safety question. what to do when storms come up quick on lake. lightning.

[skeeter11008]

I have the Weather Channel App on my IPhone with all the lakes I fish already programed as locations. The radar is invaluable and you can check the hourlyforecasts. I check them religiously before putting in and also periodically during the day while on the water, that way you can get a little warning when you need to start heading to a sheltered area.

[Jbyrd]

Okay guys why would you get out of the boat to get under some trees. FIBERGLASS is one of the best insulators AGAINST electricity. Trees are like lightning rods and attrack the lightning . If you stay in the boat ( if it is fiberglass ) and just slide down in your seat you will be MUCH lower than objects up on the side of the deepest holler you can find. The object is to invite the lightning to strike something other than you or your boat. One way is to be close to something that is Higher or more conductive than yourself.

[brlfishing]

u guys have given some great info. it helps alot just knowing what to do, and be prepaired instead of waiting until it happens and then going into a panic. i kept thinking of diffrent things since my post, and was curious if fiberglass will let current flow through it? if fiberglass is not conductive could you beach and tie off the boat and just get into the extra rod locker type of compartment (bass boat). i know someone who use to fish tournaments all the time, several of them got caught out as a hail storm came up (this was back before cell phones) some put all there clothes and everything they could find over their heads, and the individual that was telling me about this got in the rod locker and kept his arm out of the rod locker and held onto the rope where he tied off. he said it beat the **** out of his arm but no serious injurys. i went to youtube and did a search and even people that survive a strike while fishing get messed up bad. the rod the guy was holding looked like you took cotton out of a pillow and put it on a fishing rod. ill post the link in a sec. but what do u all think bout the rod locker thing?

[Jbyrd]

Great ideal rod locker, under the console anything . If you find yourself in these conditions do me and your family a favor. DON"T get out on the bank and get under the trees man I wonder what some people are thinking. FIBERGLASS IS AN INSULATOR if lightning struck the water it still wouldn't fry you . But if you are on the bank and it hits close to you you could be in trouble I have seen cows get killed because lightning ran across the top of the ground and nailed them after striking close by . Guys please don't tell people to get out of their boat to go under some trees ....

[brlfishing]

here is the link, check out what it did to the rod the kid was holding. i also found another one on you tube and it showes up close caught on video how powerful lightning is, dont get me wrong i always knew lightning was very powerful but never knew the extent until i seen these videos. first link is the fishing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCRguPMjXLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMXUVMiNAd0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6PJdAee7qY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLJ6oqToKrc

[mkmsports41]

No bigger of a lake than Barren is shelter can be found. There is always an extra slip at one of the marinas. If you fish barren enough you will learn what directions the storms will come from, generally how long you have before they get there, and so forth. I always carry a helmet in my boat. I can be anywhere on that lake in 25min in a 18.5 boat with a 150. I have been caught in MANY storms on the water. I can tell you this, I have seen lightning hit ALOT more trees than I have bass boats. I have also seen alot more lightning hit the land than water. I always stay in the water If i cant get to a slip or cover.

One of the best peices of advise I can give is to always tell someone your plans that are not fishing if there is a chance of storms. Someone who knows barren and can read and determine the radar. If things are getting bad they can give you a call. I have seen Skaggs get pounded before and have stayed dry in Walnut. I also do the same if I am fishing in cold water conditions. Always tell someone where you are going and what time you will return or check in.

[Grumpy]

Jbyrd, I still say that you would be better to beach your boat and get on shore under a BUNCH OF TREES OF UNIFORM HEIGHT if possible. If you watched the video in the post above, the lightening hit the LONE TREE and not anywhere in the tree line in the background. lightening will hit anything that is by itself and away from other things. If that happens to be a the console of a Bass boat, which may only be three or four feet high, that is beached or worse on the water, it is still the highest irregular feature in the area.

Obviously, the safest thing is to not be out in a storm PERIOD, but all of us don't have weather alerts in the boat and sometimes you can get caught unawares.

[Duayne]

According to NOAA NO small uncovered craft is safe and that includes (especially) fibreglass vessels. Current seeks ground through the largest mass it can find in the area. A bass boat would take the hit but would not immediately provide a source to ground which would send the current seeking new paths. One of those paths would probably be you. Neither here nor there, as NO uncovered vessel is safe.

From NOAA:

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Unsafe Aquatic Vessels During Lightning Activity

The type of vessels which are most unsafe to be in during lightning activity are vessels which do not have a cabin. These vessels are typically small, ranging from a couple of feet to 20-30 feet. These include:

Canoes
Water scooters ("ski-dos", or any other type of "personal" water craft)
Inner tubes
Rafts
Boats without a cabin, such as Bass boats and Ski boats
Sail boats without a cabin
It is important to note that just because a vessel is made of rubber does NOT make it safe to be in when lightning is occurring.

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Things to do if lightning is in the area and you CAN NOT do the most important thing and that is get to proper cover.

First turn off all electronic equipment (yes even the radio. At this point you pretty much know you are in a storm).
Next drop anchor. (I would wet the entire line to the tie off point if possible. This would provide a more direct path to ground.)
Try to stay away from metal and electronic equipment in the craft.
Get as low as possible.

These are the only steps NOAA recommends.

On a lake like Cumberland, I would certainly think getting in the middle of a cove between two high ridges would be helpful as one ridge or another would provide a closer path to ground and I have done just that but NOAA doesn't mention it so I'll leave it up to you to decide.

[Duayne]

Also if on land (FROM NOAA)
_______________________
If camping, hiking, etc., far from a safe vehicle or building, avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top.
Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees.
If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine or other low area. Remember, a tent offers NO protection from lighting.
Stay away from water, wet items (such as ropes) and metal objects (such as fences and poles). Water and metal are excellent conductors of electricity. The current from a lightning flash will easily travel for long distances (See Figure 2 below).
_______________________
So those that seek out lower lying brush trees are doing the best possible thing under the circomstances.

[Grumpy]

Thank you Duayne, that is what I was trying to say.

Grumpy

[roadrunner]

I carry a one iron in the boat and hold it up if it is lightning; Lee Trevino said even God can’t hit a one iron.

Beep Beep

Actually I get off the water at the first clap of thunder and hope to live to fish another day. If they are calling for thunder storms I don’t make very long runs so I can get back if I fish at all.