Lightning Safety!
Spending time in the outdoors is never without risks. I was reminded of this today as a good thunder cell rocked me awake with cracks of thunder and flashes of lightning as the sun rose over the big lake.
Lightning is one of the more dangerous things we have to worry about when fishing in the Northwest. With storms building quickly along the crest of the Rocky Mountains, even the best modern weather forecasting can leave us out in a storm with no shelter. I want to give you a few tips I have learned over the years on lightning safety.
Most importantly, when you hear those cracks of thunder booming up the valley it is time to STOP fishing. Lightning strikes can hit as far as 20 miles ahead of the leading edge of a big storm. There are many safe areas to weather a big storm, and some to avoid. Instead of trying to regurgitate all the stuff I know, I am instead going to give you a link to an article from a leading authority on outdoor recreation and lighting safety.