Hidden Valley Lake >> Authorities continue their search for a fisherman who was reported missing on Hidden Valley Lake Tuesday morning.
Thursday marked the third day of search efforts and included a trained cadaver dog to try and locate the 42-year-old man’s body, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin said Thursday afternoon. The man’s name will not be released until his remains are located and next of kin are notified.
He was reportedly out fishing on his kayak, a part of his daily routine, but at some point the kayak was found abandoned about 100 feet off shore, Martin said. Law enforcement officers believe it unlikely he survived.
“We believe that he fell overboard, accidently, and there was no foul play,” he said.
Agencies from the county and beyond have been involved in the daily searches including Lake County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and Marine Patrol, the Northshore Dive Team, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Calfire and Hidden Valley Lake security.
Personnel have been using a side-scan sonar from the Santa Clara unit in an attempt to find the fisherman, but weeds and sediment in the water that is about 15 feet deep caused the “biggest hinderance, it inhibits the capabilities of the sonar,” Martin said. Additionally, divers have no visibility beyond a few inches of their masks.
If searchers are not able locate the body soon, “unfortunately at some point in time depending on water conditions, it will surface,” Martin said.
Meanwhile, he’s maintained constant contact with the family and has kept them updated.
“We are just hoping to get this issue resolved as soon as we can,” Martin said.
