Rescuers may resume the search today (Friday) for at least one fisherman feared lost near the Huske Lock and Dam.

Personnel from Station 75, the White Lake/Bladen County Water Rescue, along with N.C. Wildlife Enforcement Division officers, Lumberton Dive Team, and other emergency workers searched the area near the Huske boat ramp for hours Tuesday.

Other firefighters and rescue workers worked the banks of the river, searching for any trace of the potentially missing boater.

Rescue workers were called out just after midnight Tuesday morning when a canoe was found floating upside down near the boat ramp. The boat was still loaded with fishing rods, a bait bucket, and fish.

A volunteer from the N.C. Canine Emergency Response Team volunteer from Wendell deployed a cadaver dog in the area Tuesday morning, but had no luck.

Mack Morgan and his search dog, Sam, are familiar with Bladen County, having participated in the search for Chase Powell in 2002.

The dog is trained to smell human remains, and undergoes rigorous training to prevent false hits. Sam is trained to search from a boat to locate bodies that are underwater.

Authorities were not even sure Thursday if they were searching for a body.

The dog picked up a scent in two places, but divers said nothing was located.

"Sam's never lied to me before," Morgan said. "As fast as this river flows, though, it's tough to find anything."

Chief Dale Brennan of Station 58, White Lake, is also a member of Station 75 Water Rescue. He said Thursday that authorities in Cumberland and Bladen County had reported no missing persons connected to the river.

"We hope somebody just lost their boat," Brennan said.

Wildlife officials and Station 75 Chief Bradley Kinlaw were not available for comment Thursday.

In addition to game laws, Wildlife officials are responsible for enforcing boating laws and investigating boating accidents on the river and elsewhere.

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