Danger!

[pad slammer]

So your fishing in your fiberglass bass boat and a storm roles in. Your 45min away from the dock. How dangerous is this? What's your best move?

[Grey Wolf]

PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scrutch]

get to shore...fast!

or...don the scuba gear and go for a dive.

[fishfordollars]

Go to the nearest bank.

[backwater4]

Shore anywhere. x3

[billsarima]

I fish the ocean and straits for salmon and have been in some nasty weather with my fiberglass Arima.  I do head for shore if its to bad but I also trust my boat.  When I fish lakes I use my aluminum boat or my stealth 2000.  I've been in my little stealth 2000 when the water is white capping and blowing and the boat reacts fine. If the water gets to extreme I'd head for shore.  I guess it depends on the type of boat and actual conditions for me. 

[firefightn15]

a port in any storm.... 8-)

[skey44]

I understand why a strong storm is dangerous in any boat, but why fiberglass in particular? I thought it would be an insulator, and hold up to a beating pretty well. Something that crossed my mind is that my Gloomis IMX rod has two little warnings about electricity stamped on it... I guess that is not the rod you want in your hand if you are fishing anywhere close to lightning!

[Eddie Munster]

I agree with the get to shore comments but I would probably try to get to open shore instead of somewhere with trees.

[Matt Fly]

ideally, you should get to a protected bank.      The worst storm I've ever been stuck in was on Toledo Bend with some 6+ swells blowing south to north with 40+ mph winds.

        Saw one guy take it to the wind blown shoreline, when it was over, his boat wasn't in the water.

       "When on the water during an lighting storm, you and your rod are the talliest thing above water, in other words, you are the talliest lighting rod available on the water for lighting to strike".

   AS most remember, my cousin took the day off from  pre fishing a tourney on lake Fork a few years back on the 4th of July, his co worker fished with his partner that day and was hit by lighting and killed on the spot.

    BE SAFE.

[Catt]

It depends on the boat, the boat operator, the body of water, & severity of the storm

If we are talking a 19'-22' boat with ample horsepower & a competent operator I would run for the launch.

I have personally seen Toledo Bend & other bodies of water eat even 19'-22' boats!

Some thunderstorms spawned by frontal conditions aint worth chancing...head for the hills!

[pad slammer]

OK, let me add some details... If you are on a small inland lake. What I'm trying to get to, Is the boat itself a threat to be struck by lightning?

[tyrius.]

OK, let me add some details... If you are on a small inland lake. What I'm trying to get to, Is the boat itself a threat to be struck by lightning?

Lightning will hit the highest point and since that's you in the boat if lightning were to strike the lake it will more than likely hit you.

[J Francho]

Head for a windward shoreline. 

[Catt]

OK, let me add some details... If you are on a small inland lake. What I'm trying to get to, Is the boat itself a threat to be struck by lightning?

Make like a sheep herder & get the flock out of there! 

[Gatorbassman]

The boat's not a threat of being struck by lightning but you are. Beach the boat in a cove and get on the bank.

[FishingBuds]

I understand why a strong storm is dangerous in any boat, but why fiberglass in particular? I thought it would be an insulator, and hold up to a beating pretty well. Something that crossed my mind is that my Gloomis IMX rod has two little warnings about electricity stamped on it... I guess that is not the rod you want in your hand if you are fishing anywhere close to lightning!

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

[pad slammer]

I understand why a strong storm is dangerous in any boat, but why fiberglass in particular? I thought it would be an insulator, and hold up to a beating pretty well. Something that crossed my mind is that my Gloomis IMX rod has two little warnings about electricity stamped on it... I guess that is not the rod you want in your hand if you are fishing anywhere close to lightning!

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

Wow!!!!

[BassThumb]

Try to find a sandy shoreline, beach the boat, tie it to a tree on shore if you can, grab your bug spray, and walk into the woods and kill some time.

Racing across the lake when it starts to rain can really sting.   

[unageo09]

You want to avoid being the tallest object in an open area. A good rule of thumb is if that you can hear the thunder you can be hit by lightning. It has actually happened this summer in Alabama where a couple were swimming and they got struck with the sun shining. The storm was off in the distance.

[farmpond1]

I understand why a strong storm is dangerous in any boat, but why fiberglass in particular? I thought it would be an insulator, and hold up to a beating pretty well. Something that crossed my mind is that my Gloomis IMX rod has two little warnings about electricity stamped on it... I guess that is not the rod you want in your hand if you are fishing anywhere close to lightning!

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

The father attributing the graphite rod as what may have saved his son's life is kind've reaching.  Ultimately, it may have been what attracted the lightning strike in the first place. If he'd been holding a long metal pole, would the father have said the same thing?  I doubt it.  In any event, I'm glad they survived.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

CRANK THE 250 MERC PRO XS AND SHOW THE WAVES WHOS BOSS YA! geeheehee

[shutupnfish]

So your fishing in your fiberglass bass boat and a storm roles in. Your 45min away from the dock. How dangerous is this? What's your best move?

Let go of the aluminum t-top frame! Had some pretty nasty squalls hit us on the Gulf. On one particular trip we just made it out of the jetties (10 miles across the Laguna Madre) when it got pretty bad. I asked one of the guys "Ya ain't scared are ya?" He said, "I'm watching you and you don't seem to be worried yet." I thought to myself well it's a good thing I don't get a worried look when I crap my pants! After what seemed like an hour we hit sunny skies and smooth water.

Steve

[NBR]

The boat is apt to be struck but even more the angler sticking up out of the boat can be struck. If thunderstorms are a part of the equation I head for shore or closer to the ramp or a place of shelter at first boom.

[Lund Explorer]

Gosh, don't ask me to try to find the story as it is 15+ years ago.  Anyhow, two guys fishing on Lake Wawasee in Indiana had their boat hit by lightning while trying to get back to their launch site.  As best the investigators could tell, it hit the gas engine, traveled up the throttle cable, into driver's right arm, and out his left foot.

Both of them were blown out of the boat, but the rider was able to swim over and then drag the driver into the boat.  Gas motor was shot, but the 24 volt trolling motor, on a different electrical system worked and was used to reach the nearest shoreline where a cottage owner called EMS.

Driver of the boat lived, but lost his entire right arm to the shoulder.

My advice.  I don't care if it's upwind, downwind, or crosswind.  Get to the nearest shore as fast as possible and take cover away from any tall trees.  No fish is worth being nominated for a Drawin Award.