I don't care what even those high end surge protectors offer as a guarantee against damage, and I have a few, they will not protect your equipment from close lightning strikes. When we have major storms coming through I unplug them from the wall and disconnect the coax cables from my satellite dishes, it's the only way to be sure.
Cheers
Best bet is to always call the ministry tip line. In my experience, if they have the resources they will come investigate.
As much as I wan't to protect our fisheries, to me it's not worth risking a confrontation that could end in lawsuits, injuries, etc...
But I would definitely make the call if you think someone is breaking the regs
As others have said, mark fish then camp out right on top of them. Just about anything white will work, lakers aren't exactly the smartest fish in the lake. Simple hair jigs usually work as well as anything else.
I can believe what OF said, had the same experience sort of about 30+ years ago. Lightning hit a tree across the road, blew 2 receptacles out of the wall on that guys house and left a black carbon track across his ceiling. Then found out a day later it made a mess of my neighbours power panel and fried his dryer.
Lew, years ago my former wife and I were standing in our garage watching a storm and it's light show. All at once there was a big crack of lightning and she started dancing, the lip of the garage floor was wet from rain and she was barefoot, I had flip flops on. I didn't feel a thing. When we went back inside a tv and stereo were both toasted, I put surge protectors on everything now. The lightning hit a tree just up the road and cracked the heck out of it.
Inner Bay at Long Point is somewhat protected. Bass , Pike and various pannies.
Edit : grew up near Port Colborne and fished it since the early 60's, definitely would take Long Point over fishing inside the breakwall at Port Colborne.
now, if you are willing to venture open lake on a good day, I'd take Port Colborne.