CAUTION Boaters 🚤
 

While taking our first-of-the-season cruise around Bear Island yesterday morning, we encountered many floating wood items. The water was very calm, and we were able to pick up several items, including sticks, small pieces of flat boards, an 18" log section, as well as a 10' long 4x6 dock post with a large bolt. Please keep an eye out for floaters as you travel on our wonderful lake. 🐻

Thank you for the heads up. Was hoping most of the debris would be gone by now.

Just before crossing over the LI bridge mid-day, I spotted what turned out to be a well-worn 12-foot 6x6 post floating up against the rocks (the one you saw?). This was on the south mainland side. I climbed over the rail and down to the water. The thing had a large lag bolt protruding from it, thread end out. I used that for a handle to drag the post up onto the embankment and secure it so it couldn't slide back into the water. Boy was that thing water-heavy; moving it was difficult. Tell your lower unit I appreciate it's thanks for the effort.

Actually, I had called Marine Patrol mid-morning to report what looked from a distance, using field glasses, what could have been a good sized dock section drifting slowly with the light air moving then, near FL64. My boat's not in yet, so I couldn't investigate, but MP said they would. The breeze picked up a bit, and ultimately changed direction. I have no idea where it ended up.

Additional Caution
 

With the present full lake level, there are several spar buoys that are difficult to spot as only the colored top is visible. The red top spar just west of Dollar Island, and the black top spar off the southeast end of Bear Island are two such examples.

The large dock post mentioned in Post#1 above was found on the west side of Bear Island near Cattle Landing. 🐻

I saw that float by my house twice during ice out in different directions. I believe it may have come from my neighbors Dock.