Tribal fisherman Bill Fowler hauled in a rather unusual catch last week.

LEELANAU TOWNSHIP fire and rescue lieutenant Todd Huck,
steadied by chief Hugh Cook, attempts to attach a line to a
disabled aircraft hauled to the Northport Bay Boat Yard last
week by a tribal fishing vessel.

In addition to pulling about 1,400 pounds of whitefish out of Lake Michigan last Thursday afternoon, Fowler and the crew of his fishing tug Beulah O brought in a 1,400 pound airplane and its pilot, seasonal Northport resident James Zevalkink of Grand Rapids.

Zevalkink was attempting to take off from Northport Bay in his home-built Christavia experimental float plane in choppy waters just off Dawn Haven Road when he ran into trouble. A cable attached to a strut on the right side of the aircraft snapped, causing one of the plane’s two pontoons to come loose. The plane’s right wing dipped into the lake – and water began filling the pontoon.

“We just happened to be in the area, saw him trying to take off, saw that he was in trouble – and knew that we had to help,” Fowler reported.

Also viewing the action from shore was volunteer Leelanau Township firefighter Rick Burmeister who called 9-1-1 at around 12:50 on Thursday. Units from Leelanau Township fire and rescue responded, including a marine unit which arrived on the scene shortly after Fowler did aboard the Beulah O. On shore, meanwhile, township fire and rescue chief Hugh Cook coordinated the effort, with an ambulance standing by.

Fowler said he quickly determined that the pilot was unhurt and worked with Zevalkink to try and haul most of the plane onto the stern of the tug using an onboard winch. That effort failed, however, because of the extra weight of water entering the damaged pontoon.

“The plane was going down fast and we had to do something,” Fowler said. “We especially didn’t want the engine to go under because of possible pollution from fuel and oil.”

Fowler and his crew used trap net hooks and lines to secure the airplane to the fishing tug, with one of the plane’s pontoons resting on the aft starboard quarter of tug.

Escorted by a smaller companion fishing vessel and the township’s marine unit, the Beulah O and its catch headed for shore.

Cook had arranged for a crane at the Northport Bay Boat Yard to help retrieve the airplane from the water and its precarious perch on the Beulah O. By that time, personnel and vehicles from the Natural Resources Department of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians were also on the scene.

Once ashore, Zevalkink was interviewed by Leelanau Township emergency medical technician Adam Ziter, but declined treatment.

“The only thing hurting is my pride,” quipped Zevalkink, 54. When he is not building and flying airplanes, Zevalkink owns and operates a trucking company based in the Grand Rapids area.

“And Bill Fowler really did save my (rear end),” Zevalkink added, “there’s no doubt about that.”

Eventually, the crew from the Northport Bay Boat Yard, aided by the crew of the Beulah O as well as township fire and rescue personnel, were able to haul the plane out of the water with the crane and onto shore. Meanwhile, tribal Natural Resources personnel helped unload Fowler’s catch of whitefish from the Beulah O so the haul could be taken to the tribal commercial fishing marina in Peshawbestown for refrigeration on its way to market.

Early this week, Fowler and the crew of the Beulah O were back on the lake fishing. Reached by cell phone, Fowler said he was glad to help Zevalkink and keep the plane from sinking.

“We all want to protect the fishing grounds,” Fowler said. “And the fishing has been pretty good.”