Sheriff's Office Updates & Alerts - Stearns County, Minnesota
View in browser: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/STEARNS/bulletins/2b4014e

320-251-4240  

Towed Fish House Breaks Through Thin Ice

On January 3 at approximately 12:07 p.m. Stearns County Deputies were dispatched to Big Watab Lake in Collegeville Township for a fish house that went through the ice. It was reported there were no people inside and no one went into the water. 

When deputies arrived, they found the fish house was being removed from the water. The fish house had gone through a section of thin ice approximately 30-40 yards away from the west shoreline, closest to 30095 Lilac Rd. The ice was about 4-6 inches thick in the section it broke through.

Michael Stang, 69, from St. Joseph, said he was pulling his 2007 16’ Distinct Builders Grand Lodge fish house with his Arctic Cat UTV on January 2 at about 1:00 p.m., when he felt the fish house fall into the snow behind him, stopping his UTV. He looked back and saw the wheels of the fish house were submerged under the water. He was able to disconnect the fish house from his UTV prior to it sinking further into the water. The fish house sank about ¾ of the way into the water with the front tongue portion hanging up on the ice.

Collins Brothers Towing and Cardinal Towing Service assisted on scene by removing the fish house from the water.

Dispatch 320-251-4240   |   Records 320-259-3700

Email sheriff@co.stearns.mn.us   |   Twitter @Stearns_Sheriff