Soaring gas prices might keep fishermen at home

[SHAFT]

Thought you might be interested in this in the Record Bee .

Soaring gas prices might keep fishermen at homeBy Terry Knight -- Record-Bee outdoors columnist
Article Last Updated: 05/27/2008 10:45:03 PM PDT


As fishermen are finding out, the cost to participate in their favorite sport is going up. With gas soaring to more than $4 per gallon (diesel is now more than $5 per gallon), it's getting so bad that one fisherman told me he was either going to have to cut back on his fishing trips or take out a loan.

The big question is will the high gas prices scare away fishermen from traveling to Clear Lake? As an example, consider a fisherman who tows a bass boat from Sacramento, a distance of about 130 miles. If the fisherman is pulling his boat with a diesel pickup and averages 12 miles a gallon, that's a round-trip cost of about $100. Most fishermen say they use between 15 and 30 gallons a day in their bass boats and that adds up to another $120. So for just a single day of fishing, without even eating a lunch, the fisherman already has more than $200 tied up in fuel alone.

If the fisherman fishes for eight hours while at the lake, that comes to more than $25 per hour -- more than most make in their regular day jobs. And for those who choose to stay in a local motel or resort, that's an additional $60 to $100 per day.

All fishermen have to eat, so add in another $50 per day for food. Now we're up to more than $40 per hour just to go fishing.

It's even rougher for the tournament fishermen. Most of the bass tournaments held on Clear Lake are one-day team events. In addition to the actual tournament day, most of the fishermen either prefish one or two days prior to the
tournament. The average cost to enter a team tournament runs about $300, which includes the option money. When you add in a day of prefishing and the entry fees, that fishing trip now costs approximately $1,000.
Typically most of the team tournaments pay the winning team about $2,000, while second place receives in the neighborhood of $1,000. Since paybacks are calculated by the number of teams entered and the average was 30 to 40 teams a tournament this past year, a team would have to finish in the top two places just to get expenses back.

Of course, added into the equation are the boat payments that will come to at least $400 per month. Typically a new bass boat costs from $40,000 to $60,000. And then there are the truck payments, which run close to $300 or more per month.

Another factor is that many bass fishermen work in the construction field and with the housing boom gone many are now without jobs. How long they can continue to travel and compete in bass tournaments is a good question.

If gas prices continue to skyrocket, I see a change in fishing habits in the future. Bass boats will be smaller. It wasn't too long ago that most bass boats were equipped with 115 hp to 150 hp outboards. But as the economy boomed, bass fishermen wanted larger and faster boats. Now many boats are 22 feet long and rigged with 250 hp outboards. In fact, a few have 300 hp. Even with modern fuel-efficient engines they still burn a lot of gas.

A friend of mine recently bought a new 17-foot bass boat with a 115 hp outboard engine. His boat is every bit as comfortable as the bigger and more expensive boats and it burns a fraction of the fuel. He told me he launched at Clearlake Oaks and fished all the way to Nice, back to the state park and then back to where he launched his boat. He never went faster than 40 mph and he only burned five gallons of gas.

And the best part is he caught more than 25 bass. He also tows his boat with a small pickup. He competes in several team tournaments each year and catches as many fish as the other fishermen in the super fast boats.

If fuel costs continue to rise, I predict many fishermen will be forced to switch to the smaller boats. After all, a bass doesn't know, or care, if you're in a $60,000 bass boat or a $1,000 aluminum cartop boat.

[RipnRog]

This is why I am looking for an aluminum boat with a 50 or 60 horse merc......I want a four stroke..... people are not selling these boats right now.....

[Shad*Wizard]

Can't beat a nice little aluminum with a small motor...Wouldn't give up my Tohatsu and Gregor for anything...Then I got my kayak last year at West Marine 40% off or so and things look a little better...Can drop in at Holland Tract for free...


Xman, bet you're glad you didn't sell your rig, huh!!!...

[biteme]

This is why I just bought my Triton Explorer. Its not my old 520 but it gets the job done. With the 115 its a lot better on gas then my 225.

[BMX Bassin]

Ive been looking at new boats but my current ranger 335(17ft 135hp) is seeming better and better. No payments. I got 13th, beating 117 pros at clear lake wonbass and their $50,000 boats. Only problem is front livewell is tiny if I fish flw and need 2 livewell.

[Smile_n_Jax]

Sure glad now I got my Stratos 17' with the Yamaha 90. Keeping it under 5000 it's very economical and still does 35 to 40. Of course my '70 Ranchero with a 351C at 11:1 compression eats a lotta gas, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[Ringer]

It is getting to be a joke and our government is allowing the speculators to rape us but then we are used to that. As far as downsizing I have thought about it. My diesel truck and 250 Yamaha do gulp down the dollars. I just figure they are both paid off and the truck gets as good a mpg towing as any gasser at 12.8. I will continue as is but may cut a few tournaments out and do more fun fishing running the big motor less.

[drrakruz]

For the most part, the article is true. Take out the boat payment if your boat is paid for. As for fishermen staying at home, I am fortunate to have Folsom in my back yard, and costs very little to fish. When I do fish Folsom, it's on at 5:30, off by 11:30 to avoid the "Disneyland boat ramp festivities". I absolutely will not fish Folsom on the weekends. The key to long distance "fun-fishing" is telling your guest up front to be prepared to pony up some fuel $$. When gas used to be $1.50/$1.75 per gallon, It was a given that my guests would ride for free. Now that gas is rising on an endless "upswing", any angler who wants to fish should be prepared and content to help pay for half of the fuel if they truly want to fish. Eventually, fuel will hit the $5-$6 per gallon mark. My street driving habits have changed as well. Need to go to the market? Need to go to the bank? Need to go to Sportsman's Warehouse? Plan a day to run ALL of your errands!! Order ONLINE to save on gas!! Find as many common sense angles as you can to preserve your passion for fishing!

[Chris B.]

Interesting article but it's not just gas that is going up. If you hadn't noticed, inflation is driving up the price of everything.

This forum may not be the place for ragging on our government but the policies of the Federal Reserve and congress have allowed the inflation rate to increase unchecked--and it's going to get worse no matter who wins the election this Fall.

Last summer I bought a used 17' Nitro / 125 hp Merc with the idea that I would eventually upgrade when I get my skills to the point where I "deserve it." Well, I've changed my mind. This motor gets great gas mileage compared to the engines twice its size. So I've decided to replace the deck carpet soon and keep the boat. 50 mph is fast enough...

[Bassin]

This topic, "People cutting back on driving or using fuel" came up a lot this past weekend. My wife and I made a manditory 2.5 hour drive up to Santa Cruz from here in Paso Robles for a Birthday party. My wife is lucky, she works from Home, myself I commute 45 or so minutes one way for work. So with the topic of this thread in mind, do we really cut back? Will we really cut back? I can tell you that I think it is more complaining then actually cutting back that is being done. We live near a major freeway interchange that connects 46 east with 101. Every Friday evening at 5pm it starts, the huge amount of people coming out from the Valley. Trailer after trailer of off-roaders heading to the Pismo Dunes. I can tell you that I sure don't see a cut back happening there. People will still need to make those "manditory weekend trips" no matter how much gas goes to. If the demand is there, the price will continue to grow....and I can tell you as a California native, The demand will ALWAYS be there. My bet is $5.00 + by the end of summer.

As for Alum. boats, As I was driving this past weekend I was thinking how cool it would be to have a 100hp and below tournament circut? What do ya think? If you know anyone selling one, I am looking for a 18' or 17' "Tracker type" boat.

[Burke]

Before the rise in gas prices, I wouldn't think twice about driving or going everywhere. A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I had to go to Pasadena to attend our god-daughter's graduation from medical school. We decided to drive since we didn't want to deal with the airport hassles and renting a car. Driving from Dixon to Pasadena and back (plus some visiting), we drove almost 1000 miles in three days. On my Dodge Dakota truck, that translated to about $250 in gas. Had to give up about several fishing trips in anticipation of the trip. We're glad that the trip was before Memorial Day when the price per gallon was around $4.05 instead of the current price around $4.20.

Had to go to Carson City, NV this weekend to visit my father-in-law. I drove around the north part of Lake Tahoe and the Chevron station in Kings Beach was $4.49 per gallon for unleaded regular. I got to Carson City and filled my car at the Chevron station for $3.97 per gallon. I could have got gas at a cheaper gas station for $3.87 per gallon. Never thought I would be happy to say that $3.97 per gallon was cheap.

[Mark Pollard]

Went south to Cambria, Ca for My wife's and I anniversary. Gas was $ 4.69 at Cambria. Decided to take highway 1 for the scenary, In Gordo gas was $4.99 a gallon.

[FATGUY]

what goes around comes around. i am now really happy with my 17 foot champion with the 125 mercury on the back . for years everyone in our club and at tourneys would pass me and wave or smile as they beat me to the spot. now i just wave and smile as i pass them at the gas station ...... tourneys need to limit hp at 125 .. ha ha ..

[Slippy]

i float tubed this past weekend for the first time in 4 years... had a blast and even caught more fish then the day before on the Delta in my $150.00 a day gas hog bass boat.

[MIKE TREMONT]

The boat gas isn't hurting me, but towing the darn thing is what hurts. On the water if you keep your foot (or arm) out of it, and fish somewhat close to the ramp, it's not so painful.
I'm deffantly cutting back on my trips away from home.

[Guest]

Wow ... now I can say that fishing out of my 1995 Ranger R72 w/ 125HP is going green.

[bustout]

i have a diesel truck and 200hp merc efi. i also have a 19ft flatbottom w/ 115 mariner jet outboard.


the flatbottom only got used during river salmon season. with the salmon closure i was thinking of selling it

with the hi gas prices, i have been using the flatbottom more often.....even though the jet is not as efficient as prop, still beats my efi drastically.

my friends like the flatbottom too....they say it has more fishing room....had 3 others on a nite amador trip recently and we all managed without too many tangles !!!

[twister]

I know you guys with those carb motors are hurting. They only get about 2 mpg. A DFI motor gets about 5 mph @ about 4500 rpm. My 21' Stroker with a 2004 DFI Rude traveled 28 miles on five gals of gas (gps verified). We fished Dissapointment and Whites all day. Think how much a four stroke can save. I fish all day in my 12' Tin boat with a 8 hp carb merc. Both estimates are with full load of gear, 1/2 tank of gas, and two people.

The point is exchange those large gas gusselling carb motors, lay off that throttle, and/or get a smaller boat. Another suggestion is to get a larger prop. You may loose hole shot, but you should get better mpg.
Oh, as I mentioned I fill 1/2 tank only (approx 17 gal). The extra 17 to top it off is just dead weight that will lessen my mpg. Hell, going on a personal diet can also increase mpg.

[drew]

If you guy's are seriously about an aluminum boat, my 02 Tracker Pro-Team 165 w/25hp MercYama 4 stroke might be for sale. I have yet to see a boat that gets better fuel economy. Usually in an 8hr tournament, I only burn 2-3 gallons of gas. Since January I have only put gas in her 13 gal tank two times! The fuel economy is truly amazing.

[Tobe]

Can't beat what I'm getting out of my Minn Kota 101!

[Greg_Cornish]

There comes a time when you got to cut your losses and realize your hobbies have grown to expensive. The guy I hired to simply make me a new shift box and put stuff back together like it was, never marked anything so it would go back together like it came apart. My engine will now will only start in reverse,my lights don't work, my cable attachments are all broken, there are parts missing. He spliced wires two to three times each and they weren't making contact inside the butt connectors, and created such a Blankin' mess it will cost a fortune to straighten it out. I think he took it apart while in gear and tried to put it back together in neutral position, but I have no idea since I couldn't be on the boat. He must have just RIPPED it apart.

I told him to eliminate everything he did and when I could afford it, I'd had a pro do it. I sent him home. There's also other work I need to do. Add gas prices on that. But I can't afford it so i think I just gave up fishing.

I still didn't cave in and smoke under that pressure

Greg

[catn2004]

To save costs; for commuting to work went back to a motorcycle, mid 40's per gallon.

Boat has a 250, lunch near where I want to fish to cut down on run time and spend more time on the trolling motor.

[Riverdawg]

IMHO

Guys will continue to find a way to fish no matter what the cost.

Yes while gas prices SUCK, we are still hooked (no pun intended)

I know that for myself, if skimping on a bill for a month or making a partial payment to PG&E,.. will assure that I get to the water!

Guys will find a way to make it happen.

In these tuff times I say THIS..... NEVER GIVE UP!!!

Where there is a Will there is a WAY!!!

God Bless all of us, and lets hope that skimping on bill to go Fish & Hunt, doesnt have to become the "Norm"

GOD BLESS AMERICA & OUR SPORT!!!!!!

~Riverdawg

[twister]

I'm with Tobe. Use that trolling motor. That 101 of mine can really move the boat. Stay in one area and figure out the bass rather than running all over that Delta.

[obsessed fisherman]

We need to drill here, drill now, and pay less. You Can sign a petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/action ... 6a1e096659

My 16' Tracker w/70 hp 4 stroke does greet. Sounds like it's value may have gone up since I bought it last year.
Totally agree with Riverdawg. I'll buy a paddle boat or paddle a canoe to keep fishing.

[Romeo D]

It may cost me 100 bucks in gas to tow my boat one way to the Delta, but when I get there, I am not going to run the big motor much, I will be using the T motor!! I am also getting some friends to come along to share with the expenses....