Missing Fisherman’s Kayak Found Days After His Disappearance in Wisconsin

"We have located the kayak and searching is continuing for the missing person," announced the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office on Monday

A fisherman remains missing in Wisconsin.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday that 41-year-old Michael Iriarte's kayak had been located after the fisherman was last seen around 3 p.m. on Sunday.

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Authorities were notified of Iriarte's disappearance after the Winnebago County 911 Center received a call about a missing kayaker on Lake Butte Des Morts in Omro at 5:40 p.m. Sunday. Iriarte's family told the department that he had not returned after launching his kayak in the area of Samers Bay to go fishing near Terrell's Island.

According to the sheriff's office, Iriarte went fishing in a purple over-white 10-foot recreational kayak, wearing a facemask and life jacket.

Deputies from the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, along with their drone unit, commenced an "extensive search" for his whereabouts with the help of the Omro Police Department, a Warden from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, first responders and firefighters from the Omro Rushford Fire Department.

The department said in its update that they searched for several hours on Terrell's Island, Samers Bay and the Spring Brook area before suspending their efforts on Sunday because "all available search efforts were exhausted or proven ineffective."

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A new search began on Monday morning that included shoreline searches on foot, with boats and a plane.

Bill Martin told NBC 26 WGBA-TV that he witnessed officials recover the kayak after initially going to the scene to "check the ice out for the conditions for duck hunting" he planned to do the next day.

"I was looking through my binoculars to look for ducks, and I saw them pull the purple and white kayak out onto the shore and kind of got a sick feeling in my stomach," Martin said. "[I] didn't realize what was going on until I saw that. It is a very gut-wrenching feeling."

"It's somebody's, you know, somebody's son," Martin told NBC 26. "I just wish the family the best. It's tough, especially this time of year in between the holidays."

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Anyone with information that might help in the search for Iriarte is encouraged to contact the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office at 920-236-7300, extension Zero, or 911.

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