I fished the SC side on Friday a.m. The fishing was hot. Caught kokes from 25 to 50 feet in depth. Color didn’t matter - everything was working. The only problem, the fish seem smaller. Didn’t get anything over 1.5 lbs. A lot of fish around the 1.0 lb size. The bigger fish we found deeper at 50 feet. Lost a bunch of fish on the way to the boat that seemed bigger, but i’m not sure (you know how that goes)??? We did see some big schools around 75 to 85 feet; however, never dropped down to see what they were.
BTW - American Land & Liezure is charging $16.00 to take a truck & boat into the marina. The annual pass is $105.
The water & restrooms were not turn on. I believe this is the 3rd year in a row that the restrooms have not functioned at SC. (maybe they get them running later in the season, I’m not sure?) This is a ripoff!
I’m about 99.9% sure the concessionaire isn’t AL&L this year. Utah Recreation Company is now managing the parks/campgrounds in Utah. That’s according to the local ranger district office I talked to a couple weeks ago. I hope they do a better job of Customer Service than AL&L did.
You are correct Bob, the contract came open last year and A L & L lost the bid.
Does anyone know if you camp you can launch a boat without additional fee? I recall that was the case at Aspen Grove cg on Soldier a number of years back last I did that.
We talked to the “New” Soldier Creek Campground host (nice guy) and he told us of the new price for the yearly pass - which was $70 and now $105 - only a $35 increase - I didn’t ask the daily but if you are saying $16 per launch - that would be 6.5 times to pay for the yearly tag.
He did show us a picture of a 5.9 lb. koke that was taken this last week for the Soldier creek side - beauty of a fish.
Amazing how the price to enjoy our sport just keeps going up & up.
This has always been the case in the past. You either pay a camping fee to enter the area and use the facilities which include launch ramp or you pay a Daily Use fee. I don’t believe there is a specific Launch fee.
I believe it’s actually the Forest Service that controls the pricing and not the vendor. The Forest Service also are the ones that control the purse strings on all the maintenance funds. Hopefully since they raised the prices they should have no excuse not to fix all the fish cleaning grinders that have been broken and out of service the last couple years.
They seem to use the confusion with the public over who is responsible for this to their advantage. Basically the “vendor” is nothing more than contract labor. They aren’t turning a profit on the fees.
you have to pay $8.00 extra on top of the camping fee at all Soldier Creek, Strawberry Campgrounds to launch a boat. This is new this year. Utah Recreation runs them now and seem to be nickle diming you for everything.
Like lifeshort said you pay extra on top of the camping fee
plus you pay to dump your trailer
last year I paid $105 for the yearly pass this year I paid $105.
just bought it to day from a camp host.
Man that sucks. I believe the Forest Service is who controls the fee schedule though.
will they take a credit card up there for the pass or do i need to bring cash .
I camped at Aspen Grove last year and the camp fee included launch/day use access at any pay area on Strawberry and the Soldier Creek side. I’m pretty sure nothing has changed since then.
I am not sure about the overnight camp, but I have the long term camp, which includes a hang tag for the truck in the parking lot while I am out on the lake. So I have not paid any extra to launch. My guest who met me up there, however was required to pay the $8 even though he parked at my campsite - extra vehicle fee she said.
As to whether a credit card will work - last year if you paid at the booth the guy could take a credit card. Of course you can’t use a card at the self pay station.
Also watch close at the port of entry station just outside Heber. If they are open, and you are towing a boat, you have to stop for the mussel questions. I have seen several guys ticketed that said they did not see the sign.
Let us know how you do. I will be back up Tuesday evening to fish Wednesday. Humpy (Jon) is joining me. We will launch from Strawberry, but are still deciding which side to fish. I know we can catch them pretty fast on SC -probably limit early - but the 6 we picked up over 2 days last week on Strawberry were considerably larger.
Brookie I also long term camp at Strawberry Bay. Sunday after I pulled my boat out and was parked in my campsite putting the cover on the campground host stopped by and wanted me to pay the $8.00 launch fee. I replied I don’t have to pay the launch since I long term camp. She replied everyone that launches has to pay. I asked when did that change her answer new company new rules. I did not pay. Monday morning I was on the phone with Utah Recreation tried 4 times no answer would not let me leave a message. Finally called the person that sent our camping confirmation letter. She said everyone has to pay this year $8.00 per day or $105 per year and if I did not like it would give me a refund for the remaining long term camp fee. Let us know if you hear any different. Also I heard some people had to pay $16.00 per day $8.00 for launch $8.00 for day use but others only paid $8.00 to enter and launch wondering if they don’t really know what they are doing yet and just making it up as they go. Others chime in with what you have been charged
Man, that is SOOOOO disappointing. My long term reservation at Soldier Creek starts this weekend. I guess I’ll find out what’s going on then.
Well I see now what happened. My long term site started back the end of May. They were just opening the campground and did not have a camp host. Within a day or two they sent a young gal with a couple kids and a boyfriend over to be the camp hosts. I went over and asked for the hang tag for my truck to park at the marina (as was the case last year). She said they had just arrived and filled one out through August for my LT camp.
A few days later, her boyfriend got drunk and started breaking into trailers. He was arrested and the camp host was fired. We still do not have a camp host. I suppose I owe them $105 for the hang the camp host gave me.
I went up on Strawberry side by marina, fished Friday and we caught 7 Kokes, 1 cutthroat, Kokes we descent size, one larger size. also fished Saturday and Sunday, caught Kokes every day but Friday was the best. Water temps was about 47 degrees, fishing about 35 feet using orange dodger and orange squid. tried pink but didn’t do much with it. trolling right around 1.3 to 1.5 MPH
i think the camp host is full of crap there are signs all over that say the launch fee is 8 bucks . i thinks they are trying to stack fees on top of each other , i would protest it . there is really no fee other than entry and it’s a straight 8 bucks .
I’m not sure the new company is really up to speed. The host I talked to was very friendly, so at least that was good.
FWIW they (Utah Recreation) do not have law enforcement authority. Only the Forest Service will enforce any fees/issue citations. I was told the UDWR will only enforce state laws/infractions. Of course use this info at your own risk.