3 Keeper Sturgeon and a Floater -- A Bad Day on the Columbia

C

CW

New member
On one side, I'm happy I got my middle son to go camping on a nearby island with his 15-16 year old friends for the first time by themselves. Instead of the typical video game overnight, they ran my 12 ft. aluminum boat and 7.5 Johnson Sea Horse over and I toted some of their heavier gear in my bigger boat. I slept Friday night about a half mile upstream near enough to help but not crowding them. They had a bonfire, cooked food, fished, got sunburned and spent two nights there with very little adult supervision. Last night at dusk I made sure they were escorted back to camp across the river with strict instruction not to boat at night, especially since the wind came up some. Yes, he felt I was unreasonable in my concern, after all, he'd been boating in that boat for a whole day and half! I slept at home and went today to go get them after fishing.

I went sturgeon fishing today on the Columbia River. I headed upstream from Kalama about three miles to where my buddy Randall had caught three big sturgeon yesterday between 20 -- 40 lbs. (about 46 - 55 inches long). As I pulled up towards his boat, fishing the same hole again, I noticed they had released from their anchor, presumably to fight a big fish. I saw someone with the boat hook out, fully extended, and no one was moving around much, definitely not in the panicky rush of someone hooked up with a fish. Something pink was on the end of their boat hook.

I pulled up closer, to talk. They said they'd just found a body. I pulled around to confirm and yes, there she was, a dead female, caucasian, probably 20 - 30. Rigor set in. They'd called 911 and were awaiting the sheriff's boat. I offered to help but they said there were okay, though clearly somber. A guy on their deck was clubbing away at three more big keeper sturgeon. They drifted on downstream quite aways. R. called me a bit later and asked me to pull his river anchor and bring it back to town as his pump was clogged with debris, the water being so fast and high now. He suggested I fish from it. I hooked up to their anchor, fished and got just one little sturgeon. We brought the anchor back, thankful and reflective of our good fortune and aware that someone was about to have some very hard news. This water, especially in May, can be so high, cold and unforgiving, even though the air was in the mid-nineties and folks think they can swim and handle the water, they can't. I'll watch the news to see about any follow up. My son seemed to have a better grasp of our concern after hearing today's story. C.W.
 
Wow, I mention in a post that I'm on the scene when a dead human body is found and not one person bothers to respond.... I don't get it.

Though it is not about gelcoat, this story remains a mystery for many around here. C.W.

By Associated Press

"KELSO, Wash. (AP) - Officials on Monday were trying to identify a woman's body found in the Columbia River between Kelso and Kalama.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office said a dive team recovered the body Sunday after it was discovered by a fisherman.

Sgt. Joe Reiss said there are no reports of missing women or drownings in the area. He said she had apparently been in the water a short time.

The white woman appeared to be in her 50s, about 5 foot 3 and 150 pounds. She wore a purple blouse and cut-off jeans, a gold necklace and hoop earrings."
 
Perhaps the lack of responses is due to folks having a hard time identifying w/ your gruesome finding.

Pretty depressing stuff and thankfully (hopefully) not something many others on the list have had to deal with before.

At least your concerns about being careful on the water and taking extra safety measures were likely strongly impressed upon your son due to the incident.

May your subsequent boating adventures be far more pleasant.

Dan
 
Well, they figured out who she was.... with the car left on the I-205 bridge about 25 miles upstream and no obvious signs of distress on the body... I'm guessing she jumped. C.W.

"Body discovered in Columbia identified as that of Vancouver woman
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:04 PM PDT
By Leslie Slape
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The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office has identified the woman who was found dead in the Columbia River on May 18 as Camille Ann McCarthy, 49, of Vancouver.

Her identity was confirmed through dental records and a visual identification by a family member, Coroner Tim Davidson said Wednesday.

The Oregon Department of Transportation located McCarthy’s unoccupied 1989 Plymouth Voyager van May 21 on the Interstate 205 bridge facing the southbound lane near Government Island. She had last been seen May 17.

The Cowlitz County Dive Team recovered the body May 18 about a mile north of Martin’s Island between Kalama and Woodland.

The cause and manner of death is pending further investigation, but there is no evidence of foul play, Davidson said.

Anyone who saw McCarthy’s van between May 17-21 is asked to call Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Joe Reiss, 577-3092."
 
CW,

Wow, sorry you had to witness this sad scene. Having had a suicide in our extended family, I know what a tragic chain of events this triggers. Hopefully the gravity will instill a love of life in your young ones and keep them on a safe path. Not much more to say but, God rest her Soul.
 
C.W., Sorry you had to run into that situation, but as has been noted, it may help impress some concern for caution around the water. Unfortunately this may not have been an accident, and all water related accidents do not turn out with this sad results, but a reminder every now and then does help peak our edge to safety. The water in the PNW is cold, anytime of year.

Sunday morning while out by Protection Island we heard the Coast Guard come on with a Pan Pan announcement, that a empty kayak had been spotted then retrieved, west of Orcas Island. Over the course of a couple of hours, and a repeated PanPan every 15 to 30 Minutes, and several boats in the area searching, we waited, anxious for some additional information. Eventually (after about 2 hours) a reply was heard, that a matching colored kayak had been lost overboard during the night, and it had not been occupied. The owner would make arrangements to meet the vessel and recover the missing kayak. Happy ending, but a lesson or two here. Secure your belongings, what ever they be, your C-Dory or it's contents, and keep a VHF tuned to 16 when you are on the water.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Thanks for the comments, both here and the private messages. Be careful out there; there is so much to live for. C.W.
 
CW -

I read your original message with considerable interest. The facts of the day, the emotional impact, the reminder of water safety and river temperatures, and most of all, the story of your son's attitudes woven through the description -- taken together, were quite powerful.

I didn't comment -- as you pointed out, somewhat surprisingly, no one else did either. I'd like to suggest, however, that your message was indeed read by many, and had more impact than you will ever know. Thanks for writing it.

iggy
 
CW I too have been following your post without comment. Sometime back I had a similiar experience. I had just crossed beneath the Dames Point Bridge here in Jacksonville when a message from the Coast Guard came out that someone had just jumped from the bridge. They were requesting help from any vessels nearby to search for the jumper. The body was found about a mile away from me. I think posts such as this leave people sort of speechless. My post didn't receive much response. As they say suicide is a permenant solution to a temporary problem. Twenty one years ago I had a very close friend take thier life and it still haunts me today. It's hard to imagine the pain someone must be in to take such drastic measures. When I was your son's age spending all my time in the water I couldn't grasp how anyone could drown. Hopefully this terrible tragedy can be converted to a positive message for your son and others about the dangers of the waters you boat in. Today at 60 years old and no longer able to swim due to health problems I still have to remind myself from time to time of the dangers of boating. Stories such as yours help me to remember to take necessary safety measures and not take things for granted. Thanks for posting.
 
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