Coast Guard gives update on search for missing fishermen

The men-Chris Thode, 25, and Aaron Juarez, 40, of Wyoming-were last heard from late Friday night when they left for a fishing trip.

A search is being conducted on Lake Michigan after authorities received a call about boaters who had gone missing.

Missing boater has “heart of gold” Aaron Juarez’s sister, Renee Palermo, and father, Victor Juarez, talk at the Pigeon Lake access site in Port Sheldon. A SUV and empty boat trailer belonging to one of the men were found Wednesday in a boat launch parking lot near Pigeon Lake in Olive Township.

Family members say they know that the chances of survival are slim.

The helicopter from Detroit was expected to search the same general area as authorities focused on Wednesday, because it was an area on the lake where police determined the boaters’ cell phones were Saturday. Winds have been strong and water temperatures are ranging between 62 and 47 degrees.

“Lake Michigan is just as big and vast as the ocean in certain spots”, Olson said.

Those searches spanned nearly to the other side of Lake Michigan.

Those with information regarding the two men and/or their boat are asked to call the Coast Guard at 414-747-7132. “We’re hitting it very aggressively”.

The Coast Guard says they will end all searches at 2:30 Thursday.