Report 29636: Fisherman recalls being startled by late night encounter on Fletcher Pond near Hillman

It was the summer of 1980 June or July a full moon night. At "Fletchers Pond" 25 west of Alpena MI. and about 10 miles east of Hillman MI. off highway 32.  Myself and a friend (Adam) decided to go fishing for bass.  We were in the cove for some time; since it was a full moon we did not bring a flashlight.  Around the midnight hour we hear this "ROAR" come from the shore line which was black due to the thick woods and we were on the water; within seconds something splashed into the water about 10 feet or less from the boat!  We were both pretty startled and speechless we just started the motor and headed back to the lodge "Paradise Lodge".  Of coarse we were teased about it and Adam would not even say a thing.  The following day another friend (Joe) and myself went in search of anything.  We had to go by boat to get to the area where "ROAR" came from.  It was known as the hunting club property and my first time there; as far as I know there were no buildings, but plenty of cover and trails which we walked on from the shore and came upon a small pond with slight incline banks of sandy ground.  To our findings, we did find very large foot prints, you could make out the toes as they were heading up the incline from the water.  Then on our way back to the shore and the boat my friend Joe got a little ahead of me and to my right was a thicket that you could not even see anything in this area, that is when I heard a limb snap scaring the heck out of me so much I could not even call out to Joe; I just froze in my steps.  Looking into this thicket as hard I could without seeing anything.  Then we left and that was pretty much the end of it.  I still share the story now and the then but I don't think anyone believes it.