Fish Lake, a popular deep-water lake sought out by anglers around the state, has apparently ended the life of an avid fisherman, missing since Saturday.
Police called off search efforts Tuesday for David M. White, 44, Washington city, Washington County, because the lake is too deep for divers to clearly see anything. Also, three boats dragging hooks the past two days have recovered nothing.White was reported missing about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when other boaters on the Central Utah lake noticed the man's unoccupied craft running and trolling the waters, Sevier County Sheriff's Lt. Delbert Lloyd said.
Police believe White may have been fishing the center of the lake when he somehow fell into the 100-feet-deep waters.
White, described to police by his family as an avid fisherman, was alone on the waters Saturday. The man had rented a motel room the night before and had intended on meeting others to join him on the trip, but that fell through, Lloyd said.
There was no indication White was wearing a life jacket.
"They were stored neatly in the boat," Lloyd said.
Searchers dragged the lake Saturday evening, then started again Sunday about 7 a.m. They worked again Monday. Three articles of clothing had floated to the water's surface and were recovered by crews.
"It's almost impossible to get those dragging hooks to get anything that deep," Lloyd said. "That whole lake is deep, and it was too deep for the three divers we sent in. It was just too dark, too black."
Officials said they were uncertain exactly where White may have fallen into the water, but found a shoe and two other pieces of clothing about 500 yards south of where the trolling boat was located in the middle of the lake, near Fish Lake Lodge.
Lloyd said White was an employee of Utah Power. The man's death is reportedly the first fatality on the lake in about 10 years, Lloyd added.