A few of us leftovers from the 70's and 80's who worked in Cat many years are going to be motoring off the reservoir on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. Weather and wind are determining, but we will likely be at Brown Betty night of Friday the 26th, then run the canyon and start off the next day. No promises, but we've been known to give folks a tow, "depending..."
In April 2003 the lake was almost exactly same elevation it is now and we had current all the way to the bridge, didn't even take a motor. We're even older and more decrepit today, so ALWAYS carry a motor and use it above confluence. If NPS (or BLM at Green River) checks you, boat must be registered with numbers displayed (we use a piece of foam builder's board, attach to chicken line with zip ties, don't forget to carry the registration with your permit) and you must have a fire extinguisher; if you run on the lake after dark, need to display lights that vary with length of the "vessel" - for raft, even headlamps will work, if you hear someone coming get as many lights shining as possible as houseboaters/motor boaters underway after dark not always the most alert operators...
The last tow service went out of business back in the 90's - Coast Guard rules/licenses/permits just don't make this a profitable endeavor. Carry a motor or roll the dice - winds in Spring can be fierce and the lake is not the most hospitable place to pull over (very few camps below Dark, one used by commercial companies on river right just around the bend, then Mille Crag/Sheep is your next possibility).
The North Wash takeout (river right below Dirty Devil) is steep and muddy, won't work for most trailers. I took out last October 6 at the launch down closest to the marina, (the expensive concrete ramp build back in the 80's is high and dry and has "picket fence" of tammies/brush in the water - you can get in there with careful maneuvering and would have it all to yourself, but the "new" ramp with the floating dock is pretty spacious). Just stay off to the side so motor boaters can get in and out, and try to get off the ramp asap.
No info on shuttles, we use friends in Moab or Green River. I used to shuttle Moab/Hite back in the 80's for $100, we now pay ca. $150 for same run. Remember if it's just one vehicle the "retrieve" vehicle cost is not shared - best price break point is for 3 or 4 (i.e., the vehicle that brings the drivers back can hold 4 or 5).
My first Cat trip was 1976 - I never get tired of the place.