Angler dies after jumping into Waitts Lake

FISHING — An angler died on the opening day of the lowland lakes trout season in Washington when he jumped into a lake in northeast Washington to save his fishing rod.

The Stevens County sheriff’s office says the rod slipped out of the boat Saturday on Waitts Lake and the man went in after it without a life jacket.

News reports said others in the boat threw life jackets to him, but were unable to save him. Deputies believe he was unable to respond because of the shock of the cold water.