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Posts: 720
| Hi all,
With all the heavy weather I wanted you folks to give me some feed back on what effect you think lightning has on musky fishing and fish behavior. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Half a joke and half the truth....
Not sure if anyone has ever lived to write about it! 
James |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | I think shallow fish will feel the low pressure more than deep fish, but as far as the lightening strikes, in my opinion it may disorient smaller forage fish like a person in a club with strobe lights before he/she has had enough to drink. I think shallow musky may use the dissarray like a lion stalks its prey through the sage grass. As the forage hunkers down to ride it out, I believe musky will stick near the bottom and use it like camoflauge as they weave through the weeds to attack the off-guard dissoriented baitfish. I'm not saying they don't get affected in the same way as the smaller fish, but their opportunistic hunters and even though they might feel a little weird from the pressure, my BST is that they will take advantage of a prime hunting opportunity.
As far as deep fish, well, like I said, in my opinion when a low pressure system moves in, I think they may sink further down the water column to avoid feeling the pressure changes.. I think baitfish in the abyss will do the same and that's why during these kinds of conditions when my crazy arse sticks it out I see the clouds of baitfish dissapear... When I start looking closer, all the while thinking the baitfish moved on, I notice their hugging the bottom and the clouds flatten out(now this is in 30 feet or less). In that 50 to 90 feet of water, I usually see them literally fall quite a few feet deeper, again the clouds flattening out. That tells me their spreading out at a comfortable depther instead of some being higher and others in the same school lower.
There's my BST without going to far in depth. |
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| i know it's hard to catch them when your rod is buzzing! |
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Posts: 112
Location: Nielsen's Fly-In Lodge, on Rowan Lake | I was hit by lighting in 1989 and survived cardiac arrested 3 times once getting out of the float plane on rainy lk once going across the bridge at I falls and once in the falls hospital then off to the electrical burn center in Duluth mn burnt my nerves and mussels in my right arm burnt my larynx could not talk for 17 days enough details when there's lighting get off the water !!! if you hear the boom you survived that one so what do they do in a storm i don't know but before and after you had better be on a good spot always take care Don |
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Posts: 32924
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If your line begins to rise up into the air and continues no matter how much you feed the line off the reel and St Elmo's Fire is cascading from the rod tip and it's buzzing like mad, you are about to find out. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | The best day of muskie fishing I ever had was when one storm after another would chase us of the water but when the lightning subsided we would pump out the boat and head back out until chased again. While we were out active fish were everywhere. If I told you how many fish the two of us boated you would accuse me of lying so I won't. |
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Posts: 720
| Don,
Heard lots of stories about you but not that one. My question isn't about fishing during a storm but what does all the light and sound do to the fish after its all said and done. You would'nt catch me anywhere near the water with a thunderstorm approaching. Does lightning scare fish into the cover? |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | sworrall - 5/23/2011 6:40 PM
If your line begins to rise up into the air and continues no matter how much you feed the line off the reel and St Elmo's Fire is cascading from the rod tip and it's buzzing like mad, you are about to find out.
love this one steve...lol |
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Posts: 32924
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I don't think lightning and thunder by themselves have much effect either way. The storm's overall effects are another consideration. |
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Posts: 112
Location: Nielsen's Fly-In Lodge, on Rowan Lake | Right on steve they are creatures of the environment like all of us |
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Posts: 802
| don
that's frickin' amazing- you're like a cat with nine lives!!! |
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Posts: 272
| Amazing story, Don. Lightning storms while out in the boat freak me out. I'm usually throwing a roostertail for the dock when they get close. Your chances are slim of getting hit, but its just not worth it.
Way back in the day, I had an acquaintance tell me that muskies don't like to bite within 36 hours of a lightning strike. I doubt that statement has anything to do with electricity specifically, but more the weather change that a front can bring.
Generally, the day before, or the day OF a big front are better fishing than the day after. At least in my experience. This is what I assume this "36-hour" rule is speaking to. Having said that, there are a couple of dark water lakes up north that were my go-to post-front lakes and rarely did they let me down. Assuming the fact that they are both dark water and have a river system going through them, accounts for at least some of this. |
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Posts: 1146
| With the weather outlook for the northern opener this weekend, you better be prepared to fish through the storms. Granted, the forecast could certainly change. Although a storm front is moving in, the temperatures are supposed to be higher so at least it won't be "cold" front conditions. I'm planning to be on area lakes most of the weekend regardless of weather.
Edited by MartinTD 5/24/2011 9:59 AM
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Sam, I'm not sure the bait goes deeper, as we've gotten suspended fish with storms all around us and up high in the water (seeing ciscos flipping on the surface). So I don't think the immediate impact is that great, however as mentioned above, I think the post frontal can impact the fish and the bait.
That being said, if I see lightening and I know it's coming my way, I'm get'n out of there. I'm a huuuuge wuss when it comes to weather, but I've lived to fish another day because of it. (although, there were a few times I was freaked out a bit).  |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | I can tell you how lightning affects my Muskie fishing ... If I see the lightning in the distance and cannot hear the 'crack," I will keep fishing. When I can see the flash and hear the sound ... I am gone. Can't think of much worse than getting struck by a lightning bolt.
Maybe I was struck and didn't know it. Why else would I devote so much of my expendable (and sometimes not so expendable) income on this crazy sport?
However; I was fishing last year right about this time and a thunderstorm came out of nowhere. Lightning and all. Had seen no action all day (if was late in the afternoon) and my wife caught a fat 42 incher just as the storm hit.
Edited by cjrich 5/24/2011 6:47 PM
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | My friend fished bass for many years and swears that if there is lightening during the night next day the fishing is bad. I on the other hand welcome instability t-storms at night and am very confident the next day fishing muskies, but on those screaming cold fronts not so much.
I 've been chased in to shore by super fast moving storm cell type lightening in Canada, had one bolt hit maybe 1 mile from me, went back out after about 15 minutes and first cast I had a follow that hit in the 8 on a lake I almost never get a follower to hit. That fish was so hot it followed a spinnerbait that was folded over on itself with the leader around the hook and the blades coming in last. And yes, I caught it!
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Posts: 14
| Hi All,
Great discussion. I am the same way with lightning as I get off the water in a hurry. Let me throw out another question, what about when you just have the softer rolling thunder, but haven't seen any lightning yet? It's more difficult to make the call sometimes, but obviously where there is thunder there is lightning. Sometimes this happens when the actual lightning is a longer distance away, but other times you've got darker clouds nearby and maybe it's just building up for a zap. If there is any kind of thunder and I have darker clouds overhead, or in the direction where I have to get back to, I will get off the water but wanted to see what others do.
A number of years ago a good buddy of mine Daryl Roche and I were fishing in Indiana on Good Friday in March. We had an awesome day in four short hours putting 4 fish in the boat including a 45 and a 47. It was cold (high 30's) but a unique spring storm was coming in. We had not seen any lightning, nor do I remember hearing any thunder (but maybe some softer rolling thunder in the distance). Shortly after boating the 4th fish we at the same time looked at each other and said "Do you hear that?!". Our rods were buzzing like high voltage power lines! Needless to say we put the rods down, crouched down, and high-tailed it off the lake! This phenomenon may have been impacted by the colder dryer air, but concerning none-the-less. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Coppied from Enviornment Canada
Lightning Safety
Each year lightning kills approximately 10 Canadians and injures approximately 100 to 150 others. So, how do you keep yourself and your family safe when lightning strikes? Read the tips and information below and stay safe!
The first and most important thing to remember is that if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning. Take shelter immediately, preferably in a house or all-metal automobile (not convertible top). If caught outside far from a safe shelter, stay away from tall objects, such as trees, poles, wires and fences. Take shelter in a low lying area.
Once indoors, stay away from electrical appliances and equipment, doors, windows, fireplaces, and anything else that will conduct electricity, such as sinks, tubs and showers. Avoid using a telephone that is connected to a landline.
If you are in your car during lightning, do not park under tall objects that could topple, and do not get out if there are downed power lines nearby. If you are caught outside, don’t stand near tall objects or anything made of metal, and avoid open water.
If caught on the water in a small boat with no cabin during thunder and lightning, quickly get to shore. Boats with cabins offer a safer environment, but it’s still not ideal.
Remember, there is no safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm. Once in a safe location, remain there for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder is heard before resuming your outdoor activities.
People who have been struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge and can be safely handled, but victims may be suffering from burns or shock and should receive medical attention immediately. If you come across someone who has been struck, call for medical assistance immediately and, if breathing has stopped, administer mouth-to-mouth or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
Additional precautions to take during a lightning storm
If caught outdoors:
•Avoid putting yourself above the surrounding landscape. Seek shelter in low-lying areas such as valleys, ditches and depressions but be aware of flooding.
•Stay away from water. Don't go boating or swimming if a storm threatens, and get to land as quickly as possible if you are already on the water. Lightning can strike the water and travel a substantial distance from its point of contact.
•Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as tractors, golf carts, golf clubs, metal fences, motorcycles, lawnmowers and bicycles.
•Avoid being the highest point in an open area. Swinging a golf club, or holding an umbrella or fishing rod can make you the tallest object and a target for lightning.
•You are safe inside a car during lightning, but be aware of downed power lines which may be touching your car. You are safe inside the car, but you may receive a shock if you step outside.
•In a forest, seek shelter in a low-lying area under a thick growth of small trees or bushes.
•Keep alert for flash floods, sometimes caused by heavy rainfall if seeking shelter in a ditch or low-lying area.
Indoor Precautions:
•Before the storm hits, disconnect electrical appliances including radios and television sets. Do not touch them during the storm.
•Don't go outside unless absolutely necessary.
•Keep as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
•Don't handle electrical equipment or telephones. The electrical current from the lightning strike will travel through wires and cords and if you are directly connected with them, you could be struck. Use battery operated appliances only. Cordless telephones are safe however you could receive a very loud noise on the phone which may seem like a shock. This would be consistent with the house or somewhere nearby being struck by lightning.
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Years ago while at the cottage a storm came up so we went inside to play cards. Dad hated cards and said he was going to go put the top up on the boat. Some time later we missed dad and looked out to see him laying on the lawn and just getting up. lightning had struck a tree 50 feet away but enough had come through the ground to knock down Dad and put him out for who knows how long. He wore the burn marks of his wire frame glasses for a couple of years.
While in university my daughter worked 5 summers at Algonquin Park and said that every summer there were canoeist struck. A statistic along with heart attacks not advertised.
(This site or at least me needs a spell checker) |
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