TNeal Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 We've only been fishing tournaments about three years and fortunately we've only been caught in three bad storms. The last one we had bridges and spent two hours tied off under it with several other boats, bad storm. After two hours, we made a run for the ramp, loaded and left. When I checked the weigh in, only five of 32 boats didn't weigh fish. Lightning was popping all over and folks standing up fishing. Lightning didn't seem to bother them. I'm just curious, how you guys handle yourselves in those situations. Do you load and leave or stick it out and if you stick it out, what do you do? Do they make lightning protection for bass boats??? Living in Central Florida, summer fishing you're gonna get wet, that's OK, just not cooked. I always check the weather reports....."showers in the late afternoon" uh-huh ! How bad does a storm have to get before they call a tournament? Looking for advice on safety in bad weather. Thanks Quote
Uncle Leo Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Lighting and graphite makes a bad combination. I always pull off the lake if lighing is present. Not worth the risk. Rain, thunder and some wind I will stick it out. Had some of my best days in rain. Quote
Super User Tin Posted July 17, 2008 Super User Posted July 17, 2008 I stick it out. If I get struck by lightning o well. Either I will be able to say I got hit by lightning and lived, or I died doing what I love. Quote
Super User burleytog Posted July 17, 2008 Super User Posted July 17, 2008 You only live once... Quote
Still a Bigbuckifan Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I live in florida to and florida thunderstorms are nothing to play around with. That being said I fish in thunderstorms all the time .The risk just dosen't out way the reward. ;D ;D ;D Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted July 17, 2008 Super User Posted July 17, 2008 Got caught at the Pickwick Dam last summer. We knew we couldn't make it to the ramp so we holed up in a barge lock. We were surrounded by concrete walls on three side, at least 50' tall with light poles and such on top. It seemed we might be protected, but we were just making the best of a bad situation. For a little more than an hour a humongus thunderhead stalled over the boat, with torrential rain, lightening and jaw rattling thunder. We sat on the floor and waited out the storm. This was a life-threatening situation that I hope we never repeat. When I see lightening on the horizon, I'm on full alert. When I can hear thunder, I'm gone. : Quote
BassResource.com Advertiser FD. Posted July 18, 2008 BassResource.com Advertiser Posted July 18, 2008 Check with the tournament director before you take off. I was in a tounament last month out of Lake Cypress. I was on the south end of Kissimmee when I saw the clouds moving in, so I moved to Hatch and only made 1 pitch when I saw lightning. Pack it UP......I was back at the ramp in Cypress before the rain started...at 1:30 with a 3:30 weigh in. Watched one of the worst thunderstorms of my life from the comfort of the resturant. Be carefull, go home, live to fish another day.... Quote
LCpointerKILLA Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 All those boats stayed to weigh in because they all figured that everyone else would either leave or not catch anything. I think thunderstorms like that here in Florida give a lot of people the idea that they think they are going to win. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.