Low rumbling warned us of the danger, but instead of staying put we tried to head home across open water before the storm hit. When the lightning came, it was horrific. Bright tentacles reached down at us from the heavens, making life in our aluminum boat a living hell. Halfway back, we took shelter on a small outcrop of rocks. We bailed out of the boat, got down, hoped we had led good lives, and vowed never to be so stupid again.
Anglers often marginalize the risk of thunderheads.
This can be fatal. People in boats are particularly vulnerable. Never play games with lightning on the water. A thundercloud builds up energy. The top of the cloud gets positively charged and the bottom gets negatively charged.