On September 8, 2011 at approximately 1700 hours I received a phone call from my dispatch regarding a missing boater at South Fork Reservoir.  I responded to South Fork Reservoir and met up with deputies from the Elko County Sheriffs Office on Jet Ski Beach.  The information given to me at that time was that a male subject later identified as Victim had been fishing on his vessel bearing NV registration numbers (NV 1601 KM) with three juveniles, when one of the juveniles caught a fish and the fishing pole was pulled out of one of the juveniles hands and went into the water.  At this point it is unknown if Victim reached for the pole and fell overboard or went into the water voluntarily to retrieve the pole.  From secondhand information, it was relayed to me that Victim attempted to swim back to the vessel but due to significant winds, he was unable to reach the vessel and told the juveniles to call for help and he would swim to shore on the west side of the reservoir.   At approximately 1645 hours, a group that was fishing on shore heard yells of distress coming from the drifting vessel.  The group got the attention of another boater and responded to the drifting vessel to find three young juveniles onboard.  At approximately 1845 hours, I initiated a search of the water with my patrol vessel and an underwater camera, we did not locate anything of significance.  We searched until about 2100 hours that evening.
     On September 9, at approximately 0900 hours, I again entered the reservoir via patrol vessel and continued to search for the drowning victim utilizing a drag system with large gauge treble hooks and a triangle known as the Chisago County victim recovery drag system.  We were unable to locate the victim on this day as well and searched until approximately 2030 hours.  
     On September 10, 2011 at approximately 0723 hours, I was notified via cell phone that the drowning victim had been located floating in the reservoir.  The body was found by an Elko County Sheriff''s Deputy at approximately 0715 hours.  I arrived at approximately 0800 hours at South Fork Reservoir and assisted the Elko County Sheriff''s office with the recovery of the body.  The victim was not wearing any type of Personal Flotation Device, however it was noted during an inspection of the vessel that a type IV PFD was found under the driver''s seat.  Information was also relayed to me that all three juveniles were wearing PFDs when they were contacted by the other boater.
     On September 17, at approximately 1330 hours, I interviewed the three juveniles that were on board the vessel when the accident occurred.  All three juveniles stated that one juvenile had caught a fish and was reeling it in when the fish pulled the fishing pole out of his hand.  This juvenile was standing near the driver''s seat on the starboards side of the vessel.  As the pole went into the water, it was floating near the rear starboard side of the vessel and that is where the victim of the drowning attempted to reach into the water and retrieve the pole.  As the victim attempted to grab the pole he accidently fell overboard and attempted to swim back to the vessel.  The juveniles described the waves to me as being about 14 to 18 inches tall at the time the victim fell overboard and whitecapping.  The victim could not swim fast enough and yelled at the juveniles to call for help and he would swim to shore towards the west side of the reservoir.  The boat was not under power and drifting in a south southeasterly direction.  The juveniles stated they could still see the victim for about ten minutes in the water until the vessel drifted around some tules.  From cell phone pictures sent by the victim earlier in the day, I noticed all three juveniles were wearing their PFDs at the time the pictures were taken and they said they were all wearing them at the time of the accident.  No citations were issued in this case.

Spring Creek                  