By Bruce Ajari ·
The weather this year has been strange. You would not be wrong in saying that we have had much more rain in the spring and summer due to many thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are exciting to watch from the safety of a nice secure location. However, many times, people are caught outdoors during these thunderstorms and exposed to the corresponding lightning.
While many would assume that golfers had the highest risk of being struck by lightning, the latest figures show that fishermen are at the greatest risk. There are more deaths caused by lightning while people are fishing than any other outdoor activity.
Fishermen are typically out on watercraft or fishing from the shore or wading in lakes and streams, and can be caught in the open. It does not help that they may be holding on to a graphite rod, which is a great conductor of the energy from the lightning.
This brought to mind a fly-fishing club outing that some members took to Frenchman Reservoir around eight to 10 years ago. We fished in the morning at one location and moved to another after lunch.
A thunderhead was building over the lake. These clouds billow up to as high as 16,000 to 18,000 feet. This one appeared to be a pretty dark cell.
When we arrived at our new location on the other side of the lake, the cloud looked imposing. Some were nervous about heading out across open ground to fish a distant point.
Four of us decided to go anyway. As we were crossing the flats, I was the first to feel a pin prick. I looked at my fly secured on the keeper on the rod. It was nowhere near my hand.
Walking a few more feet, another jolt. The others thought that I was joking. Another few feet and while I was looking down at the rod in my hand I saw an electrical arc come off my rod and strike my hand.
The others began to feel the same thing that I was experiencing. We ended up fishing that afternoon, but did get shocked a number of other times. The cell above us eventually diminished leaving a great evening.
What we were feeling was a buildup of electrical energy. When the buildup gets to a point where it is high enough, you can get a discharge in the form of lightning. This lightning can be from the ground up, cloud down or cloud-to-cloud.
If this happens to you, seek shelter immediately. Do not risk becoming a statistic. We were lucky.
FISHING REPORT
(See Sightseeing for water levels.)
Boca | Inflow is at 118 cfs and the outflow is 61 cfs. Fishing has been fair. Fly-fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet with nymphs, streamers and dries.
Donner | Fishing has been fair to good. Kokanee fishing has been good. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main bait for shore anglers. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishermen are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is highly recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore fishermen use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | With this being the only fishable stream around it will likely get too much pressure. Consider fishing in alternative waters.
Martis Lake | Zero kill. Catch and Release only with barbless artificial lures or flies. Fishing is the best early in the season and again the fall. With the warming water, the fishing here is slow. Try fishing it again in the fall.
Prosser | Fishing has been fair. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishermen have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been fair.
Stampede | Fishing has been fair. The ramp is not usable for larger boats. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Fly-fishermen have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. The Kokanee fishing has been fair for those getting out. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | Not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. The flows through Truckee are at 9 cfs. The flow from Boca downstream to the state line is running between 88 and 99 cfs. Flows are too low now. Please target alternative water and other species such as bass or carp.
Davis and Frenchman | Fishing has slowed. It will improve in about a month when waters cool.
Bruce is a long-time area fly-fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.
