Mods I apologize if this is the wrong forum

 

What experiences have you guys had with lightning whilefishing? One of mine was when we had a major thunderstorm roll through the area and once the worst of it had passed I decided to walk to a pond down the street thinking the fishing was going to be really bad or better than usual. While fishing I kept hearing this buzzing crackling sound and on a glance upwards saw a huge lightning bolt streak across the sky and strike a few miles away. I deemed it a worthy time to head back home. Is this a common occurrence?

Just about everyone who has ever been struck by lightning has probably experienced the same thing.  I never have, but I don't go outdoors waving a fishing rod around when there is thunder and lightning in the area.

Most people are struck just before or after a storm...I don't play with that stuff, but I see people all of the time ignoring it while fishing, trying to finishing up yard work, etc. 

31 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Just about everyone who has ever been struck by lightning has probably experienced the same thing.  I never have, but I don't go outdoors waving a fishing rod around when there is thunder and lightning in the area.

I guess I didn't realize there was still lightning in the area until I was by the water. Life lesson learned 

I was fishing at Bull Shoals and there was a storm in some far away hills . I wasnt too frightened by it . I was using a tube on  a quarter ounce jighead . I made a cast and my line would not lay on the water . The lure was in the water but the line was trying to stand straight up in the air . I connected the dots rather fast and got off the water .

First thing that comes to mind was a last minute trip to the river after buying my last boat. Ended up running into a family broken down on there pontoon boat. Me and the wife pulled them back to the ramp while a storm blew up out of nowhere. As I was helping them line the pontoon onto their trailer knee deep in the water with lightning popping all around. 

 

It was not cool and while looking back I would still help them I hope I never have to do that again. 

Thunder, meh, not so much. Once I see the flash, I am in. Even on my guided fishing trip to Lake Baccarac, the second I saw lightning, take me in. I think immediately of my wife and kids and the selfishness involved to keep fishing. It is SOOOOOOOO not worth it. Give me rain, hail, snow, wind, downpour, some distant thunder, but lightning, time to go in whether the person I am fishing with gets offended or not. 

Living here in the south it's common to get thunderstorms almost every evening during the summer. If we see any lightning or thunderhead clouds we pack it in right away. I also have the Weather Channel app on my phone and have it set to alert me when there is lightning in the area.

 

It's simply not worth the risk.

Lightning can strike 5 miles out from the storm.

 

If you are hit and survive, it will be like having a stroke.

 

Recovery is very slow and your sex life is over.

 

Of course, that is the good news. If no doctors or EMS around  you probably won't make it, anyway.

7 hours ago, scaleface said:

I was fishing at Bull Shoals and there was a storm in some far away hills . I wasnt too frightened by it . I was using a tube on  a quarter ounce jighead . I made a cast and my line would not lay on the water . The lure was in the water but the line was trying to stand straight up in the air . I connected the dots rather fast and got off the water .

 

Night fishing after a storm I was throwing a t-rigs when I noticed my line "jump" a couple feet up, I'm like what the when it did it again & suddenly it dawn on me time to leave!

 

Below are the results of an aluminum boat stuck by lighting.

If a thunderstorm is approaching, Leave!!

It's just fishing 

 

 

 

Mike

Yeah, when your line starts going toward the sky or you get a small shock when you pick up a rod, it's scary.

This thread reminds me of a quote from the TV show Wicked Tuna.  While fishing through a nasty storm the captain of the Hard Merchandise told his crew, "Don't worry, lightening is only dangerous if you're on a boat"

Lightning is where I draw the line.  Given the weather apps available, it is totally available.

In the Summer I borrow a lightning indicator that our athletic trainer has. ( It's awesome)

 

Like anything else, if you ignore you accept the consequences.

 

To get back to my home dock, I have to get through 2 chanels and that's not likely if you wait till you hear thunder.  

 

Seasoned boaters know the law and will tie off to a vacant dock and wait it out.  The last time it happened, the owner invited me in for coffee..........I love "Golden Pond"!

7 hours ago, Sam said:

Lightning can strike 5 miles out from the storm.

 

If you are hit and survive, it will be like having a stroke.

 

Recovery is very slow and your sex life is over.

 

Of course, that is the good news. If no doctors or EMS around  you probably won't make it, anyway.

 

So, being hit by lightening is just like getting married?

17 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

 

So, being hit by lightening is just like getting married to Satan's daughter ?

 

Fixed that one for you.

A-Jay

 

We often get isolated thunderstorms down here in the south in the summer.  Often times they're small and only last 20 or so minutes, it doesn't make sense to come back in sometimes especially if you're offshore.  So yeah, I've been out many times off the coast and rode out lightning and thunderstorms, even saw a waterspout a mile or two away once.  The closest I've ever been to getting struck by lightning though was when I was paddling the Suwannee River on a 3 day trip.  Had a severe thunderstorm pop up right on us, branches were getting ripped off trees and landing in the river, it was crazy.  Since we had no shelter and the river is the lowest point in the area by far, we decided to stay in the aluminum canoe and just hold onto the bank until the storm was over.  Lightning hit a tree on the bank right next to us and we got shocked by the canoe, fun times.  While scary, I'll admit it was very memorable. 

10 hours ago, scaleface said:

I was fishing at Bull Shoals and there was a storm in some far away hills . I wasnt too frightened by it . I was using a tube on  a quarter ounce jighead . I made a cast and my line would not lay on the water . The lure was in the water but the line was trying to stand straight up in the air . I connected the dots rather fast and got off the water .

 

I had that happen about 10 years ago. Made a cast with a spinning rod and my line kept feeding off the spool straight up after the lure hit the water. Put two and two together and headed back to the truck.

As long as your not holding a Berkley Lightning Shock rod you should be safe ?

For many years, I was right in the middle of many a storm - all kinds, including electrical.

It was an occupational hazard.

Now, not only am I not out in them, I usually will not go if they are predicted.

Just don't feel the need to tempt fate as I feel I already beat the odds at least once.

btw - trying to outrun water spouts is a real good time. 

A-Jay

Standing on bags of plastic will "unground" you, so breakout the worms and craw dads

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

btw - trying to outrun water spouts is a real good time. 

 

Been there!

14 hours ago, scaleface said:

I was fishing at Bull Shoals and there was a storm in some far away hills . I wasnt too frightened by it . I was using a tube on  a quarter ounce jighead . I made a cast and my line would not lay on the water . The lure was in the water but the line was trying to stand straight up in the air . I connected the dots rather fast and got off the water .

Wow! Interesting to hear of the same issue I experienced. T rigged worm would sink to the bottom but my line literally hovered above the water 3 ft all the way back to my rod. Would not have believed it if it didn't happen to me. Was hearing crackling sounds the whole time. 

5 hours ago, NHBull said:

Lightning is where I draw the line.  Given the weather apps available, it is totally available.

In the Summer I borrow a lightning indicator that our athletic trainer has. ( It's awesome)

 

 

I agree download a weather app and use it to see the conditions and radar for the time you are out on the water.

 

I have the weather channel app. I pick 0% to 20% chance of rain days with low wind to go out on boats. Keeping watch of the in app radar for my area helps me make better choices on the water. 

WeatherBug has a very cool lightning tracker.