Launching at Hite - North enders

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charles said:
Probably a dumb question so forgive if so, what about blue notch? Is there not a way to launch there? I have never been there but have read that a boat can be launched there. Just a thought.
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Launching at Blue Notch depends on the water level. It is a typical shoreline with steep spots and terraces. When the terrace is at the waters edge it is a piece of cake. When descending the steep cliff in a 4wd towing a boat to get to the water it is dare devil time.
 
Wet1 said:
Chris, thank you for your reply and scouting report. Looks like I'll be heading to Bullfrog once it warms up again.
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Unless your boat is small and just puts around its much more worth it to go to bullfrog and just head up...
 
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wayne gustaveson said:
Launching at Blue Notch depends on the water level. It is a typical shoreline with steep spots and terraces. When the terrace is at the waters edge it is a piece of cake. When descending the steep cliff in a 4wd towing a boat to get to the water it is dare devil time.
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So
Dungee Fishing said:
Unless your boat is small and just puts around its much more worth it to go to bullfrog and just head up...
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wayne gustaveson said:
Launching at Blue Notch depends on the water level. It is a typical shoreline with steep spots and terraces. When the terrace is at the waters edge it is a piece of cake. When descending the steep cliff in a 4wd towing a boat to get to the water it is dare devil time.
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Is it a rule of thumb that if you can launch from Blue Notch can you launch from Hite?
 
charles said:
Is it a rule of thumb that if you can launch from Blue Notch can you launch from Hite?
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Not exactly. The VERY best spot to launch at Blue Notch is only available once you hit 3630, it’s an amazingly sloped all rock face that completely bypasses the last steep hill needed to pass in order to launch otherwise. But it’s only available when Hite is usable anyway.

The other main spot we’ve used in Blue Notch is a safe bet above 3590 and we’ve used it up to 3600. We haven’t used either spot since we got our new boat and now just ride up from bullfrog. Time wise that’s about the same, using bullfrog and driving up is about sixes and much easier on your truck, boat and trailer trust me.

If you have a smaller boat, little range and a good truck and are dying to fish Good Hope (yes it’s worth it), then Blue Notch is worth it.
 
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Alright I tried to do this as best I could... ha hopefully it makes sense.

The top pic is a higher up overall general view of the area. The red line is highway 95 and you’ll be heading south from Hite. The first yellow circle is Blue Notch pass, very cool spot! Stop there and enjoy the view looking all the way down towards the escalante and up towards canyon lands. The second yellow spot on the top pic is the launching spot most people use.

Bottom pic: I simply zoomed in (I circled castle butte in red for reference), I didn’t rotate north/south, so if on the dirt road you’ll be coming from the top right of the picture. The road is self guiding until this spot... the green line is that really good ramp which is only usable when the water is high, stay to the left and follow the blue line, the yellow square is the most challenging part of the road IMO, steep hill with a sharp peak then right back down the other side. Work your way towards the yellow launching spot again.

As far as I know there are only a few videos of the road and they don't include all of it of course.

I hope this helps, remember it is desolate and very isolated area, Wallace Stegner called the southern Utah country a “lovely and terrible wilderness” and he was exactly right. Have an extra of everything if you go. The road is about 14 miles and don’t expect to see anyone else until you get to the water.

Sorry Wayne, didn't mean to hijack your thread so badly.

Preston

You are a great resource and can hijack any thread on those places that you fish more than I do. I have never launched from shore at Blue Notch. That is why I need you to help. Thanks for your efforts. Wayne
 
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enjoyed see your old blue tri-hull again, that boat served you guys well for getting up north. allot of great memory's for your family and friends in that boat.
 
Did not look like there was a good launching spot when we were down this weekend and no boats were down blu notch either just a guy with his kayak.
 
First 2 pics are of raft takeout. 3 looking downlake from hite. 4,5 are the launch stay as close to the trees on the right of pic it's the most even.
 
Ha nice! What are your thoughts on the raft take out? Although if you launched at Hite we'd just do that.
 
We fish for bass and it was tough. Post cold front and 47-49 water temp, white was 43. Either that or we suck lol. Had 7 bites and caught 4 in 1 1/2 days.

Dungee it's entirely possible. It's a steep ramp. I don't know what the water depth is there. I wouldn't do it if it had been raining. It would get pretty muddy and possibly stuck.
 
Squirrel said:
Preston, Did that Subaru Outback Wagon go down to Bule Notch?? Sq
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Looks like it. That one looks a bit lifted (but nothing crazy), can’t think of a spot it wouldn’t make it. Apparently the road can connect to another road that goes all the way through red canyon, that would be cool to check out.
 
TYme2Fish said:
Headed home from Powell now. We launched from hite. I have a 21 ft bass boat. It's tight but possible. View attachment 1690 View attachment 1691 View attachment 1692 View attachment 1693 View attachment 1694
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Thanks for the update friend. Sorry to here the fishing sucked. Hoping with this warmer, more stable weather that things will pick up over the next 8 or 9 days. Hard to predict this time of year.
I have a 20 foot deep V boat that requires a bit more water to float than the flatter bottomed bass boats. How far were you having to back out to get your boat floated? It looks pretty tight to the brush in the picture but maybe depth perception isn't so good from that.

I think Wayne said earlier in this thread that some DWR folks would be up there today tagging walleye. Hopefully we'll get a report from them as well on here.
 
I have found over the year's, that you just have to go and check it out for yourself, what is to low for one guy, is not to low for another, even with the same type of boat. I was putting in at Farley's, past the big rock, that everybody told me I was nut's for going past, and did'nt think a thing about it. But I've allway's figured, if one guy can do it, then I can to. And I might be that guy, that does it first, and it's just like cow's, the rest follow.

Cant wait to hear from Wayne, and see what he has to say about the fishing, I think it's time to get out, and go, and see if those Crappie, and still there, and do some Striper, and Walleye allso.
 
We didn't have to back in very far to be floated but it is tight to the brush. Loading was a little more difficult because of the tightness. Not much room to angle the boat to get it straight on the trailer. We did have to hug the brush to get the trailer to sit even. My suggestion would to wait to enter that opening until the trailer is backed up so you can just swing in.
 
KYKevin I was thinking kinda the same thing. The key is to not let the brave slip over into the stupid realm. It's a fine line and happens quickly.
 
TYme2Fish said:
KYKevin I was thinking kinda the same thing. The key is to not let the brave slip over into the stupid realm. It's a fine line and happens quickly.
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Thanks a bunch for the info guys. I think instead of risking it I'll just head up from Bullfrog and camp in Red Canyon like we normally do.
 
Tyme2fish, it is very easy to get stupid, when excited about fishing, been there, but it was in the snow, not at Powell.
 
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