Debris on the lake after Ice Out
 

Hi,
I am new to the lake this time of year. How much debris is typical on the lake after Ice Out? How long until it is typically gone? Interested in what people typically see this time of year.

First windy day usually cleans things up. If the water has been high there will be lots of things washing up on shore such as branches, water toys, bob house shims, boat cushions......anything not nailed down.

Over the past several years I am probably one of the first boats on the lake (at least that I see). In general anything put on the ice by ice fisherman will be drifting during the days following ice out plus any dock debris from damaged docks and tree limbs and small trees taken down by winter storms. Once this debris finds a shoreline it seems to anchor itself in the days after ice out.

That said, I steamed out of Sheps yesterday and headed east. There were a few big limbs in the bay b/t sheps and Bear island that would cause damage to most boats. The rest of the way looked pretty clear though you had to watch for small pieces of ice just finishing the melting process. While trolling, my planer boards picked up several branches that floated just below the surface and probably would not have caused damage.

Bottom line: I am adverse to going on plane before I get enough light to see this time of year. After lights are on...just be extra vigilant in searching for rogue ice and debris. Assume any little thing has bigger portions of it below the surface. There is nothing that I saw that would keep me off the water. It was a beautiful day to be on the lake yesterday.

Over the past week we have only seen a few small sticks in the area of Welch and Glendale. That said we both scan the water for debris when under way this time of year.

My 2 cents
 

I usually wait until the Mount Washington cruise ship is sailing regularly. The size of the ship and it's movement through the large areas of the lake, tends to push the larger stuff towards the shore line. Be alert and take it easy with the speed for a little while, that way you have some reaction time to avoid what's floating

The Breeze
Wave 'cuz I'll be wavin' back

Did a ride from Gilford to Wolfeboro yesterday and saw lots of small branches, a few wood planks from docks, and a large patch of loose ice at the southern end of the broads. I’m sure the ice patch will melt shortly, but scared the pants off me when I came up to it thinking it was a wind ripple. Just need to keep your eyes out, especially if there’s a chop which would hide the debris.

If I see a floating branch or plank, I usually stop, pull it on board, and throw it in the brush pile when I get back to the dock. I don’t want someone else getting damaged by it. Hope I’m not the only one!


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Thank you to all the early boaters and shorefront landowners who pick up debris. You perform an important service.

Lake Clean-up
 

We always stop to remove floating debris from our beautiful lake, including trash tossed in by inconsiderate boaters. We are sure that many others help out as well. 🐻

Some of these landscape companies caring for the typical mainland McMansions have a really bad habit of blowing crap into the lake, such as leaves, sticks and typical winter stuff that collects in the yard instead of racking it up like they are paid to do! Seen it a number of times. Granted it's not trash but certainly not nice either.

Not good! I wonder if it’s illegal to do so?
I know that some Alton folks got in trouble last year for letting a beaver dam flow into the lake...basically the same on a smaller scale....

It was state DOT that did that, it was Alton folk that complained.


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I knew someone did it. Being state guys even makes it worse.