Search update: Three missing on Deschutes found safe, sound

An extensive search by land, air and water Wednesday led to good news about a missing boat with a guide and two fishermen aboard who failed to show up at a campsite along the Deschutes River, Wasco County officials said.

Authorities with Jefferson County and the Warm Springs Indian Reservation also were involved in the search that began after the boat, which put in at the Trout Creek Campground north of Madras, failed to show up at camp downstream, said Wasco County sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Scott Williams.

“Looks like we have located them alive and well,” Williams told NewsChannel 21 in an update Wednesday afternoon.

“We haven’t been able to interview in detail yet, as they are still on the river,” Williams wrote, adding that the interview is expected to happen later in the afternoon.

The trio were found north of Windy Flat Campground, near Dant. They later floated out to Harpham Flat, where they were leaving the river, Williams said.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins said the fishing party were “found safe, fishing, having fun,” unaware they had been reporting missing or overdue.

Adkins said he sent up the agency’s search and rescue plane to assist in the search and found numerous fishing boats and people on the river, none in distress.

Two boats had been making the trip, the other being a lead boat that goes ahead and sets up camp, Williams said earlier. When the second boat never showed up, authorities were alerted Wednesday morning.

While the plane searched from the air, a jet boat scouted the river and a drift boat also was called in to join the search, Williams said.

We’ll have more details as they’re available.