LINCOLN BEACH ACCESS

[TubeDude]

[cool][#ff0000]This is in response to a question from Emuscud, on another thread, about where to access fishing or launching spots at Lincoln Beach.[/#ff0000]

[#0000ff]If you have high clearance and/or 4 wheel drive, there are several "roads" dropping down from the perimeter road and out onto the different access areas around the springs. Otherwise, you need to park up on the road and carry your gear down.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I have been driving and walking the whole area for the last month or so, and have considered making a hand drawn map...something I have done often over the years both in business and for recreation. As far as I know, there ain't none available yet.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I think the road you are referring to, that turned off and headed south from the launch ramp, has been bulldozed into an impassable berm. Some radical offroad vehicles can negotiate it, but it looks like it might leave most hung up on a high center. If you could make it over that, the road is straight and flat to the first spring.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]To get down otherwise, you need to get back out on the paved road, going west, and then turn in at the painted posts. That is one of two entries through the fence. You can go several ways at that gate. If you go right, all the way to the east/west fence, there is a steep access point to the old road right at the fence. I had to use 4 wheel drive to get back up there, and no wimpy vehicle could clear the deep ruts and high bumps.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Almost straight down from the gate, just past the old stone buildings, there is another steep drop to the lower level. It goes through reeds and some water. The water was shallow two weeks ago, but could be deeper if the rains have had any affect. There is no soggy mud to worry about. The bottom of the water hazard is hard sand and rock. Once past that, you again have a clear shot to the east side of the first spring.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]After you get through the main gate, there are two roads going west. Follow the lower dirt road and you will see a series of access points dropping down to different spots around the three springs. Most of them are not recommended for anything but high clearance vehicles. And, some of them are steep enough and rutted enough that you should have 4 wheel drive to stay out of trouble.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are two other places beyond the third spring where you can get down onto the rocky shelf, in the area known as the "L". Both of those are questionable for family sedans. You can probably get down okay, but your cell phone better be working to call for help in getting back out.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The spot we launched for the float tube flotilla is the most user friendly for standard vehicles. That is the area directly in front of all the buildings in the orchard to the west of Lincoln Beach. It can be good fishing in the area, but with the water cooling, there is going to be more of a concentrating factor around the warming water of the springs. That's where I plan to focus most of my casting for the remainder of the year (along with lots of other folks if the fishing gets hot).[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you do not have an offroad vehicle, you can still park on the access road above and trudge your gear the short distance to a good launch site. I have hiked my total package a lot farther than the relatively short ways from the road to the springs.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Like most of us, I am ecstatic to see all of the water coming down, and the snow starting to stack up in the mountains. By next spring, we may be having to use sonar to find the springs again, instead of being able to walk to them. Bring it on.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]By the way, Nate, a mini flotilla is shaping up for next Saturday. Might be a good time to do some reconoitering and gathering more info for the map, even if the wind comes up early.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[EmuScud]

Would that be for the 30th or the 6th?
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]This coming Saturday, for sure (30th). We had planned on hitting Bear Lake on the 6th, but if there is iffy weather, or too much snow, we will downshift to something more local...like LB. Gonna be a whole lotta wallies and whities come outta there in the next month or so. I plan to get my share.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[EmuScud]

Is this another O'dark thirty excursion, or a more informal we'll see you if you're there?
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]So far, it is an informal "come if you can" thing. Out4Trout mentioned he might go, and I suggested that I was thinking on it too. Since O4T does not have offroad capabilities, I offered to shuttle his gear down with my Jimmy, at the first spring.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One or two others have semi sorta ventured that they maybe might kinda sorta think about it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]No need to hit the water before daylight. I will probably get down there to dress up in the restroom or under the light. I'm guessing we will launch between 7:30 to 8:00 or thereabouts.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]All that is predicated upon the weather. I will start my anti-W dance about midday Friday and conjure up the breeze barriers for morning Saturday. It worked well the last time, but I never know how good my connections are, or if my account is paid up.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]At any rate, I plan to work back and forth off the springs area, in my tube, about two long casts out from the waders and bankers. I will bring both large plastics for the toothy guys and some small stuff for the whities. As always, I won't turn down a battle with a "bugle mouth bass". Just lookin' to float my boat and stretch my string.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Out4Trout]

[cool]Pat. I'm no longer a "maybe" but a totally for sure, I need to fish really bad, nothing will stop me (etc.) firm commitment!! I'm sure you remember at the flotilla that it was windy as all get out in Spanish Fork, but by the time we got to the Lake it was beautiful, and calm. I'm hoping for the same this trip. If it's windy at the lake, then I'll just go spoon chucking up at Scofield or the berry.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]It was windy in the parking lot of Harmons, and windy all the way down to Spanish Fork on that last trip. The naysayers kept asking if we should abort the trip. It was blowing a gale in Spanish Fork, and yet I pressed on...leading the unbelievers to the calm and untroubled waters.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I won't claim to be able to walk on (unfrozen) water, but I have been modestly successful at ordering a few hours of calm fishing conditions. Let's hope it holds up. All I ask is enough decent conditions to bag a couple of walleyes and some white bass. I need to get the fixins for a good batch of pig out chowder.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[ALAN]

You should see Pat do his "NO WIND" dance while driving down the highway. Its not always a pretty sight, but it does work!
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Hey Al, beauty is in the eye of the be older, and I be older than you. You are kinda cute though.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck in Sin City, and be safe. We need to hatch up another get together soon.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[CBR]

Do you have a map you can mark of where the warm springs enters Utah Lake? I tried to find it when I was out there but just couldn't see any inlets that were steaming in the cooler weather.

I just scored 500 plastics of all colors for only $12.95 on E-bay and am now fully equipped with some great colors to get into those Walleyes and White Bass.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]As far as I know, there is no map available that shows detail of the Lincoln Beach area. That is what I plan to generate myself, and post for BFT members.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The springs are not full-flowing gushers. They are more like seeps. In their present condition, being back from the lake's edge, the warm water cools somewhat before it enters the lake. Each spring has a narrow channel in the rock through which it feeds the lake. These are easy to see when you are fishing from shore. They are not so easy to detect when you are fishing from a boat or tube out in the water.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When the lake is high enough to cover the springs, fish often move in from the open water and gang up right in the warm inflow. If you know where they are, you can wade out (carefully) or anchor your floating craft and catch a lot of fish from a small spot.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are small warm water springs (seeps) in many spots in Utah Lake. During the colder months of the year they can raise the water temp in a small area by several degrees and become real fish magnets. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have never taken a temperature probe to try to find the springs in open water, but I'll bet that would be a good tactic. I have been trying to find something with a long cord that I can lower to the bottom and get a digital reading. The AquaView Cameras have the temp readings, and I used to have a Color C-Lector box, that also gave temp readings, but it was kinda bulky for a tube.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are some spots around the lake that the springs are warm enough to put off some steam in the early morning. The spot where we launched the flotilla is just to the east of one. It sits back in, off the bay, and puts out steam until the air warms. But, it is not big enough to put out enough water to bring in the fish, like the ones on the main point.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[CBR]

Ah, thanks, guess I need to invest in another gadget, the aqua view I hear is an amazing tool to see fish and temperature changes. I have plans in a few weeks to float Strawberry and one of the guys in our group has one of these so it will be cool to see it in action.

Well, I am out of here, if you get the chance to do some fishing during this wet weekend I hope the fish gods get you into HEAPS of monster fish.

Have a great Holiday weekend everyone!
[signature]