Getting caught in a thunderstorm

[Steven]

Getting out tomorrow, first time this season, and a thunderstorm is supposed to be rolling through.

What's the best advice if I'm on the water (I'll be wading)?

Get under a tree? Don't get under a tree? Get out in the open? Move at least 100' away from the graphite rods?

Thanks,

Steven

[dudley]

I was witness to a spectacular show yesterday. I was fishing a farm meadow brook while lighting was striking the ridge to the north.
After the second strike, I packed it in and headed to the truck for a beer and to watch the finale in safety

[DaveP63]

What he said...Aside from that, out of the water, ground the rod. Hide in the trees if you must, the car or truck would be "more better"!

[herefishy]

If you have to get under a tree, make it the shortest in the vicinity, and do not sit on the ground, as you want to make as small a "footprint" on the ground as possible in case lightning goes through you into the ground.

[Betty Hiner]

Check out this dudes fishing rod ... then reconsider being out in a storm!! These pictures still amaze me!! If you can hear the thunder, you're too close to the lightening.

http://www.kmbc.com/news/19730665/detail.html

[Orthoman]

If you see it coming, get out of the water and sit in the car or in the brush on the bank if you have to. Sitting under a tree -- especially the only tree around is a huge mistake. Fishing with guides in Montana last year, they were very cautious about lightening and told us if need be, we would get out and lay down in the brush but not get under a tree. Waving a fly rod around in a lightening storm is asking for it bit time -- although we watched peiople keep on fishing with severe lightening coming down (actuallly goes up).

There was a great article in California Fly Fisher on lightening. It can strike from miles away -- you don't have to be in the midst of the storm to get hit.

The video mentioned above is worth watching. Those guys were LUCKY!

[PRM]

Betty's response reminds me of several incidents... While on the Yellowstone in '92, 2 guys were fishing acrossriver from us upstream from the Hayden Valley when a thunderstorm approached - low and fast. We'd taken cover under a big shale ledge well away from the water. We heard one guy say to the other "Hey, Larry - look at this..." He was holding his flyrod straight up, and it was glowing PURPLE - -like a blacklight. About a second later the air went white, with a simultaneous boom. When we got our vision back from that flash, both guys were picking themselves up - one still in the river, and the other on shore. Neither was injured, but Larry's buddy never did find his rod...

[hairwing]

I watched an arc one day travel between my rod butt and my wrist accompanied by a buzz. I put the rod down and walked away. Two people were killed that day while on a mountain climb several miles away. That's was enough for me.

In the west: fish from daybreak till about 10:30 am or when you see the t-clouds start to form, then pack it in. I'd rather be in a pick-up than a hospital.

[namekagon]

When you get up in the morning this might be the last day of your life.
Whether you're indoors and especially outdoors this is a truism.
Be vigilant is the only advice I have and be aware that lightening can strike well ahead of a front coming in.
To me... dying with my waders on, doing something I enjoy, isn't necessarily a bad way to go.

[maodiver]

When you get up in the morning this might be the last day of your life.
Whether you're indoors and especially outdoors this is a truism.
Be vigilant is the only advice I have and be aware that lightening can strike well ahead of a front coming in.
To me... dying with my waders on, doing something I enjoy, isn't necessarily a bad way to go.

True, but not dying is better. Especially not dying as a crispy crittur.