Hotspotoutdoors

Let's be carefull out there folks.

Authorities Search for 4 Missing Fishermen on Lake Erie

Friday, July 03, 2009
By Joshua Rhett Miller

DEVELOPING: The U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian authorities are scouring Lake Erie for four fishermen whose 19-foot boat sailed from a Michigan park a day earlier.

The men, who are between 50 and 70 years old, left Sterling Park in Monroe, Mich., Thursday morning and had planned to return by 4 p.m., Greg Fondran, a search and rescue controller at the U.S. Coast Guard's District Nine Command Center, told FOXNews.com.

Fondran said three of the four men have cell phones with them but have not answered calls by authorities. The last incoming and outgoing calls received and placed by the phones were at about noon Thursday, he said.

Weather conditions have not been severe, Fondran said, leading authorities to believe the 19-foot boat likely had not capsized or overturned.

"Though it's always possible," he continued. "You can get a rogue wave and all of a sudden, you're taken over."

Family members contacted the Coast Guard at about 9 p.m. Thursday. Boats, helicopters and other aircraft from the U.S. and Canada have been searching since that time, Fondran said.

"We're obviously concerned," he said. "We're considering it a distress case."

*crosses fingers* Let's send good thoughts the way of the fishermen and the families. I'm hoping it's a case of maybe a motor going out and not a capsized ship or anything worse.

Be careful out on water anywhere!

MONROE, Mich. — Four Michigan fishermen whose 19-foot boat capsized in western Lake Erie have been rescued.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Blackwell says Monroe County marine deputies spotted the men clinging to the boat about 5:45 p.m. Friday. They were offshore from a small island about 35 miles southeast of Detroit.

The men, who are between 52 and 76 years old, were receiving medical attention.

The fishermen left Monroe at 8 a.m. Thursday. A family member called the Coast Guard about 10 p.m.

Boats, helicopters and other aircraft from the U.S. and Canada cooperated in the search.

The wife of the boat's owner said life jackets and a GPS were on board.

Two of the fishermen are from Eaton Rapids, one is from Lansing and another is from Ch

Awesome!!!!