet I was in the wrong place. Nevertheless, I sure wish I owned a big chunk of ground up there. Man, it must have been some pretty awesome hunting back in the day.
fishluvr,
I will have to look at my schedule. I know that I can't make it Monday or Wednesday. Maybe Thursday, depending on work. I'll let you know.
m
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The scout camp you are seeing is probably Jeremiah Johnson. It's up the north fork and is well known in the scouting circles. I definitely prefer the south fork, right turn, for fishing. If you follow it long enough and up over the mountain you run into Diamond Fork area which is great river fishing. Either that or access Diamon Fork from Spanish Fork Canyon. Kelly's Grove is a camping area but not a scout camp.
As far as hunting goes it used to be great hunting. Now it gets so crowded, even on the bow hunt, that it sucks. It's good if you have good 4 wheel drive, a 4 wheeler, or horses and can get way away up on top where most people don't go. It is a beautiful canyon and a lot less crowded and fished as the Provo. I fished the Provo yesterday and I caught bigger and more fish when I have fished Hobble Creek in the past. With the low water years I don't know how true that is and also last year or the year before a water treatment plant dumped a bunch of chlorine in the river which killed a whole bunch of fish. I still hear good stuff from there so it's still worth a try.
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I've always wondered,is it ok to be on private property as long as you stay in the water?Because the water is government owned right?Just something I've been told before and wondered if it was true.
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How far up the South Fork can you get this time of year? Is the road paved, graded, dirt? How close is public land? Where in the canyon was the chlorine spilled?
m
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Hey mat. where is hobblecreek
Trent
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Springville Canyon....
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It is just east of Springville. I found it but I don't think I got there by the best route. I went east on Center street until the yellow line in the middle of the road ended, then I turned right. That road evenually took me up the canyon. What is the best way to get there from I-15?
m
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It sounds to me like you found the best route. I just drive and know where to go but don't know the names of the streets that I took. Anyway, yes, you were definitely up the north fork then.
And fishluvr is right about the scout camp. The South fork you will pass a couple campgrounds on your way up -- I'm not sure if they are above or below the gate but at least one is above. The road on the south fork is paved up to a gate -- which will be already higher than you were able to go on the north fork most likely. It is paved beyond the gate another couple of miles, then turns to a dirt/gravel road that is driveable in the summer with a car even for many miles. It goes out to Strawberry, has turnoffs to go to Diamond fork and other side streams up there like 5th water, 6th water, etc. (I'm not at all familiar with those though).
I'm not sure about the legality of wading through the river on private land, if you enter downstream in public land. Maybe you can be I don't know. If it's not posted then you definitely can, because to be legally posted it has to be posted at ALL stream crossings.
I've only fished the area by the golf course in the summer, and I didn't have any luck. I've always had luck up higher though, although the biggest fish were only about 12 inches. Maybe down there there are bigger ones.
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This is my understanding on the laws: In Utah, it basically is not legal to be on private property even though you are on the stream. The landowner owns the riverbed. If you can float the river, you're probably okay in passing through. Other states have different rules. Some states have laws stating that the government owns the riverbed, and if you get to the river legally, you can pass up and down. The federal government owns the riverbeds of navigable rivers, but I think that primarily applies to large, ship carrying rivers, although it might apply to the Green and Colorado.
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To get to Hobble Creek get of the Springville Wal Mart exit, not the Flying J exit. It used to be 263 but I don't know what they have it as now as they are changing the freeway numbers. Head east off the freeway and you are on 400 S in Springville. Follow 400 S until you get to a weird looking four way intersection and stop sign at 1300 East. Turn right and just follow this road all the way up the canyon. If this didn't help let me know and I will throw together some more directions.
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Okay, first of all, nobody from Springville ever calls it North or South fork of Hobblecreek. They are referred to as left or right. The left fork is all private property. The Tanner property extends about 2 1/2 miles above the bridge that you were stopped at. There is very little fishable water up there anyway. The right fork is forest service property. They don't allow camping except in designated campgrounds. It used to be lined with trailers from one end to the other. People were practically living up there.
As to the question of whether you can fish on private property as long as you are in the water. NO. You cannot. There was a big deal about a property owner up in Provo canyon a couple of years ago. Seems a campground owner was charging people to access his property to fish the river. Turns out he can dictate who can and who can't fish that section of the river. You can fish it if you are floating through without touching bottom. That includes not anchoring. I can't remember if the state ever did any negotiating with the guy or not, but it was suggested that the state give him either money or some other concession to allow angler access to his property. But the law in Utah is pretty clear. You cannot enter the stream upstream or downstream and continue onto private property. The landowner owns the streambed, and you are trespassing if you are standing on it. Some states retain rights of way, some define the property owners' land as that which is above the usual high water mark, but Utah give the landowner all lands, even the streambed.
Fishrmn
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As long as it is posted of course. If it's not posted anyone can go on it, but if the landowner asks you to leave you must do so immediately, or you will then be tresspassing. To be properly posted I believe the land must have no trespassing signs at all corners, gates, and stream crossings.
You're right though the "left" fork (sorry I didn't know what to call it) is a much smaller stream and hardly worth the time anyway. With the last couple years of drought any fish that did make it their home probably died anyway.
This time of year is probably the best to hit Hobble Creek. It has warmed up considerably, but there is still snow up there so you won't have the summer crowds. You may even have the place to yourself. And, the runoff hasn't gotten going much yet so the stream should still be fairly low and clear and easy to sight fish.
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