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Posts: 284
Location: Eagan, MN | It's lightning awareness week. Here is an excerpt from a weather blog I follow here in MN (http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/) that us fishermen might do well to remember when a storm is rolling in on us.
"Do you think that golf is the most dangerous recreational activity when it comes to lightning? If so, then you would be incorrect. Golfers have been told repeatedly how dangerous lightning is, and some golf courses even have lightning alert systems to call golfers to shelter.
By far the leader for most deaths during a recreational activity is fishing (11 percent of all). Fishermen/women often are in an open boat where they are the highest point around, and they are far from shelter. Fishing is followed by camping and boating with about half as many deaths. Soccer led the list as the sport with the most lightning deaths (five percent). Golf, by the way, had three percent of the deaths, the same as yard work and walking to/from or waiting for vehicles.
There are some patterns as to what turn normal human activities into risky behaviors. One theme is waiting too long to take shelter. In particular, people tend to delay getting off lakes and are struck as they head for shore. Other people are struck as they head for shelter in buildings or vehicles."
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Location: Maple Grove, MN | Not sure why, but my wife always wants me to clean our gutters every time a thunderstorm comes up - at least since I got that new life insurance policy anyway. Hmmm.... 
Edited by Herb_b 6/24/2014 3:08 PM
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Location: The desert | Really jolting news.... |
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Posts: 159
| At least she could have asked you to go Musky fishing when the thunderstorm was coming lol....
Seriously its one of those things---like smoking/drinking/sun --everyone knows it will kill you but people still do it....
I have a real healthy fear of lightening--seeing bolts touch down while being on the water.. and have promised my wife I will come off the water when lightening approaches---but its so hard--especially for those of us who have caught big fish pre -storm....
Im guessing everyone on here is guilty of staying out too long---good post though as it gives food for thought.....no fish is worth ones life....... |
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Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | I understand the camping, boating, fishing and golf thing.... but Soccer???? REALLY??? the only logic I have with this thought is the goal post, made out of metal and is a conductor.... But what else could put them above golfers? |
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| I can't find this list and not sure if this is worldwide or not (may have skipped over something?) But if worldwide, I'm guessing soccer ranks up there because, in other countries especially, soccer is so common. It's by far the most played sport in the world- so it would make sense that the odds would be increased.. As far as fishing, my rule is that when I see lightning or hear thunder, I come off the lake (sooner if on the bay or larger body where it takes a while to get in). |
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| is there any science that points to what causes this high percentage? aluminum boat vs fiberglass boat vs graphite rods etc |
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Location: Maple Grove, MN | I expect soccer is up there because of the way the tournaments are set up and the fields themselves. In large soccer complexes, such as the National Sports Center in Blaine, there are often a dozen or more fields in a given area being used at one time. There are a lot of people coming and going and many are not familiar with the area. When a storm comes up fast, it can be difficult to get everyone off the fields quickly. The fields also can be problematic in that they are typically in open areas and often have metal light posts scattered about. Anyone standing near one of those light posts when lightning hits it would be in a world of hurt.
My youngest daughter played in a soccer tournament in Kansas City back in early April. Her team made it all the way to the championship game only to have a line of thunderstorms come up right before the championship game started. The girls were all lined up on the field ready to start when the horn sounded and the rest of the tournament was cancelled and everyone headed for their vehicles. The storm hit within 15 minutes with heavy rain, strong winds and lightning all over the place. Had the officials waited even ten more minutes before cancelling, it would have gotten really dangerous.
My daughter has another soccer tournament this weekend and it might storm again. So, we hope they get to play.
No championship game, no fish and no golf outing is worth dying for. Better to be safe, go home and try another day.
Edited by Herb_b 6/25/2014 12:49 PM
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| I know it sounds old school but a AM radio in the boat will warn you of a upcoming storm. The static is a dead giveaway. |
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