Everyone has been caught in a storm on the water. My partner and I got caught in a fast moving front going back to a weigh in and had to stop in the middle of the river because he couldn't see to drive. Lightening was striking (at least 3 times)the top of a bluff about 1000 yards away from us during our stop and I don't mind saying I was scared. Here is my question, Would we have been safer next to the bluff or would it have made any difference. When resources are few what is the best choice?I felt like it was just by the grace of God that we didn't get killed.

Well, I don't play around when it come to lightening and being the tallest object on a body of water. I get off of it and onto the nearest land I can find if the storm happens to creep up on me - which it really shouldn't do in the first place. I've been with folks who have a little too much bravado in them saying "this is when they start biting" but I've also seen examples of what happens when that bravado gets struck. Not worth it. I get off of the water if I see a storm coming toward me and it's reached the 10 second mark from seeing the lightening to hearing the thunder. Here's a guide:
5 seconds = 1 mile
10 seconds= 2 miles
15 seconds = 3 miles
20 seconds = 4 miles
Best to be safe and wait till it passes. The fish will still be there.

my first TFF matchplay tourney on arlington we beached the boat and sat on shore watching the lake rise many feet. good thing we caught a few keepers b4 the storm. just one of many stories and i feel lucky. if you hear thunder you need to be off the water. ive seen the aftermath and its not pretty.

I have little advice because I too get caught in bad weather often, but I never stay out at night anymore because we ran back could not see a thing and hit a tree in the water. Everyone made it out ok but still a crazy night. During the day its much easier to judge but never again at night.

For sure beach the boat and get out! I've been caught in 2 storms. One I got to a dock the other nothing was around and beached the boat. It is very scary getting caught out in the middle of no where!

I have the weather with radar on my phone and it has saved me many times. It takes the guess work out of when the storm will be on top of you.You learn to tell when its time to go.

Unfortunately I don't get service in most places on the lake at Ivey or Amisted until I'm off the water and on higher ground - that is a great idea. I've been caught a couple of times and it's not too fun but at least, knock on wood, I have not been caught in a bad hail storm. On a local lake I sat out a bad lightening storm under a bridge.

Got caught out on benbrook last year crappie fishing and a bad storm blew up on us before we could get the boat back to launch ramp. Was about 2 in the morning and the boat got swamped and went down. Didn't completely sink but was upside down floating. We all swam to shore and walked about 2 miles through a field to a house and the lady called the cops for us. Was one hell of a crazy night but im just glad everyone made it out fine.

I have much more respect for the weather now.

I don't screw with it. First sign that it is heading my way I'm running as fast as possible to the ramp.

Agree with all you guys....water and lightening do not mix and is deadly. I experienced this as a teenager 35 yrs ago when one of my best friends was struck and killed in a metal jon boat on Millwood in Ark. He was in the front of the boat, the tallest person and lightening hit the metal bead on the top of his baseball cap. A sad tragegy. Lowrance weather or a weather app on your smartphone is worth every penny. Be safe!

The 5, 10, 15, second rule is good for knowing how far the storm is. But don't be fooled. I think lighting is capable of striking from around 15 miles away. Not trying to be the Lightning Nazi because I've been in it to. Just saying....

There is nothing to talk about. It shows up and I go home.

Money on the line i stay and fish, I have had many a non-boater ask to get out I take them to shore and continue on my way tell them to flag me down. But if im out prefishing ill beach the boat or get out during the bad part. And if im fun fishing I go home.

The weatherman once said, "If you can hear thunder, your close enough to get struck by lightening." Made me start thinking for sure. I don't mind getting off the lake when a storm is brewing.

I don't play with the sparks. I leave or if I can't get back to launch I beach the boat in a cove.