Lightning on the water

[bman5150]

Just finished reading the article in Bassmaster’s Jan/Feb 2020 about David Fritts getting struck my lightning. In the article, the following statistic is cited and it’s one we’ve all heard before:

”...the odds of a bass boat being hit by lightning are .1:1000...”

I do believe that to be true. However, what I’d like to know is what are the odds of being struck by lightning while in a bass boat on the water during a storm? I’m guessing it’s higher than .1:1000. And how about the odds when you are in a bass boat, on the water and waving a fishing rod around? Even higher.

I think the first stat is sort of like airplane crash stats. The odds are 1:whatever but they are zero for people who don’t fly and higher for those that fly all the time.

Let this serve as a reminder to be smart on the water this season when it comes to lightning! No bass is worth your life!

[eagleeye299]

I'm gone long before I see lighting and hear the thunder. Ain't no fish worth it.

[Phoenix_618]

Terrified of lightning! Two bad experiences with lightning. One on the water, one on a golf course. Forecast of thunder storms keeps me off the water.

[wstutts]

Use to think I was a bada-- Until I saw lighting hit and a streak of lighting ran across the water . Now I leave long before it gets bad

[ST8Bugging]

I have no idea about the odds and really dont care what they are because I'm not taking the chance.
After seeing lightning hit a Bouy on the lake years ago, I just wont take the chance anymore.

[jimsch]

Once it hit about 300 feet from me while driving and a second time about a 1000 feet away on a lake. Both while I was in Florida.

[520runner]

We were surrounded by a big summer storm and the smallie bite was good on the St. Lawrence river one July day. We hung in there cuz there was no rain yet and no wind but big lightning all around us.

My spinning rod started to snap and shock me. Our line was hanging in the still air long after our lures hit the water. It was like we were surrounded by electricity. We packed it in before the rain came and found shelter under a bridge from the coming deluge.

What a couple dumb asses! Never do that again.

[fr8dog]

It can travel a good ways and just because the storm is not over you doesn’t mean you’re safe. I got knocked on my butt in FL watching a small cell a few miles south of us. We were in the clear. I remember the bright flash and then getting up off the deck. The Big Guy missed the first time. Not going to give Him another shot!

[DaveBrabec]

clearlake storm.jpg
Clearlake the morning of a WON BASS event a few years back

[NAMVET1968]

It can travel a good ways and just because the storm is not over you doesn’t mean you’re safe. I got knocked on my butt in FL watching a small cell a few miles south of us. We were in the clear. I remember the bright flash and then getting up off the deck. The Big Guy missed the first time. Not going to give Him another shot!

THE Big Guy didnot miss ! just gave you more TIME !!!

[ST8Bugging]

The Big Guy missed the first time. Not going to give Him another shot!

Probably just a warning shot.

[brushsjigs]

I was on the boat ramp 2 hours after the storm blew thru. Lighting struck the power pole 50 yards behind me,, just when I was about to put the tie down strap on the transom. Saw a blue spark jump 6" and hit my finger coming from the tie down.. The finger nail was black for 4 days. Needles to say knocking the crap out of me.

[fr8dog]

Probably just a warning shot.

It worked! That was about 1980 and I haven’t hit the ‘press to test’ button since.

[Brownmaniac]

We were surrounded by a big summer storm and the smallie bite was good on the St. Lawrence river one July day. We hung in there cuz there was no rain yet and no wind but big lightning all around us.

My spinning rod started to snap and shock me. Our line was hanging in the still air long after our lures hit the water. It was like we were surrounded by electricity. We packed it in before the rain came and found shelter under a bridge from the coming deluge.

What a couple dumb asses! Never do that again.

Exact same thing happened to me and my long time fishing partner on Santee. We were in our 20's and dumb as hell. There was another couple dumbasses about 150 yards away that actually did get hit. Lightening stuck their console and they each went opposite directions in the water. Wind blew their boat away from them so we zoomed over to help. My cousin (partner) asked them "you going with us or after your boat?" the said EFF the boat and we all headed to the landing. Will never ever do that again.

[muddywaters]

A few years ago fishing my home lake, note it is full of green cypress trees. I was in a tournament when a strong storm blew in, once the tournament was started it was up to the angler as to what they wanted to do in bad weather. I was catching bass that day like it was nobodies business and big fish at that. I decided to weather the storm while fishing. I was in a area loaded with cypress trees. Lightning and thunder was going crazy but so were the fish. My line started to hover in the air, when that happened I got low, I knew it was static electricity. Bright flash and a BOOM. Lightning struck one of the cypress trees about 100 feet from my boat. I had cypress splinters Laying in my boat. That was enough of a eye opening experience that now I am very cautious while fishing in stormy weather. I will go sit it out under a bridge or dock or even in my truck. Ain't no bass worth your life. Before this experience I always used the philosophy of "If it is my time to go, Then it don"t matter what I am doing at that time". And I fished thru the storms no matter what.

[Bassman Ia.]

As a kid I was never scared of lightning. First encounter that scared me I was about 27, on vacation On Table Rock. Started raining, no open slips in any docks so I take out of a cove onto the main lake. Had several bolts of lightning flash around me that made the hair on my arms tingle. New respect.

[bman5150]

All these close calls kinda makes my point. You can greatly increase the odds of getting hit by lightening by, well, being in a bass boat on the water during lightning, lol!

scary stuff. I won’t do it. Left a crazy awesome Lake St Clair bite 6-7 years ago because the skies were darkening. Glad I did.

[wildturkey]

Don’t mind rain, but see ya when lightning comes.

[high 2]

My grandfather was struck 3 times in his life. It got to where if a dark cloud could be seen he would head to the cellar.

[mikeSF]

When I hear thunder in the distant I head for the ramp.