Lightning while fishing? 2024
pondbassin101 reply :
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?
Scott F reply :
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.
Todd2 reply :
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.
pondbassin101 reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 10:08 AM, 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
scaleface reply :
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 .
riverbasser reply :
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.
shimmy reply :
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.
Koz reply :
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.
Sam reply :
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.
Catt reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 10:41 AM, 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.
Mike L reply :
If a thunderstorm is approaching, Leave!!
It's just fishing
Mike
basseditor reply :
Yeah, when your line starts going toward the sky or you get a small shock when you pick up a rod, it's scary.
BCline reply :
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"
NHBull reply :
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"!
BigAngus752 reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 1:53 PM, 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?
A-Jay reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 8:55 PM, BigAngus752 said:
So, being hit by lightening is just like getting married to Satan's daughter ?
Fixed that one for you.
A-Jay
Doelman reply :
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.
Turtle135 reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 10:41 AM, 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.
CTBassin860 reply :
As long as your not holding a Berkley Lightning Shock rod you should be safe ?
A-Jay reply :
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
NHBull reply :
Standing on bags of plastic will "unground" you, so breakout the worms and craw dads
J Francho reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 9:59 PM, A-Jay said:btw - trying to outrun water spouts is a real good time.
Been there!
Smokinal reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 10:41 AM, 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.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 8:17 PM, 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.
J Francho reply :
WeatherBug has a very cool lightning tracker.
RPreeb reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 1:53 PM, 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.
Actually lightning has been know to strike ground up to 10 miles from the storm itself. A lot depends on the path of least resistance for a discharge.
38 Super Fan reply :
I've been through many pop up thunderstorms in the summer, if you've got some empty docks with roofs around you've got it made. I've taken shelter under overhanging bluffs, and under bridges and dams too. Quite a few times though, there's been nothing like that around, getting to the back of a little creek under some trees was the best I could do.
Weather apps are great, but with most of the lakes I fish there's no cell service on them, so they don't help me one bit when I really need them.
J Francho reply :
Here's a day out on Lake Ontario. We literally ran through the outlet from the lake to the bay at around 75 mph to beat the storm. Came out of nowhere. I saw a speck of lightning many, many miles away, and five minutes later. We beat it out just in time. The last two videos are the wind just before the storm.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 8:55 PM, BigAngus752 said:
So, being hit by lightening is just like getting married?
The latter is (or can be) a slow, protracted death.
lo n slo reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 2:04 AM, 38 Super Fan said:I've been through many pop up thunderstorms in the summer, if you've got some empty docks with roofs around you've got it made. I
saved my butt a time or two. we've identified those safe havens in all of our creeks on our home lake.
WRB reply :
You are conductive and lightning attaches to anything that is conductive.
You are the highest object above the water and attract lightning like a lightning rod.
Indirect lightning strike can kill you, a direct lightning strike will burn the marrow out of your bones and fry you to a smoking mess.
lightning and fishing don't mix, don't hesitate and get off the water fast as you can!
Fishing in Canada I experienced my line lifting off the water and thought what the heck when a lightning bolt hit a tree a few 100 yards away splitting it down the middle. We ran the boat up onto the bank, jumped out and got under some low trees as the rain and hale came within a few minutes, weather can change fast if you are not watching.
Be safe not foolish.
Tom
geo g reply :
In Florida we are in the lightning capital of America. We have more lightning strikes then any other state. Our canal systems have loads of bridges where I have taken cover from storms on many occasions. I usually tie up to a piling and have a snack, or even fish while tied. Over the years I have caught some nice bass under the bridges while waiting for a break in the weather.
If the weatherman predicts thunderstorms you must have a plan for your safety. Don't stay out in the open under any circumstance. Be smart!
UPSmallie reply :
Right before lightning strikes I notice the fish seem to smash my lures a lot more. Falling barometric pressure maybe? If lightning is far away then I'll keep fishing, but if it is close by then I'll call it quits until it passes by.
gimruis reply :
I'm a big fan of fishing in inclement conditions because it generally keeps recreational traffic off the lake and the fishing is often better, but there is a very fine line when it comes to being out there when the fishing is good and being out there when its potentially really dangerous. Lightning often strikes the highest point so if your on a lake in a boat holding a rod, that's just bad news. Oh, and by the way, fishing in hail is very dangerous too. If a piece of big hail hits you, its gonna hurt. If it hits you in the head, it might kill you.
BuzzHudson19c reply :
Last week I got caught in a storm that rolled in quickly. I paddled to shore and took shelter in a broken wall of an old mill. I know better than to be out there in lightning.
pondbassin101 reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 3:19 AM, J Francho said:Here's a day out on Lake Ontario. We literally ran through the outlet from the lake to the bay at around 75 mph to beat the storm. Came out of nowhere. I saw a speck of lightning many, many miles away, and five minutes later. We beat it out just in time. The last two videos are the wind just before the storm.
I don't know about other states, but Florida summer thunderstrorms are far from peaceful. 2 inches of rain in half an hour and enough thunder to make everything shake is common. Being caught out on the water in these conditions would be foolhardy and even deadly.
they look something like this
lonnie g reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 10:41 AM, 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 .
had the same thing happen to me in bama. it's spooky when the line just floats in the air. I left rather quickly!
Gundog reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 8:17 PM, NHBull said:
In the Summer I borrow a lightning indicator that our athletic trainer has. ( It's awesome)
I just looked up lightning indicators and found one for only $20. Not sure how good it works but it sounds like something worth investing in. I've been caught in a few storms over the years but if I see lightning I head for land.
Catt reply :
Yes I've been in a thunderstorm big enough to beach a Champion 210 Elite & have been 150 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico in seas that made a 70' boat look little.
It's all fun & games until you pull a dead body out of the water...changes your perspective on boating safety!
I love my family more than bass fishing! 
pondbassin101 reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 11:48 AM, Catt said:Yes I've been in a thunderstorm big enough to beach a Champion 210 Elite & have been 150 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico in seas that made a 70' boat look little.
sheesh
Mike L reply :
Last summer some time I posted what happened to a boater and co angler on Okeechobee during a tournament. To make a long and sad story short.....
They were fishing under blue sky's but kept watching a building thunderstorm that didn't seem like it was moving. After fishing hard for a while one of them happened to look back and saw that it was bigger, darker and moving faster.
They packed up and started to head back when a lightening bolt struck the co angler and knocked them both out. When the boater finally regained consciousness he tried to revive him but being disoriented himself he couldn't. He screamed and tryed to get the attention of other passing boat's.
When they got to weigh-in the co angler had died..
Weird fact...The fish in the co angler's live well were dead, but the fish in the boater's well were not.
ALL prize money awarded that day was donated back to the co anglers family.
Iv'e said before..Leave, it's just fishing
Mike
MickD reply :
Comments on line not lying down and rod buzzing when lifted indicate you're close to a lightning situation, and as mentioned, it doesn't have to be clearly a thunderstorm environment. It can happen miles from the storm . I repeat to emphasize the danger which one can find himself in, even without a thunderstorm. If you point your rod up and hear the buzz, get the heck out of there immediately.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 7:12 PM, Mike L said:Last summer some time I posted what happened to a boater and co angler on Okeechobee during a tournament. To make a long and sad story short.....
They were fishing under blue sky's but kept watching a building thunderstorm that didn't seem like it was moving. After fishing hard for a while one of them happened to look back and saw that it was bigger, darker and moving faster.
They packed up and started to head back when a lightening bolt struck the co angler and knocked them both out. When the boater finally regained consciousness he tried to revive him but being disoriented himself he couldn't. He screamed and tryed to get the attention of other passing boat's.
When they got to weigh-in the co angler had died..
Weird fact...The fish in the co angler's live well were dead, but the fish in the boater's well were not.
ALL prize money awarded that day was donated back to the co anglers family.
Iv'e said before..Leave, it's just fishing
Mike
Not to make light of a tragic situation but there's something funny about "...when they got to weigh-in...". I know tournament fishermen are fanatics but geesh!
Mike L reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 9:29 PM, Ratherbfishing said:
Not to make light of a tragic situation but there's something funny about "...when they got to weigh-in...". I know tournament fishermen are fanatics but geesh!
There is no cover on Okeechobee. No docks, few marinas, and even less shorelines that they could have beached the boat and run.
They were in open water.
The ramp area they launched from was the closest place to seek shelter and get help for his unbeknownst to him, deceased partner that was laying across the seat's next to him.
Bucky205 reply :
Friend and I were fishing the St Johns rive in Palatka, FL. with power lines overhead. Started hearing the crackling. I made a long cast using mono, and the line just hung in mid air, floating. Then bright flash, and simultaneos BOOM. I though we had been hit. That's probably the closest I've come. People tell me I'm exagerating when I tell them the line floated. Good to see it has happened to others.
Ratherbfishing reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 9:44 PM, Mike L said:
There is no cover on Okeechobee. No docks, few marinas, and even less shorelines that they could have beached the boat and run.
They were in open water.
The ramp area they launched from was the closest place to seek shelter and get help for his unbeknownst to him, deceased partner that was laying across the seat's next to him.
I was just being...facetious.
Catt reply :
The notion that lighting will strike the tallest object around is not completely true.
The photos I posted of an aluminum boat hit by lighting was not the tallest object around, both anglers died.
My nephew was stationed at Tinker Airforce Base. A crew was on flight line (wide open space) prepping an E3-AWACS when they got a warning from the air traffic control of an approaching thunderstorm. They had just taken shelter under the wing when lightning struck & killed an airman. The tower said the storm was 5 miles out!
Mike L reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 10:11 PM, Ratherbfishing said:
I was just being...facetious.
Don't take my response as anything but more information as it was told to me.
Its been a rough morning
Mike
ClackerBuzz reply :
StinkyBass reply :
On 7/19/2017 at 1:53 PM, Sam said:Recovery is very slow and your sex life is over.
Ahahaha Sam! I can always count on you for a straight NO BS answer!
IMO I don't just walk outside with a "lightning rod" **cough** a fishing rod in my hands hoping to "one up" mother nature by catching a bass before a t-storm. 
According to Sam there's more at stake then getting struck by lightning!
pondbassin101 reply :
On 7/24/2017 at 9:45 PM, ClackerBuzz said:
Was that a rod at one point, I can't seem to get my head around that
scaleface reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 9:07 AM, BuzzHudson19c said:Last week I got caught in a storm that rolled in quickly. I paddled to shore and took shelter in a broken wall of an old mill. I know better than to be out there in lightning.
I was canoeing solo down a river when a storm blew up . I paddled to the hilly side of the river and squeezed up tight against a boulder and watched trees get blown over across the river .
Bankbeater reply :
About 5 or 6 years ago were driving to the boat ramp through a lightning storm. By the time we got there the storm had passed, but there were paramedics at the ramp. Lightning had struck a van that was parked at the ramp. The people inside were alive and awake, but they needed medical attention.
Bulletman20XD reply :
I've had 3 near misses on or near the water over the years--I have never been struck directly but could feel the effects every time. The worst was while fishing a tourney on Belton lake (Near Belton/Temple Texas) in 1993. It was raining so hard you could barely see the trees on the bank 75 yard away. Lightning hit near the bank and I guess electrified the water. It came up my left leg and out my left arm. My arm hurt for a few hours but was not too bad. Another time I was on Kentucky lake when a really bad storm hit. We beached the boat to run for cover at the campground we were staying. Water was pouring down the bank right where we beached the boat so hard the boat started floating away. I went back down and into the water to retrieve it when lightning hit nearby. It was like being electrocuted by household current. When I got back to the bank, there were 2 guys laying on the ground at the camp ground. They apparently were holding the awning poles of there pop-up camper and both took a direct hit. They were both taken by ambulance to the hospital. Since that last time, I head for cover long "BEFORE" lightning gets close.
pondbassin101 reply :
On 8/22/2017 at 10:41 PM, Bulletman20XD said:I've had 3 near misses on or near the water over the years--I have never been struck directly but could feel the effects every time. The worst was while fishing a tourney on Belton lake (Near Belton/Temple Texas) in 1993. It was raining so hard you could barely see the trees on the bank 75 yard away. Lightning hit near the bank and I guess electrified the water. It came up my left leg and out my left arm. My arm hurt for a few hours but was not too bad. Another time I was on Kentucky lake when a really bad storm hit. We beached the boat to run for cover at the campground we were staying. Water was pouring down the bank right where we beached the boat so hard the boat started floating away. I went back down and into the water to retrieve it when lightning hit nearby. It was like being electrocuted by household current. When I got back to the bank, there were 2 guys laying on the ground at the camp ground. They apparently were holding the awning poles of there pop-up camper and both took a direct hit. They were both taken by ambulance to the hospital. Since that last time, I head for cover long "BEFORE" lightning gets close.
Some close calls indeed. You can never be too relaxed outdoors, especially with things like storms and lightning.
Hez reply :
On 7/20/2017 at 7:12 PM, Mike L said:Last summer some time I posted what happened to a boater and co angler on Okeechobee during a tournament. To make a long and sad story short.....
They were fishing under blue sky's but kept watching a building thunderstorm that didn't seem like it was moving. After fishing hard for a while one of them happened to look back and saw that it was bigger, darker and moving faster.
They packed up and started to head back when a lightening bolt struck the co angler and knocked them both out. When the boater finally regained consciousness he tried to revive him but being disoriented himself he couldn't. He screamed and tryed to get the attention of other passing boat's.
When they got to weigh-in the co angler had died..
Weird fact...The fish in the co angler's live well were dead, but the fish in the boater's well were not.
ALL prize money awarded that day was donated back to the co anglers family.
Iv'e said before..Leave, it's just fishing
Mike
The supporting article: https://www.bassmaster.com/news/nation-angler-killed-lightning
Jaderose reply :
If I see lightning or hear thunder..no matter how far away.....I get off and away from the water ASAP. Just fishing.......
Mike L reply :
On 8/23/2017 at 3:32 AM, Hez said:
The supporting article: https://www.bassmaster.com/news/nation-angler-killed-lightning
Thanks
I was looking for it.
Mike
N Florida Mike reply :
Ive been out many times with lightning all around but never had the line rise or heard cracking sounds.One of the worst storms I was ever in while fishing was at Palestine lake in N. central Fl. There were 4-5 of us in 2 boats. The lake is around 3 miles long and about a mile wide. We were fishing the north end and a storm popped up suddenly from the northwest coming our way. We ran down to the south end and the storm looked like it would miss us .We were right by the boatramp but one of my best friends thought we could go to the southwest side of the lake and keep fishing. But another storm had slipped up on us from the south and before we knew it we were caught. We ran up into the Cypress trees ( dont know if that was a good idea or not )and laid down in the boats.It was a toad strangler rain , I mean. Lightning all around us every few seconds. ? We had a prayer meeting right there!
We were all pretty shook up, soaking wet, nerves shot and half deaf after it all. I dont remember us fishing any more that day after the storm.We just quietly loaded up the boats and went home .
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