At approximately 8:15 AM on 05/27/2023 Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) for South Dakota Game fish and parks were notified by the Day County Sheriff’s Office (SO) of two boats that were both taking on water and were beached northeast of Kanago Boat Access on South Waubay Lake in Day County, South Dakota. 

V2 was occupied by O2 and P4 and P5.  V1 was occupied by O1 and P1, P2 and P3 (all passengers on both V1 and V2 were juveniles except one adult). 

At Approximately 9:00 AM WCO located the two boats at latitude N 45.39916 and Longitude W -97.46704. WCO contacted O1 of V1, a 1990 Stratos 274 Runabout. O1 stated that V1 was swamped due to the prevailing wind out of the Southwest at 13- 24 MPH and V1 was stuck in the shallow water. O1 then had P1, P2, and P3 transfer over to V2 (1993 Nitro 190DC, piloted by O2, O1’s brother). 

O2 of V2 then tried to tow V1 and O1 out of the location they were stuck. This and the prevailing winds out of the Southwest at 13-24 MPH caused V2 to become swamped, shorting the battery of the boat and making it inoperable. Soon after V2 became stuck in the shallow water.  O1 of V1 and O2 of V2 and all passengers were able to wade in shallow water and make it to shore safely.  WCO and SO assisted in collecting personnel items from the vessels before returning them to their vehicles located at the Kanago Boat Access.

SOUTH WAUBAY LAKE
WEBSTER                       