Missing Boater on Mille Lacs

[REW]

Any news on the fellow who turned up missing Last Oct. while musky fishing on Mille Lacs lake in MN?
Apparently he had gone fishing by himself at night for Muskies in Oct. He was in a Ranger and had left his new truck in the parking lot.

When the drifting boat was found, all appeared in order except the boater was gone.

The theory was that for some reason - perhaps netting a fish - he went over the side of the boat in heavy winter clothing in near freezing water.

It was thought that if that were true, his body wouldn't began to gas and float until sometime this spring.
That is why I raise the question now to find if any word has come up
about him.

Always be safe on the water

REW

[went522]

As of a couple days ago he hadn't surfaced yet, at least no one has found him. There's a recent article in the Mille Lacs Messenger about it. With this wind and water temps on the rise, hopefully he'll surface and be found soon. One hopes he didn't get buried on a shallow reef from the ice movement this spring, in that case he may never be found. As I was fishing I noticed a few of the shallow reefs around Myr Mar changed a bit since last fall, the tops got knocked off, we talked about the chance he could've gotten pinned under a rock(s). Didn't think it was likely but possible.

Hopefully he rises soon so his family can put him to rest.

BIRDDOG

[skeeter]

That sure is awful, hope they find the guy soon. Skeeter

[Wallgeye]

I saw in my latest Outdoor news in the CO reports section that one of the CO's mentioned that he had been assisting local authorities in the search for him. So they are still out there looking. I got checked on opener by the local CO and thought about asking about it. It was the first time I had been checked and was in my yessir, yessir, three bags full mode and forgot about it by the time he was done looking. (clean bill of health btw! he seemed pleasant enough, was told by the locals he is until he finds something wrong and then he turns on you so I was a bit nervous!)

Anyway, I am glad that they are still looking for him and hope they find him soon!

A few years back, a young dock worker on a barge went over in rough water on West Okoboji in mid November. After an exhaustive search for the rest of the open water season, the search was discontinued.

It took till mid June for the young man (17) to surface, not very far from where he went in.

[SkarMN75RBLS]

Mille lacs a such a dangerous lake to be fishing by yourself. Storms and wind come up so fast and it's very large so it's tough to get off the lake quickly. I've hadany dangerous encounters on Mille lacs I'm suprised more problems don't arise up there

[Laker3588]

If you are talking about the same young docker worker I am familiar with, he was in sixth grade. The youth and the older employee (I think mid to late 20's), who was found shortly after the accident were crossing the lake when the barge started taking on water and started to sink. I followed the class he was in coaching them from 8th grade to last year when he would have been a soph. in football. Sad deal for a small community, so lets all be safe so we can fish another day.

[ddddyyyy]

I agree with REW

[Hot Runr Guy]

http://www.millelacsmessenger.com/in...news&Itemid=76

HRG

[big_crappie]

Finally the family can have closure.