Victim/Operator of Vsl #1 went fishing alone but did not return on time.  Operator was still missing at 9:00 pm that day.  The boat was found empty.  Her body was spotted the next day by a USCG helicopter. Due to the location of the body and not able to reach it by boat, it had to be recovered from the air. From examining Vessel #1, where there was a broken "ugly stick", and from blood on the victim's visor and forehead, it is believed that victim's fishing lines became entangled (she trolls sometimes) and she was trying to release the lines, struck her head, and in doing so, broke the "ugly stick" while falling overboard and drowned.  (It was determined that the "ugly stick" could not have broken under normal circumstances). She was not wearing a PFD.  The boat was towed back to the Swan Boat Club where victim used to store boat.
Berlin Township               