Altus Angler, 73, Dies After Lugert Lake Boat Capsizes

A fishing trip at Lugert Lake ended in tragedy this week when a 73-year-old man died after his boat capsized, authorities say. The victim, identified as Charles A. Spencer, went out to fish on Monday and did not return. His capsized boat was later found, and his body was located on Tuesday near Horses Head Mountain.

KOKH reports that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol responded to the scene and investigators believe Spencer entered the water after his boat went over and never resurfaced. Troopers found his body the following day, and the agency says the incident is still under investigation.

How search and recovery works

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Marine Enforcement Division is responsible for search and rescue and dive operations on state lakes, including the specialized teams that handle recoveries. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Troop W and the department’s dive team provide marine enforcement for dozens of reservoirs and assist local agencies during incidents like this one.

About Lugert Lake

Lake Altus–Lugert, widely known as Lugert Lake, is a roughly 6,600-acre reservoir in southwest Oklahoma and a popular spot for anglers and boaters. A recent fisheries report from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation notes that the lake is heavily used for recreation and experiences regular drawdowns for irrigation, conditions that can change shorelines and underwater structure and create hazards for small boats.

Safety takeaways

National figures show drowning accounted for about three quarters of recreational boating deaths, and the vast majority of those victims were not wearing life jackets, according to a recent report from the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard advises wearing properly fitted personal flotation devices, filing a float plan, and avoiding alcohol while operating a boat, precautions it notes are especially important on small fishing skiffs at lakes such as Altus–Lugert.

Authorities have not released additional information about what caused the capsizing, and the investigation remains active. KOKH describes the case as developing and says updates will be posted as they become available.