Anybody have details or know more. I’ve only seen a small amount of info. Apparently a witness reported a fishing boat spinning in circles and a body floating near it. Authorities recovered one body just after noon and the other around 6 pm.
I know it was rough out there, I was going to hit the St. Croix today but the wind made me decide against it.
Prayers to the families.
Never a good thing when a boat is spinning.
Terrible news to hear. It sounds like the dive team recovered two people.
No doubt someone here knows them.
Kill tethers and PFD’s would have saved their lives.
Prayers to the families involved.
Kill tethers and PFD’s would have saved their lives.
Just last week there was a thread about wearing PFDs and the now required kill switch while operating a watercraft and ironically, several individuals posted to “watch your own bobber.”
This is another every day example of how well these safety items, whether required or not, effectively work. Or in this case, don’t work should you decide not to use them.
Unfortunate set of results that likely could have been prevented.
yea Gim, i was one of those. as windy as it was yesterday……. i wouldnt of been on ANY lake!!!! so there is that!!!!!!! sometimes a little common sense is required.
but i do feel for the families of those individuals……it still suxs!!!!!
you’re spot on Gim. one of the worst parts about tragedies like this is how easily they could have been prevented.
Terrible to hear.
Latest update I found:
ST. CROIX RIVER: A water rescue is underway on the St. Croix River south of the I-94 bridge, just south of Hudson, after a boat was seen unoccupied and spinning in circles near Troy Beach. A dive team is on scene and searching for a male who is believed to be missing as of 12:15 p.m., with multiple agencies assisting.
UPDATE: Authorities have confirmed that two adult males were recovered deceased from the St. Croix River during the search today.
FROM ST. CROIX COUNTY SHERIFF: “The St. Croix County Emergency Communication Center received a call at approximately 9:35 a.m. on October 3, 2023, of a fishing boat that was going in circles on the St. Croix River, near Troy Beach. A witness reported there was a body in the water near the location of the boat. Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived by boat, however, they could not locate anyone in the water. The unoccupied boat was a 1997 Smokercraft Pleasure/18 foot fishing boat, that was located approximately 650 yards from the shoreline near Troy Beach (the entrance to Troy Beach is located at 490 CTH F, Hudson). The water depth in that area is between 30-40 feet deep. At 12:12 p.m., the body of an adult male was located and recovered by the Washington County Dive Team. Shortly before 6:00 p.m., the body of a second adult male was located and recovered by the Washington County Dive Team. Release of the names are pending positive identification and family notifications.
The St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Dive Team, Hudson Fire Department, Wisconsin DNR, Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department, Bayport Fire Department, Stillwater Fire Department, Lakeview EMS, Hudson Police Department and the St. Croix County Medical Examiner. This incident remains under investigation.”
Worst part is how preventable it likely was…
Wondering if they’ll figure out how both of them wound up overboard. Did they both go over fighting/netting a fish? Doesn’t seem likely as boat was in gear, unless trolling. One go in after the other in an attempt to save him? Hit a bad wave and get thrown?
Either way, not a good outcome. Prayers to the families
Terrible news . I make everyone wear a inflatable life jacket and use kill switch. YOu just have to get into the habit of using the tether. IT was easy to me because it is a rule in bass leagues and tournaments. I have fallen out of a boat and used swim latter to get back in. For those of you without swim ladders you can use power tilt and trim on main outboard to assist you in. It works. Stand on cavitation plate hug motor then use button on side of motor to lift. I have tried re entering my boat without assist and I cannot do it. Prayers to the families
MWal
For those of you without swim ladders you can use power tilt and trim on main outboard to assist you in. It works.
Assuming the motor is out of gear.
Frequently I would need to get out of the boat and push it over a sand bar. Once the water started getting close to my knees I would climb in. Once it was just above my knees. I got in but not with out the aid of my client and a large GROAN. No way could I climb over the side of a drifting boat in open water.
I was speculating how two could end up in the water as well. Only thing I could come up with is they hit a wave wrong and tossed them both out. The motor would go back to idle.
With the gusty, unpredictable wind yesterday it almost had to be a factor.
My condolences go out to their families. When somebody goes out fishing and doesn’t come back, that leaves a long-lasting impact on their loved ones and the fishing community as a whole.
No way could I climb over the side of a drifting boat in open water.
Here is a trick you can use to get back in the boat. Loop a rope (Yes, still a good idea to have rope or anchor rope in the boat) around a cleat, let enough rope into the water to create a step to put your foot in and secure the other end to another cleat. Then you can use the step along with your arms to pull yourself back into the boat.
Of course this probably not helpful if you are alone. But can be a huge help if you are trying to get a big guy back into the boat. Of a situation where you end up in the water and there is still a kid or gal in the boat who can’t pull you back in. But can grab a rope for you.
-J.
The 911 caller who witnessed the scene described the boat as spinning in a circle with a body floating nearby at 9:35 am. My first guess is they hit a wave wrong and were thrown overboard. If it was a console style boat, it would continue to run in a circle. If there was a body floating nearby, I think it’s likely he was wearing a PFD since bodies don’t typically float right away in fresh water. He may have been hit by the running boat or inhaled water when thrown overboard. When the rescue team arrived the boat motor had stopped, presumably out of gas, and the first guy was recovered at 12:12 pm. The body found just before 6:00 pm was found with the help of a dive team, most likely not wearing a PFD.
I was unaware of the new kill tether rule. Are older boats grandfathered in or do I need to have a modification installed to be in compliance?
I was unaware of the new kill tether rule. Are older boats grandfathered in or do I need to have a modification installed to be in compliance?
It is my understanding that if your outboard or throttle did not come equipped with one, you are exempt.
Almost all modern watercraft built in the past 20 years have one.
Sad news…and a lesson for us fishing regularly.
Just to be clear, the tether rule is a federal regulation that applies to federal waters like the Great Lakes and Green Bay, correct? Is the St. Croix a federal waterway?
Just to be clear, the tether rule is a federal regulation that applies to federal waters like the Great Lakes and Green Bay, correct? Is the St. Croix a federal waterway?
As far as I can tell, it’s required on all navigable US Waterways for boats under 26 feet in length while on plane. Took effect April 2021.
Sad news…and a lesson for us fishing regularly.
Just to be clear, the tether rule is a federal regulation that applies to federal waters like the Great Lakes and Green Bay, correct? Is the St. Croix a federal waterway?
Yes, the St Croix is Fed water and under USCG jurisdiction. Here’s the full list: https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Portals/57/docs/regulatory/RegulatoryDocs/mn_nav_waters.pdf
UPDATE 10/4/23 – Authorities have identified the two men who drowned in the St. Croix River on Tuesday. According to the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, the victims are 51-year-old Demetrius Kekedakis and 65-year-old Perry Montpetit, both of Hudson.
RIP
It has been reported that neither were wearing life jackets.
Wear your damn PFDs people, your families want and NEED you to come home. $79 will save your life.
Leaving your wife a widow or children fatherless because you think inflatables are uncomfortable or are for sissies is a terrible excuse.
This incident also goes to show that only wearing one when you’re alone is a bad idea. Having another person in the boat is not a good reason to skip wearing them.
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