caught in a storm

[3M TA3]

Originally Posted by Hawker

Get to the nearest bank, beach the boat, get out and find cover for yourself and whomever is with you! Been there, done that and it's not fun!
The wife got me the Sirius Weather stuff for my HDS unit and now I know if there is one approaching from any direction, long before it gets anywhere close and can track it to see if I'm going to have to find cover or it's safe to continue fishing! Lot's of different "Apps" for smart phones now too that will warn you of impending storms, so that's another smart option as well!

How's that been working for you in Canada?

[Dacotah Eye]

I have a lightning detector with me when on the water and it will alert me when lightning is many miles from me. I get off the water early enough that I don't have to beat myself up doing it. There are always lots of people who wait too long and end up waiting quite a while at the launch. If I see a lightning bolt anywhere in the sky or hear thunder and I'm long gone.

[NathanH]

Originally Posted by Dacotah Eye

I have a lightning detector with me when on the water and it will alert me when lightning is many miles from me. I get off the water early enough that I don't have to beat myself up doing it. There are always lots of people who wait too long and end up waiting quite a while at the launch. If I see a lightning bolt anywhere in the sky or hear thunder and I'm long gone.

That cool I need to look into that!

[Catch'nRelease]

Originally Posted by eriksat1

When up in Canada I will head to a shoreline with a sheltered bay or around a point to the calm side and anchor just off shore and wait it out under a umbrella. I would rather sit it out in the boat than go stand under a tree on those mineral rich rock islands.

Being out in the water with an umbrella sticking up in the air? Could this be safer than being on land, "protected" under the trees? I suppose you could be safer if you're on the water, in your anchored boat, just off shore - if there are trees very close by and much higher than your umbrella. I'm not sure about this, but I would guess that you're approach makes more sense than being on shore, in the trees and probably on a root of at least one of them?

[eriksat1]

Originally Posted by Catch'nRelease

Being out in the water with an umbrella sticking up in the air? Could this be safer than being on land, "protected" under the trees? I suppose you could be safer if you're on the water, in your anchored boat, just off shore - if there are trees very close by and much higher than your umbrella. I'm not sure about this, but I would guess that you're approach makes more sense than being on shore, in the trees and probably on a root of at least one of them?

I sit low with the umbrella right on top of my head, I am a lot lower than the surrounding rock shore on and way lower than the trees. I know most people pull up and stand under the tree's, I don't think that is a very good idea. If you look around you can see lots of trees that have been struck.

[Lovgren69]

I got caught last year in a real bad thunderstorm last year while fishing a walleye tournament on Lake Erie.

I have a new respect for being on big/any water in any thunderstorm now; before it never really seem to register/bother me.
We were 10-12 miles offshore and working over a nice active school of walleyes, so naturally we didn't want to pull our lines and head in. We watched roughly a dozen boats head in, but we thought we could manage to dodge the storms looming and continue fishing...Bad idea, before we knew it the storm was directly on us.

We pulled our lines, stowed our gear, and made a mad dash for the marina. The winds picked up to about 30-35 mph, the rain was coming in sideways, and lightning was ringing out right on top of us. I hollered to get all the rods on the deck and get the antennae down. I've never been in such close proximty to lightning all the while being the highest object on the water for 10 miles.

Things weren't being made much easier since the lake had churned up some violent 3-4 foot whitecaps. I pushed my Ranger 690 as hard as she would go. We made about 20 mph fighting our way back, getting soaked by the rain and splash I was taking over the bow. The bildge pump ran non stop and was having a hard time keeping up with all the water we were taking on.

So the long and short of it was- we safely made our way back to port. Another boat which got caught in the same storm claimed their boat had been struck by lightning. They said they could feel the charge run down through the metal rocket launcher on thier hardtop. After that day I have a newfound respect for mother nature.

[Dave S]

Dakota Eye, You made reference to a lightening detector. Sounds like something very worthwhile to have. Is this an app for your phone ??

[TIN CAN]

One of the first hints I get of trouble coming is in the way my line acts when I cast. If it stays high for a few seconds or has an arch to it during the cast then it's time to move. Lightning is just a stroke away.

[MrStarnes1]

Originally Posted by Dave S

Dakota Eye, You made reference to a lightening detector. Sounds like something very worthwhile to have. Is this an app for your phone ??

guessing it is something similar to this

http://www.weathershack.com/lightnin...FbEBQAod8V950A

[Dacotah Eye]

Originally Posted by Dave S

Dakota Eye, You made reference to a lightening detector. Sounds like something very worthwhile to have. Is this an app for your phone ??

It is an actual electronic unit that you can clip on your belt. My hearing is bad so I lay it where I can see the LEDs. It actually works and is fairly inexpensive. My wife takes it into the camper at night so we can keep track of approaching storms and can tell when they are moving away instead of approaching.
http://www.strikealert.com/