Lightning Storm

[Spinnaker]

Last Monday I ventured on Table Rock after a busy morning trout fishing on Taney. About 30 minutes after I got on the lake, the clouds really got angry so I motored to the dock as soon as a I could. I was by myself and I tied up so I could get my trailer and pull out. By the time I got the trailer in the water the rain had started and then the lightning! Thanks to the folks on the dock waiting for other boaters who helped me. The rain came down in buckets. Trailering was tough with the west wind, and the wakes and waves. The lightning strikes were hot and heavy at the lauch site and folks in and out of the water were scrambling. I was going to go back down to the dock to help others but I got scared out of my wits. I was in the process of hooking up my trailer lights after I pulled my boat out. I picked up the trailer's plug and suddenly sensed a tingling in my fingers. I immediately dropped the plug. A mili-second later there was a bright flash and the crack of thunder near by. That was a scary day. I hope everyone else got out without incident and again thanks to those folks who helped out at the dock.

[motoman]

Yikes Spinnaker, that's some scary stuff. I've heard others tell of that similar sensation just before a lightning strike; but thankfully; I've never felt it. Glad you're O.K.

-

It'll be interesting to hear if anyone else got caught out in it?

[rangerman]

Spinnaker a couple of years ago, I was fishing point 9 and was catching them hot and heavy. Noticed the dark clouds starting to roll my way, but fishing got the better of me.

As the clouds got closer, I made a long cast and I watched as my bait contacted the water and the line hung in the air darn near where the lure contacted the water all the way back to the boat. The line was about 2 feet off of the water. I kind of started thinking this probably isn't good. I started my retrieve and upon getting the rod tip on my Gloomis at about the 10-11 o'clock position, it started buzzing loud enough to hear it. The tip was also visually vibrating. That is when I got the hell off of the lake.

I got back to the dock and friends who I had been there with heard the story and didn't believe me. They each then just held the rod and they got the same reaction.

weather is scary stuff,

Glad you made it in.

[hoglaw]

The line was about 2 feet off of the water. I kind of started thinking this probably isn't good.

Understatement of the year.

[Champ188]

Rangerman, I've had that same thing happen twice in my life ... with the line levitating off the water and my rod audibly buzzing. Scary stuff indeed. I was much younger both times and won't allow that ever to happen again.

[Don House]

Last Monday I ventured on Table Rock after a busy morning trout fishing on Taney. About 30 minutes after I got on the lake, the clouds really got angry so I motored to the dock as soon as a I could. I was by myself and I tied up so I could get my trailer and pull out. By the time I got the trailer in the water the rain had started and then the lightning! Thanks to the folks on the dock waiting for other boaters who helped me. The rain came down in buckets. Trailering was tough with the west wind, and the wakes and waves. The lightning strikes were hot and heavy at the lauch site and folks in and out of the water were scrambling. I was going to go back down to the dock to help others but I got scared out of my wits. I was in the process of hooking up my trailer lights after I pulled my boat out. I picked up the trailer's plug and suddenly sensed a tingling in my fingers. I immediately dropped the plug. A mili-second later there was a bright flash and the crack of thunder near by. That was a scary day. I hope everyone else got out without incident and again thanks to those folks who helped out at the dock.

I had one like this two years ago myself. Clear morning with a few black clouds up north, rain was coming but thought we have a little while until it hit. I had a group out of the Chat on the Lake, we had 4 persons with one cute little girl with really long hair down past her rear end. She was up front with me fishing when I looked over and her hair was stand straight up! I grabbed her and pulled her down on the deck with myself. Just then Lighting hit about 100 yards away from us on the bank, so close we felt the after shock! Time to go now! So I don't mess with this stuff...

Good Fishing Guys

Don

[rps]

Not fishing, but lightning related:

In the 90's I coached a men's rugby team. At that time the players were mostly long haired and wore much facial hair. If you don't know rugby, think football with no pads, and imagine thirty some odd men running up and down the field. The players tend to be very large, loud, and without good sense.

One August evening we were practicing when a black cloud front stormed in. We didn't stop because of rain - real men don't let storms scare them - and practice went on. Then I look out at the field and everyone's hair and beards are standing up or out. The wet ground began a high vibration. Someone yelled "drop" and we did. The lightning strike hit the oak overshadowing the clubhouse next to the field. It was close enough that it felt like it bounced me in the air. The funny part was watching 30 plus fearless men scramble to pick up their gear and run for their cars. The after practice beer was very loud and I left early because it was getting ugly.

[Flysmallie]

You guys need to be very careful with the lightning. I have also had the buzzing rods and earlier this year on Stockton I was even shocked by my rod. There were clouds in the distance but no signs of lightning. My dad was with me and felt the same thing. It was a pretty frightening experience for us.

In the late 1985 my uncle was killed by lightning while fishing on lake Texoma. He was aware of the approaching storm and decided to call it a day. While loading everything into his truck he was struck and killed instantly by lightning. It was a very sad time for our family.

I would hate to hear about this happening to one of you.

[motoman]

You guys need to be very careful with the lightning. I have also had the buzzing rods and earlier this year on Stockton I was even shocked by my rod. There were clouds in the distance but no signs of lightning. My dad was with me and felt the same thing. It was a pretty frightening experience for us.

In the late 1985 my uncle was killed by lightning while fishing on lake Texoma. He was aware of the approaching storm and decided to call it a day. While loading everything into his truck he was struck and killed instantly by lightning. It was a very sad time for our family.

I would hate to hear about this happening to one of you.

-

Admittedly, this spring we were on some great smallies at The Rock, and had a great bite going on, when a storm was rolling in. It was tough to pull ourselves off the water, but when we had a large lightning strike the next cove over; we packed up. That startled me plenty, and woke me up.

-

In hindsight it was foolish sticking it out as long as we did. It certainly won't happen again.

[KCRIVERRAT]

You guys need to be very careful with the lightning. I have also had the buzzing rods and earlier this year on Stockton I was even shocked by my rod. There were clouds in the distance but no signs of lightning. My dad was with me and felt the same thing. It was a pretty frightening experience for us.

In the late 1985 my uncle was killed by lightning while fishing on lake Texoma. He was aware of the approaching storm and decided to call it a day. While loading everything into his truck he was struck and killed instantly by lightning. It was a very sad time for our family.

I would hate to hear about this happening to one of you.

Very sorry to hear about that FS... mother nature is nothing to be reckoned with.

KC