MUDDY CREEK TWP — Rescue crews searching Lake Arthur for a missing fisherman plan to stop their efforts between 5 and 6 p.m. They expect to resume searching at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Walter C. Powell, 51, of Richland Township, Allegheny County, is believed to have launched a red canoe to go fishing about 7 p.m. Thursday at Bear Run Boat Launch on Moraine State Park's south shore, said Jake Weiland, assistant park manager.

After he did not return Thursday night, Powell's son drove to the park Friday morning and found his pickup truck in the Bear Run parking lot. He reported his father missing and park staff began coordinating a search at 8 a.m. Friday.

By 12:50 p.m. several rescue boats and a LifeFlight helicopter had searched the entire shore line of the lake and did not find any traces of Powell or his canoe.

A second wave of rescue boats, some equipped with sonar scanners, went out about 2 p.m.

Chris Calhoun, assistant chief of Butler County's Team 300 Water Rescue, instructed the rescue teams to look for any signs of the canoe, a life vest, the camouflage clothing that Powell was wearing, a cooler or a tackle box. Powell is described as 5 feet 10 inches and 175 pounds.

A private pilot flying an airplane and a drone owned by Butler County also aided in the search from the air.

The responders were not considering it a recovery mission because it is still possible that Powell is somewhere safe, said Steve Bicehouse, Butler County Emergency Services director.