Pineview Friday 9/19/2025

[BSF]

I’ve been hearing reports of pretty good Crappie fishing at Pineview, so I decided to give it a try in my kayak. 
I have only ever ice fished Pineview and that was several years ago. 

I was a little surprised to see the water level so low, the Port Ramp was closed, and it cost $23 to launch my kayak at Anderson Cove, even with a State Park Pass.

I was unable to locate any Crappie in the South Fork Arm, but I did finally stumble upon some Perch in 4 to 6 feet of water, so they didn’t even show on the fish finder. 

On the water at 8:30am air temp. 50*, water temp 68*. 
Off the water at 1:30pm air temp. 75*, water temp 69*. 

Ended up catching 39 six to nine inch Perch and 4 ugly Bullhead cats. 

It was a very nice fall day to be on the water.

[wiperhunter2]

Thanks much for your report and pics. I was hoping the Port ramp was still open, so that's a bummer that Anderson cove is the only ramp open. Do you think a bigger boat could be launched there? I know in years past, that ramp can be very shallow when the water gets low. Good to hear the perch are doing better this year, even if they are smallish. Since PV isn't a state park, that pass will not work there, that is why we use to wait until they stopped charging to launch at the Port ramp before we fished it in the past but once they started closing the Port ramp and started asking that outrageous fee to launch at the Anderson come, many of us stopped fishing there, bummer, but I'm glad you were able to get up there and find plenty of willing perch. Did you by chance try over on the Browning point side?

[RockyRaab2]

The lake closest to me is Pineview, but like many of us, I absolutely refuse to fish there because of the greedy concessionaire.

[lovetofish]

I've only fished Pineview one time and that was two years ago. I was fishing for Crappie too. With the launch fee of 23.00 I don't believe I'll be back any time soon. I fished Strawberry yesterday and paid 15.00 at Renegade. Seems like every year they want more and more money.

Glad to hear that at least you had a good fishing trip after forking out such so much to launch.

[BSF]

WH2,
The ramp is actually pretty nice. Right now it’s a long walk up to the parking. Plenty of big boats launching and it’s wide enough for two boats to launch/load at the same time.

I did not try Browning point, l didn’t want to paddle the kayak that far.

[dubob]

Yep, Pineview was crossed of my list when the fees to launch went to 365 days & 24/7.  I have a lifetime Federal pass that gets my into almost all Federal venues except any that are being run by concessionaires - like Pineview & Strawberry.  Concessionaires don't honor any of the Federal day use passes.  However, the last time I camped at Strawberry (3 years ago), the basic camping fee was 50% of the normal daily fee with the use of my Golden Access lifetime pass.  The additional cost of hookups (water & electric) was at the full rate.  Boat launching is included when you camp.

IMHO, the fees being assessed by concessionaires for day use & camping are obscene and in some cases are more expensive than private campgrounds in the same area.

[wiperhunter2]

WH2,
The ramp is actually pretty nice. Right now it’s a long walk up to the parking. Plenty of big boats launching and it’s wide enough for two boats to launch/load at the same time.

I did not try Browning point, l didn’t want to paddle the kayak that far.

Thanks for the reply and added info. Good to know the ramp is still usable, last year I went up there to take a look and found the water was so low that the ramp was out of the water. I read a report on FB where a guy launched his kayak from Browning point and did really good there for crappie but it's a long carry to get from the parking lot to the water in that location but there is no cost.

[MrShane]

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

[lovetofish]

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Geez, you guys that fish Willard all the time are you paying $20 each time you fish there or do they have some kind of annual pass.

[BSF]

Thanks much for your report and pics. I was hoping the Port ramp was still open, so that's a bummer that Anderson cove is the only ramp open. Do you think a bigger boat could be launched there? I know in years past, that ramp can be very shallow when the water gets low. Good to hear the perch are doing better this year, even if they are smallish. Since PV isn't a state park, that pass will not work there, that is why we use to wait until they stopped charging to launch at the Port ramp before we fished it in the past but once they started closing the Port ramp and started asking that outrageous fee to launch at the Anderson come, many of us stopped fishing there, bummer, but I'm glad you were able to get up there and find plenty of willing perch. Did you by chance try over on the Browning point side?

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Geez, you guys that fish Willard all the time are you paying $20 each time you fish there or do they have some kind of annual pass.

Willard Bay is a State Park, so a 365 day State Park Pass is well worth getting. I don’t remember how much it cost. And there are a bunch of bodies of water near by that you can use it at.

[dubob]

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Like that's EVER gonna happen.  Thanks Shane.  I needed a good laugh today.  

[wiperhunter2]

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Like that's EVER gonna happen.  Thanks Shane.  I needed a good laugh today.  

Well, I guess you better take back your laugh Bob, because I just got back from PV, where I drove up to for a fact check. According to the person at the pay station, tomorrow is the first day of Fall and they switch over to their Fall rates of $13 then. I also went to the Cemetary point ramp and today is the last day they will be open, until next year.  So not quite $11.50 but $13 is much better than $23.

[dubob]

Geez, you guys that fish Willard all the time are you paying $20 each time you fish there or do they have some kind of annual pass.

Day use pass fees vary from venue to venue.  They also vary based on residency and age.  The Annual Day Use Pass is $125 (residents only).  If you are 65 or older, it will cost you $65.  If you are an honorably discharged, disabled Veteran, you are eligible for a free, Veterans With Disabilities Honor Pass. 

Be advised, Park Day Use Passes don’t offer ANY discount on camping fees.  Camping fees vary by location and can cost as much as $60 per night.
 
Pineview, Strawberry, & Flaming Gorge ARE NOT State Parks – they are Federal.  State passes DO NOT work for entry into these venues.  

[wiperhunter2]

Thanks much for your report and pics. I was hoping the Port ramp was still open, so that's a bummer that Anderson cove is the only ramp open. Do you think a bigger boat could be launched there? I know in years past, that ramp can be very shallow when the water gets low. Good to hear the perch are doing better this year, even if they are smallish. Since PV isn't a state park, that pass will not work there, that is why we use to wait until they stopped charging to launch at the Port ramp before we fished it in the past but once they started closing the Port ramp and started asking that outrageous fee to launch at the Anderson come, many of us stopped fishing there, bummer, but I'm glad you were able to get up there and find plenty of willing perch. Did you by chance try over on the Browning point side?

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Geez, you guys that fish Willard all the time are you paying $20 each time you fish there or do they have some kind of annual pass.

Willard Bay is a State Park, so a 365 day State Park Pass is well worth getting. I don’t remember how much it cost. And there are a bunch of bodies of water near by that you can use it at.

If I remember correctly, a state parks pass is $75 for seniors and $150 for everyone else. A season pass at PV is at least $200 and that is only good at one lake, it cost more if you want to fish at Strawberry, please correct me if I wrong on that price.

[Kent]

Thanks much for your report and pics. I was hoping the Port ramp was still open, so that's a bummer that Anderson cove is the only ramp open. Do you think a bigger boat could be launched there? I know in years past, that ramp can be very shallow when the water gets low. Good to hear the perch are doing better this year, even if they are smallish. Since PV isn't a state park, that pass will not work there, that is why we use to wait until they stopped charging to launch at the Port ramp before we fished it in the past but once they started closing the Port ramp and started asking that outrageous fee to launch at the Anderson come, many of us stopped fishing there, bummer, but I'm glad you were able to get up there and find plenty of willing perch. Did you by chance try over on the Browning point side?

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Geez, you guys that fish Willard all the time are you paying $20 each time you fish there or do they have some kind of annual pass.

Willard Bay is a State Park, so a 365 day State Park Pass is well worth getting. I don’t remember how much it cost. And there are a bunch of bodies of water near by that you can use it at.

If I remember correctly, a state parks pass is $75 for seniors and $150 for everyone else. A season pass at PV is at least $200 and that is only good at one lake, it cost more if you want to fish at Strawberry, please correct me if I wrong on that price.

$65 for Utah senior residents and $125 for Utah residents under age 65.

[talyn]

Thanks much for your report and pics. I was hoping the Port ramp was still open, so that's a bummer that Anderson cove is the only ramp open. Do you think a bigger boat could be launched there? I know in years past, that ramp can be very shallow when the water gets low. Good to hear the perch are doing better this year, even if they are smallish. Since PV isn't a state park, that pass will not work there, that is why we use to wait until they stopped charging to launch at the Port ramp before we fished it in the past but once they started closing the Port ramp and started asking that outrageous fee to launch at the Anderson come, many of us stopped fishing there, bummer, but I'm glad you were able to get up there and find plenty of willing perch. Did you by chance try over on the Browning point side?

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Geez, you guys that fish Willard all the time are you paying $20 each time you fish there or do they have some kind of annual pass.

Willard Bay is a State Park, so a 365 day State Park Pass is well worth getting. I don’t remember how much it cost. And there are a bunch of bodies of water near by that you can use it at.

If I remember correctly, a state parks pass is $75 for seniors and $150 for everyone else. A season pass at PV is at least $200 and that is only good at one lake, it cost more if you want to fish at Strawberry, please correct me if I wrong on that price.

Pineview and Strawberry season pass has been $197 for the last couple of years. There is not a Pineview only season pass but there is a Strawberry only season pass.

[dubob]

Talyn is correct.  From the website of the company that has the concessionaire contract to manage Pineview & Strawberry - Pay Online - Go Camp Utah – here are the pass fees for 2025.

PINEVIEW RESERVOIR AND STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR SEASON PASS - $197.00

STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR AND CURRANT CREEK RESERVOIR SEASON PASS - $122.00

Daily boat launch fee for Port Ramp/Anderson Cove is difficult to find on-line, but one source (not Utah Recreation) listed it at $23.00 per water vessel.  Launching 2, 3, or 4 jet skies off one trailer would cost more than $23.00.  Kayaks and float tubes are water vessels.  You and a buddy or 2 launching off the same trailer or out of the same pickup would pay more than $23.00 to launch.  Or so I’ve been told.  Doesn’t apply to me, so I’ll not check it out further.

[MrShane]

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Like that's EVER gonna happen.  Thanks Shane.  I needed a good laugh today.  

I thought you would like that.
And if fish grinder does not work=free launch.
If all the above AND restrooms are closed then State owes me the daily launch fee for not doing what they are supposed to!
Accountability in action!!

[lovetofish]

Willard Bay is $20/day to launch.
I have a great idea!
The launch fee should be based off of how much water is in the reservoir.
Ex. Pineview is normally $23/day when full.
If Pineview is only 50% full, than the daily launch fee should be $11.50.

Like that's EVER gonna happen.  Thanks Shane.  I needed a good laugh today.  

I thought you would like that.
And if fish grinder does not work=free launch.
If all the above AND restrooms are closed then State owes me the daily launch fee for not doing what they are supposed to!
Accountability in action!!

Good luck with that although I like your ideas. I buy an annual state parks pass every year and a lot of the places that I fish I am able to use that pass. However, when I fish Strawberry, I have to pay the daily use fee to launch BUT when the fish cleaning station or restrooms are closed, I don't give them a dime I just launch.

[dubob]

However, when I fish Strawberry, I have to pay the daily use fee to launch BUT when the fish cleaning station or restrooms are closed, I don't give them a dime I just launch.

Interesting.  No disrespect intended, but how does that work in the summer when Utah Rec is running the show and has the gate manned?  Do you ask them if the fish cleaning station and/or the restrooms are closed before you pay them the day use fee?  Have they ever said 'Yes, they are closed."?  Did you not pay and launch anyway?  Or maybe you only fish there after Utah Rec is through for the season.  Again, no disrespect intended.  I'm just curious about whether or not this has actually worked for you when Utah Rec is running the show there.

I don't fish Strawberry in the summer unless I am camping there for 2 or more days.  Launching a boat is covered by the camping fee.  After Utah Rec leaves, I just display my lifetime Federal Golden Access card on the dash.  For me, there isn't anything in Strawberry that I can't get at numerous State Park venues that would make the obscene Utah Rec day use fee acceptable.  YMMV!