You're a sitting duck on a lake in an electrical storm. Lightning will hit the tallest object in the area. So, if you're out on the lake and there are tall trees on the shore, and you're a few hundred yards out, it will hit you first because you are the single tallest object in the area, even though those trees are bigger.
Several years ago a guy on vacation fishing with his family got hit hit a killed while fishing on Kanastka in Moultonboro.
You can ask Trav and Colan of th Kripple II, if your fishing with me and we see a storm with lightning we are heading for cover! We have had some close calls here and on Champlain. I will even take cover on an island if I can't make the dock!
When you are talking with Trav sometime ask him about our experience with a bad storm on Squam and Trav telling Colan and I to "shear the pin" on Winni one evening in a storm on Winni! We laugh now , but it is nothing to fool with!
Good Luck to All!
I was fishing with my neighbor drifting live smelt and our lines started rising up in the air from the electricity and decided it was time to head in!!
Dont' mess with lightning in a boat.
While it's true that in a car you are protected by the metal frame around you, as it tends to conduct the voltage around, rather than through you, and the rubber tires do give some grounding protection.
But, in a boat it's the complete opposite...YOU are the ground! You're toast (just put the jam in your pockets.)
I've never seen a boat hit by lightening, but a buddy reported seeing one (alum. hull) he said there were hundreds of holes in the hull where the voltage sieved it.
Hey, nothing's worth the risk. The fish will be there another day. Getting dead really sucks.
