Robert Waters loved to fish.
The 64-year-old machinist, whose birthday was on Monday, was ticking down the days to retirement, when he would have more time to take advantage of the numerous lakes scattered around his home in Lindstrom for his favorite pursuit.
Fishing alone on Big Marine Lake in northern Washington County on Wednesday night, he disappeared. His unoccupied 16-foot flat-bottomed Alumacraft boat was found circling the water in the north bay of the lake, his hat floating nearby and a cup of worms still waiting to be hooked.
"Wednesday was his tournament night," said son Mark Waters of Lonsdale, who, with his wife, Laurie, stood watch at the public access landing on Thursday as crews searched the lake for his dad's body.
Margie Waters, Robert's wife of more than 40 years, has been distraught since the family learned of the disappearance late Wednesday, Mark Waters said. The boat was discovered about 7:30 p.m.
County Sheriff's Cmdr. Cheri Dexter said she is "pretty certain" that Waters went in the lake, though there were no witnesses.
The search for Waters was suspended Thursday evening and will resume at 9 a.m. Friday, a sheriff's sergeant said.
Mark Waters said his dad, who had worked at an Anoka company for about 20 years, had no history of health problems. The tournaments his dad loved took him to various lakes in the area, he said, and his dad was familiar with the waters. Big Marine Lake is southeast of Forest Lake and southwest of Scandia.
