Stump Lake file photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Stump Lake Search

Police find jackets and fishing gear Stump Lake but two fishermen and their boat remain missing

Jun 26, 2023 | 10:24 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team’s search efforts on Stump Lake over the weekend didn’t lead to two missing fishermen and their boat.

But according to Sgt. Josh Roda with Merritt RCMP, debris was found following the dive team’s search from Friday (June 23) to Sunday (June 25).

“Jackets, fishing gear, stuff like that. [The fishermen are] there, we just have to find them,” Roda told CFJC Today.

Roda says the dive team had to leave Stump Lake late Sunday to attend another search, but the plan is for them to be back Wednesday (June 28).

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Back on June 21, Merritt RCMP say they were told of two fishermen from the Lower Mainland last being seen by friends fishing late into the evening of June 19 in a small aluminum boat. When the pair didn’t return after dark, RCMP say their friends began to search for them before eventually calling police early the next morning.

Anyone recreating in the Stump Lake area who finds debris that they believe may be associated to the missing fishermen is asked to contact Merritt RCMP at (250) 378-4262.