another lightning experience

[Guest]

musky hunter,

Can not beleive how lucky you are. God must have been watching you.

[Surface Tension]

On the Big Lake(Superior) you cant run for cover evertime there black cloud rolling over the hill. You can make a lightning rod. The top of the rod must be high enough to cover your boat at a 45 degree angle. On the bottom of your boat is a grounding plate (about 4 sq. ft.)made out of brass. 8 gauge wire connects the plate and rod. Its supposed to work but I was scared to try it out. Anyone try this?

[This message has been edited by Surface Tension (edited 06-13-2002).]

[musky hunter]

Went out last night after work to try to get a couple hours in on the St. Louis river. I check the current radar before leaving, it was clear. Bt in the 20 minutes I took to get to the ramp, a small cloud began to slowly build. But no rain, only light wind, and I thought it would blow over. Out in my spot, while baiting a hook, I raised my rod tip in the air. I heard like a buzzing sound. I did it again. The higher I raised the tip the louder, stronger, and more frequent the static discharges. I beat it to shore at full throttle. Within minutes, there was a nearby ground strike. The moral is, even harmless looking clouds can produce dangerous lightning and distant thunder doesn't necessarily mark the approach of new forming storm. With a little more caution on my part the harrowing experience would have been avoided.

[Jim W]

The weather channel people claim that lightning can strike(at least has been recorded to, so it could travel further)40 miles away from a storm.

People have reported getting struck with clear blue skies above.

Ironically a week ago I was driving home after fishing. I enjoyed watching a distant storm way SOuth of me and the stars above. As I was driving along, I gazed heavenward and amidst the stars I witnessed a bolt of lightning!!!!

NO FISH IS WORTH THAT CHANCE!!!

Stay safe people!

Jim W

[J.A.Say.Tree]

The only trouble is I've experienced some of the most incredible walleye feeding frenzies right as a thunderstorm is rolling in!!! There is a point when it gets too intense to continue fishing, but sometimes I like to live on the edge!!!!!!

JA!

[doubleUcubed]

ST, you wouldn't catch me trying that one!! Although if a boat close by had one I may hang around hoping he would get the "luck of the draw"!! I've had my close encounter and am one of the first to split!! I have waaaaay toooooooo much repect for lightning!!

[Evenflow]

I believe the idea behind a lightning rod is not that it will save you if struck by lightning, but rather that it disperses the electrical energy before the lightning actually happens.

Did some very cool physics experiments playing with rods/poles in electrical fields.

Evenflow

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It's all just theory till you hit the water.