New to the lake, seeking advice

[Mink Islander]

1). Parking at Sheps (Goodhue Meredith). The public parking fills up early during the peak season…. I came in last Thursday PM and there wasn’t an open spot anywhere. Not sure what advice Sheps provides boat renters. There is parking on the right side along the fence for Shep’s customers. Often you can find a spot there.

2). Where to tube/what to do…. As you exit Shep’s, you’re facing Bear Island. If you head east you can work your way over to Mark and Mink Island. There’s a channel between the two islands (no wake please) that is pretty popular to cruise through. If you keep heading east, go between Camp and Jolly Islands towards the Broads. The area to the east of Jolly (Steamboat Island to your north) is a pretty good place to tube on a busy Saturday provided it’s not really windy. That’s where I usually go. It’s tucked away from main boat thoroughfares so easier. Not that you won’t have other boats to deal with, but the islands help reduce the volume/direction they can approach from.

Or go over to the north side of Bear Island. The area in the middle there (near Camp Lawrence) is also out of the way of major traffic and big enough that you can have fun and stay far away from the shore.

3) Beware the Witches! Use a chart. Stay north of Timber Island.

4) The water is very high for this time of the year. If you’re tubing, stay well beyond 150 feet from shore (the legal minimum). Excessive boat wakes can cause dock and shore damage right now.

5). Know how to interpret the markers — it’s actually pretty important. Easy to remember: Stay south and west of Red tops (South and West = SouthWest = Hot/Red). Stay North and East of Black Tops. If you are unsure where you are but see a light buoy, find its number on the chart.

6) put the Navionics app on your phone and download the Winni map.

7). Bring a phone charger. Most newer boats have USB ports.

Enjoy!

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

1).

2). Where to tube/what to do…. As you exit Shep’s, you’re facing Bear Island. If you head east you can work your way over to Mark and Mink Island. There’s a channel between the two islands (no wake please) that is pretty popular to cruise through. If you keep heading east, go between Camp and Jolly Islands towards the Broads. The area to the east of Jolly (Steamboat Island to your north) is a pretty good place to tube on a busy Saturday provided it’s not really windy. That’s where I usually go. It’s tucked away from main boat thoroughfares so easier. Not that you won’t have other boats to deal with, but the islands help reduce the volume/direction they can approach from.

Or go over to the north side of Bear Island. The area in the middle there (near Camp Lawrence) is also out of the way of major traffic and big enough that you can have fun and stay far away from the shore.

Enjoy!

One thing to mention in the East Bear/Camp Lawrence area is that camp is back in session this year, and its pretty active with swimmers. campers in canoes and sunfish. They tend to be all over this area. They often swim from the camp out to the markers near Dollar with only a kayak or two for chase boats. Lots of sailing recently. They also tend to waterski both between Mark and Bear, and Bear and Jolly.

There is also a shoal between Dollar and Bear that is pretty nasty, it is marked near the island but if approaching from the north its easy to end up on the wrong side. My daughter almost did it on a jetski last weekend, and we live there.

[Mink Islander]

Originally Posted by codeman671

One thing to mention in the East Bear/Camp Lawrence area is that camp is back in session this year, and its pretty active with swimmers. campers in canoes and sunfish. They tend to be all over this area. They often swim from the camp out to the markers near Dollar with only a kayak or two for chase boats. Lots of sailing recently. They also tend to waterski both between Mark and Bear, and Bear and Jolly.

There is also a shoal between Dollar and Bear that is pretty nasty, it is marked near the island but if approaching from the north its easy to end up on the wrong side. My daughter almost did it on a jetski last weekend, and we live there.

I wasn’t really meaning over near Dollar. Should have said in the area nearer Camp Nokomis — North of Bear but more in the middle of the island. If you draw a line between Dollar Island and the point of Camp Nokomis, there is a significant triangle of open water that is somewhat off the main track for folks heading to/from Center Harbor/Moultonboro.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

I wasn’t really meaning over near Dollar. Should have said in the area nearer Camp Nokomis — North of Bear but more in the middle of the island. If you draw a line between Dollar Island and the point of Camp Nokomis, there is a significant triangle of open water that is somewhat off the main track for folks heading to/from Center Harbor/Moultonboro.

We typically tube and surf in that area north of Dollar if its not rough out. Occasionally between Mark and Bear in my old stomping ground but often it gets too hectic in there on the weekends.

[TheNewGuy]

Thanks everyone for all your advice! We had a great day out on the lake. The rental place was out of tubes by the time we checked in so we didn't do that, rather just ran around the northern part of the lake, anchored for a bit at the Braun Bay sandbar at the recommendation of the girl who did our check-in, and then got lunch at Gusto in Center Harbor. Gusto was fantastic and very friendly, I cannot recommend it enough for anyone yet to try it.

Only downside of the day was dinging our prop trying to anchor in a spot where we saw other boats anchored. I guess we just came in from the wrong side, got real shallow and rocky real quick, luckily I was only going like 2 knots. $250 for a new prop isnt the end of the world. So to anyone who sees this in the future, even if there are other boats anchored at Minister Island (also noted as blueberry island depending on the map/chart you're looking at?), don't try to join them!

I was a little surprised that, even though some older folks on two boats were watching me come in from that direction nobody said anything, and once it was clear I had struck a rock and killed the engine to jump in and walk us out of there, neither of them offered assistance or advice, like I wasnt even there! Oh well I guess.

[P-3 Guy]

Originally Posted by TheNewGuy

Thanks everyone for all your advice! We had a great day out on the lake. The rental place was out of tubes by the time we checked in so we didn't do that, rather just ran around the northern part of the lake, anchored for a bit at the Braun Bay sandbar at the recommendation of the girl who did our check-in, and then got lunch at Gusto in Center Harbor. Gusto was fantastic and very friendly, I cannot recommend it enough for anyone yet to try it.

Only downside of the day was dinging our prop trying to anchor in a spot where we saw other boats anchored. I guess we just came in from the wrong side, got real shallow and rocky real quick...

I got this far reading and based on your description and the "northern part of the lake" bit I thought, "hmmm... I wonder if he was at Blueberry?" My suspicion was confirmed a few sentences later. Given the conspicuous Private Property/No Trespassing signs, I hope that nobody from any of the visiting boats went feet dry or beached their boat. The waters of the lake belong to everyone, but private property should be respected.

[TheNewGuy]

Originally Posted by P-3 Guy

I got this far reading and based on your description and the "northern part of the lake" bit I thought, "hmmm... I wonder if he was at Blueberry?" My suspicion was confirmed a few sentences later. Given the conspicuous Private Property/No Trespassing signs, I hope that nobody from any of the visiting boats went feet dry or beached their boat. The waters of the lake belong to everyone, but private property should be respected.

Ah I hadn't seen any signs from where we were, just looked to be an uninhabited small land mass. But the folks who were already anchored were just treading water and walking in the shallows between their boats.

[P-3 Guy]

Originally Posted by TheNewGuy

Ah I hadn't seen any signs from where we were, just looked to be an uninhabited small land mass. But the folks who were already anchored were just treading water and walking in the shallows between their boats.

It's nice to hear that nobody was trespassing, at least from what you could see when you were there. As of three weeks ago clearly visible signs were in place, but given how disrespectful some people can be it wouldn't surprise me if signs were vandalized (never mind being simply ignored).