Tragic Opening Day On Waitts Lake

[Buckhunter82]

A man drowned this morning in Waitts Lake (Stevens County). I was on the lake, but had no idea what happened. I was told he jumped in after his pole went in the water and people tried, but were unable to save him. I heard faint yelling and an air horn which I later found out was the the people attempting to save him. I just thought it was someone kicking off opening day and messing around. It's a horrible feeling knowing I heard that and did nothing even though I wasn't aware of the situation. A sad day. The police are going to try and recover the body tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[ICEMAN]

How sad, did not hear of this. Prayers for all involved.

[bloodhound]

i fished that lake along time ago. it was crystal clear and i remember being in like 60 feet of water and being able to see the bottom plain as day. huge perch and lots of them in that lake. along with a good largemouth population. sorry to hear you had to be there when that happened. turn a good day fishing to bad day and worse for him and his family.

[goosegetter79]

http://www.khq.com/story/17926011/police-searching-for-body-of-missing-fisherman-in-stevens-county

STEVENS COUNTY, Wash. - Right now the Spokane County Sheriff Dive Team are at Waitts Lake in Stevens County searching for the body of a man who went into the water Saturday.
 
Police tell KHQ it happened around 6:00am Saturday morning. The man was out fishing on the lake with his wife and another person, when he hooked a fish. However during the attempt to reel in the fish, the man lost his grip on the pole and it went into the water. Police say the man went in after his pole without a life jacket and never made it back into the boat.

Right now the Spokane County Sheriff Dive Team are in the process of trying to recover the body using sonar and a cadaver dog.

Police have not identified the man, but told KHQ Sunday that he is in his 40's.
 
KHQ has a crew up at Waitts Lake gathering more information and we will update this story as soon as anything new becomes available.

Also look for the latest tonight on KHQ Local News At 5.

[huntnnw]

hmm..I grew up fishing that lake and cant see bottom at 20 ft ever..the deepest that lake gets is 70ft out in front of launch.

There was also 2 killed the same day at yocum lk a fight at the campground stabbing and a gunshot

[BOWHUNTER45]

thats really stinks ... sad !!

[7mmfan]

hmm..I grew up fishing that lake and cant see bottom at 20 ft ever..the deepest that lake gets is 70ft out in front of launch.

Does it really matter how clear the water in the lake is or how deep? The guys dead either way. As a guy whose personally pulled more than one body out of the water, I don't think trivial b.s. like clarity and depth means anything at this point. Just sayin...

[jeepasaurusrex]

Sad.

I would NEVER jump in after a pole that can be replaced.