Fisherman survives raging storm on Upper Red Lake

  • jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    December 14, 2004 at 2:43 pm #1289904

    Fisherman survives raging storm on Upper Red Lake
    Updated: 12/14/2004 08:19:42 AM

    BEMIDJI (AP) – A fisherman got stranded on Upper Red Lake during a blinding wind storm — but he was rescued the next morning.

    Bill Cahill of White Bear Lake spent Saturday ice fishing and was heading back to Roger’s Resort when the storm hit. It started out as sleet, but the wind gusts grew larger and larger and Cahill got lost walking toward the resort.

    He hunkered down around a tiny propane stove in his portable shelter — deciding not to call for help and risk the lives of rescuers. But when he found white-out conditions Sunday morning he called 911.

    Rescue workers — using global positioning systems — set out on snowmobiles and found him a few hours later.

    Cahill says they are heroes.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    December 14, 2004 at 3:45 pm #331717

    Another good reason to spend a couple bucks and have a gps with you..

    Glad everyone made it out ok

    kooty
    Keymaster
    1 hour 15 mins to the Pond
    Posts: 18101
    December 14, 2004 at 5:57 pm #331737

    Amen to that Bk. We rode a complete circle out in Wy this fall, it was foggy and snowing. It seemed like we wern’t making any progress so finally I told my buddies I needed to dig out the GPS. They were like, “NO, we know where we are.” I laughed when I pulled out the GPS and we had ridden in one big circle in this very wooded valley.

    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    December 14, 2004 at 10:16 pm #331778

    Last summer on the sippi…3 am the fog rolls in…either use the gps or spend the night on the river (not a bad idea either) I just installed the Lawrance 19c…

    By the way, my brother in law that was with me doesn’t believe in gps, cell phones or computers (devils work I guess). He’s just getting use to tv and regular phones.

    We pull up anchor and I headed towards the main channel….turning to the left..up stream….I notice the gps telling me I’m going the wrong way! The BiL is all over that! All that money and it don’t even work!

    Until we just miss a red nun can on the wrong side. Turns out that when you can’t see but 10 feet ahead of you…in current…you’ll always start heading down stream…

    For the next three or so miles he used the light…I didn’t look up…just followed my “bread crumbs” to the landing.

    Although I wouldn’t recommend this way of travel…I did make a believer out of my BiL.

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