Nocturnal Lightning and Popper Bass.

I've been fishing at Bell Pond the last few nights. Unfortunately I didn't find the big bass or walleye I was looking for, but it was still productive. Epic lightning shows occurred both nights. I spent a lot more time behind the lens than behind the rod, in part because graphite stick aren't exactly lightning repellent, but mostly because I don't get too many opportunities to do some SWEET long time exposures. Even though there wasn't to much cloud to ground or cloud to cloud lightning, there was lots of in-cloud lightning that caused the thunderheads to appear as though they were glowing internally, and there was enough that even a 4 second exposure to catch one or more flash. I chose to go with 10 seconds for optimal lighting conditions and foreground contrast. I ended up with some superb shots. Then I felt static. The hair on my arms started to stand up. I've been a severe weather freak for longer than I've been a fisherman, and I've been very near my fair share of violent CG's, and I'v felt that before. In two hours the closest CG had been over 5 miles away, and I was totally unprepared being that I was out in the open on a dam. I laid down and looked to my right, where a 20 foot birch tree then took the brunt o a massive lightning strike. Time to leave! I ran like a well hooked bonefish.

In the morning I portaged my yak up there and caught a few bass. That was fun, though still not the kind of fast and active fish catching I've been looking for. To improve my morning, a nest full of young green herons was out and about. Photographic opportunities abound on Bell Pond!