Missing Columbia River Guide Identified, Search Now A Recovery Mission

The salmon fishing guide who went missing and is presumed drowned after a large wave came over the stern of his boat in the Columbia Gorge yesterday has been identified as Michael Shufeldt of Woodland.

The search for Shufeldt is now a recovery mission, according to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office.

Shufeldt, who operated Reel Deal Fishing Adventures, was with six people off the mouth of the White Salmon River late yesterday morning when weather conditions rapidly deteriorated.

“Conditions at the time of the accident were treacherous, and preliminary evidence suggests a tragic accident,” the sheriff’s office stated.

Boats from several law enforcement agencies responded to the scene and pulled six people from the water, two of whom were transported to a nearby hospital.

The narrow, east-west running Columbia Gorge is known for howling winds that can come up fast. A nearby National Weather Service observation station shows gusts yesterday of 28 and 29 mph just before emergency dispatchers received a call about a capsized boat.

Shufeldt’s guide boat, described as a 24-footer, was located today around 2 p.m. in around 40 feet of water with the assistance of the Skamania County Dive Team. Searchers using a remotely operated underwater vessel were unable to find his body, the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The loss of the young guide doing what he loved – “Making my childhood dreams a reality, giving you, your friends and your family a fishing adventure of a lifetime on the Columbia river and its tributaries!” – has deeply saddened the Northwest fishing community, with anglers reflecting on the job of putting others into salmon, how fast good days can become bad, past troubles in that particular spot, and offering prayers for Shufeldt and the rest of the guide fleet.

“There’s not enough good things to say about Michael Shufeldt,” posted fellow guide Josiah Darr. “He was one of the friendliest, most humble and most enjoyable people I’ve had to pleasure to call my friend. He absolutely wrecked fish too, but that never seemed as important to him. He was much more likely to be talking about his kids or his wife. Some things just don’t make sense and never will. I love you buddy.”

Numerous agencies assisted in the initial search and now the recovery mission for Shufeldt, including the Hood River County, Skamania County and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Offices, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Coast Guard and Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue.

“The family has asked for privacy as (they) deal with the loss,” HRCSO reported.

Our deepest condolences to Michael Shufeldt’s family and friends.