Thunder & Lighting

[capesams]

one yes- one no...we were into a good size school of lrg. on the beach when old thor desided to let go...it didn't take the fish 15 sec.'s to completely vanish..the beach was dead after that. so I'd have to say it scare's the crap outta them.

[Mike P]

Uh, Bill, don't bet your life that a glass rod makes you lightning proof. It will still have metal guides, and lightning can arc between them, especially when it's soaked with salt water

As per the former elecitrical engineer I'm married to, aluminum oxide and silicon carbide are excellent conductors.

[reelecstasy]

A lightning storm does not have to be close either. Lightning strikes can occur something like 10 miles from the storm. Noone should be at the waters edge with a thunderstorm in action, nothing is worth that. I don't care if you are fishing with a rubber rod, take a look down the beach and then at the water, not much around that is taller than yourself. sorta like standing in a open field, but worse........just get to steppin

[beamie]

I agree the fiberglass pole is no "saftey" rod. Heck, wood is an "insulator" but look at the trees that pass the juice and get blown apart. Getting hit is still probably a million to one shot, but would sure suk if it were you.

[BasicPatrick]

A few of my own experiences,

July 4th 1999...Sitting with the honey along Hingham harbor waiting for the fireworks...as soon as the fireworks started, exactly a the same moment, blitz in three feet of water right at our feet...fish bustin the surface as if they were trying to eat the reflections of the fireworks on the water...it was so cool to watch but sucked as I did not have a rod with me...lights abnd noise did not bother the bass this night

Fishing a tournament many years ago...I think it was the old "Save the Harbor Save the Bay" weekend tournament...Marine wrnings come on as a bad thunder and lightning storm comes in...We tie up to a dock on a Boston harbor island as everyone goes back to port...The second the wordst passed by we were in our spot and the bite was on bigtime...if allowed more than one place we would have placed 1st -3rd.. I love fishing in and around thunderstorms

Late august 2003 I think...drifting live sea herring in Boston Harbor...we are picking away at a lazy school of 20-25 lb S-B...we see a line of thunder showers coming towards us...I say to Mike (Ave Maria charters) "get ready they are gonna turn on hard"...as soon as the storm exploded above us with the first bang of thunder I hooked a 30 lb bass and fought it in a God aweful t-storm...pics on www.AveMariaCharters.com

I should also mention that on some days when there are multiple fronts coming through and the barometer is doing the rollercoaster ride I have seen the fishing shut down hard

Lights are a different and even more confusing story from my experiences...in some cases I do not think they matter a bit and in other places and times I am pretty sure that they killed the bite

Who knows...

[Redsoxticket]

I was also a EE and I concur with what MikeP said.

[Homerun04]

Thunderbolt and Lightening....very, very frightening me....Gallileo,...Gallileo...Gallileo Figaro.....magnifico......I'm just a poor boy from a poor family....

Oh sorry, '70's flashback for me......