As summer winds down, did high gas prices keep you home?

[Fishin' Dave]

The traditional end of summer weekend is next weekend (be careful on the road!!). I was currious to follow up with the posts whaen gas prices went over $3 and up to $3.50 if it would cut your fishing. Looking back, did you fish less in '06 than in '05 or '04 beacuse gas was so much? I know that extra $1/gal adds up on a trip to Shasta from Modesto or the Bay. Just interested.

[sTony]

I got out more Dave.

sTony

[ash]

Less in 05vs06 yes and no once I got my boat I was out more. There has been a few times probably 5x's this year where I wanted to go out and looked at my monthly financials and went oh well, stay at home. So yes gas prices did keep me in a few times over the summer.

[triple trout]

I got out just as much but didnt cool off as often running around..I only have a 150 so my gas consumption isnt that bad.

[Guyle]

YES. Last year I was out at least twice a week, this year many weekends I only go once. Plus I used to fish the lakes and now I stick to the delta cuz it's close.

[Bill K]

I fished just as often. I just did not run around the lakes as much, and worked a couple areas more on the T/M. In the long run, I probably caught more fish this way on any given outing. Bill K

[Sacto John]

I fished this more year than any year since I was in high school. The gas prices kept me going a few times in the boat, but on those occasions I would take out my kick boat or do some pond fishing.

[Dan McKenzie]

I would say no, it hasn't kept me from going out. I'm not a run-n-gun type, so it may cost 5-10 bucks more per outing than it used to, since I don't fish senkos too much anymore I guess I'm even.
Living so close to multiple ramps helps a lot, don't have to go more than 6-10 miles to get to the water, I can launch closer to where I plan on fishing. While I'm fishing about the same amount, high gas prices have cut back on the trips I had planned on taking to new places, It's hard to justify spending 45-60 bucks in fuel to go to Pedro or Melones when I can save that money and stay home and fish the Delta.

[MIKE TREMONT]

I fished as often, I just stayed closer to home. Wanted to go to the Rally this year but the cost of the ride up there and no one to split it with I made an adjustment and fished a tournament on the river.

I also slowed way down on the road. I keep a small but measurable amont of gas in the tank if I keep it around 55, not the 70 I usually drive.

[JT-Madera]

Actually the heat kept me home more than the price of gas..It was the hottest July I can remember..Of course because I was home my wife came up with all these remodel jobs..I spent 6000.00 doing little crap around the house..Next year I'll just go fishing...it's cheaper..

[Andy Giannini]

Yep, gas prices have affected the fishing.

I went to a club event at Pardee, decided to fill up boat and truck one week prior and fish Delta. One stop cost 94.00 in gas, and 70.00 in diesel. Fished Delta and had a good day. Fished Pardee and one two pounder ended up costing a lot. I still have plenty of fuel in the boat, but it stunk to drive all the way there and bomb.

So now I want to work more to offset fuel costs, and that takes up potential fishing time.

So yeah, it has affected my fishing for sure.

A.G.

(I notice I am running the boat at 4,500 rpms.)

[miklanderson]

Nope...Didnt slow me down any. I fished as much as I normally do..

[Fishin' Dave]

So, to you guys who say it did not affect them at all, I decided to do a little math:


Figures based on $2.25/ gal average 2005 May-August for 89 octane vs. $3.35/gal average for 2006 May-August for 89 octane. These prices are based on what I saw or was paying and I believe are close to accurate. Here we go:

Average guy here goes fishing 3 times / month, full days one of those maybe a tournament. I figure 2 fillups for 3 trips and the average boat holds 32-38 gal.

2005: 2 - 32 gal fillups at $2.25 = $144.00

2006: 2 - 32 gal fillups at $3.35 = $214.40

So in 2006, you would have spent $70.40 more per month for boat gas.

Lets look at truck gas. I'd say 70% tow with a v-8, 20% with a diesel, and 10% with a v-6 or v-10. I'm going use 1 30 gal fillup per trip and 10 cents off the 89 octane prices above to do my calculations here.

2005: 3 - 30 gal fillups at $2.15 = $193.50

2006: 3 - 30 gal fillups at $3.25 = $292.50

So in 2006, you would have spent $99.00 more per month for truck gas.

That makes a total of $169.40 per month more you spent this year. Now many for many guys this number is much higher with the higher average cost of diesel, larger boats, and greater driving distances from home to the lake.

If you average that out for the year,

2005: $337.50 for truck and boat gas/ month
$4050.00 for the year; truck and boat gas

2006: $506.90 for truck and boat gas/month
$6082.80 for the year; truck and boat gas

An increase of $2032.80 per year just for gas. If you were able to invest that $2032.80 in to _________ with a yearly return of _____ in 20 years you would make _______ . HA!



In conclusion, I wanted to throw the raw numbers out there. For some the increase was not as big of a deal as they make enough $$ to cover is. For others, the extra cost got put on a credit card and they still went fishing but the cost will haunt them later. Then the rest simply looked at the numbers and realized the cost was beyond their means and fished less or closer to home. Where do we go from here? Not sure, but I realized with a new family this was too expensive for me. Hopefully this wasn't too boring, too shocking, or your wife doesn't get a hold of this and use it against you

[JGB]

Not at all Dave, actually I get out more now with my new rig .

JGB

[bassindon69]

Nope. I gota fish.

[Rod Martin]

Boy that Pix. brought back some old times, When I was a Kid I had a Vespa Cruzair scooter with a ball hitch and a 12' sears plastic boat & a 7 1/2 hr sears aircooled motor. I'd go to the lake throw a pinkeyed hellbender out and troll all day.

[macinckirk]

So, to you guys who say it did not affect them at all, I decided to do a little math:


Figures based on $2.25/ gal average 2005 May-August for 89 octane vs. $3.35/gal average for 2006 May-August for 89 octane. These prices are based on what I saw or was paying and I believe are close to accurate. Here we go:

Average guy here goes fishing 3 times / month, full days one of those maybe a tournament. I figure 2 fillups for 3 trips and the average boat holds 32-38 gal.

2005: 2 - 32 gal fillups at $2.25 = $144.00

2006: 2 - 32 gal fillups at $3.35 = $214.40

So in 2006, you would have spent $70.40 more per month for boat gas.

Lets look at truck gas. I'd say 70% tow with a v-8, 20% with a diesel, and 10% with a v-6 or v-10. I'm going use 1 30 gal fillup per trip and 10 cents off the 89 octane prices above to do my calculations here.

2005: 3 - 30 gal fillups at $2.15 = $193.50

2006: 3 - 30 gal fillups at $3.25 = $292.50

So in 2006, you would have spent $99.00 more per month for truck gas.

That makes a total of $169.40 per month more you spent this year. Now many for many guys this number is much higher with the higher average cost of diesel, larger boats, and greater driving distances from home to the lake.

If you average that out for the year,

2005: $337.50 for truck and boat gas/ month
$4050.00 for the year; truck and boat gas

2006: $506.90 for truck and boat gas/month
$6082.80 for the year; truck and boat gas

An increase of $2032.80 per year just for gas. If you were able to invest that $2032.80 in to _________ with a yearly return of _____ in 20 years you would make _______ . HA!



In conclusion, I wanted to throw the raw numbers out there. For some the increase was not as big of a deal as they make enough $$ to cover is. For others, the extra cost got put on a credit card and they still went fishing but the cost will haunt them later. Then the rest simply looked at the numbers and realized the cost was beyond their means and fished less or closer to home. Where do we go from here? Not sure, but I realized with a new family this was too expensive for me. Hopefully this wasn't too boring, too shocking, or your wife doesn't get a hold of this and use it against you

Dave you hit this right on the head, In 05 I would have no problem running from Victorville to DVL, San V and etc, and I would fish 3-4 times aweek anywere. Now I still fish as much as in 05 BUT I'm fishing a lake Silverwood that is only 32 miles 1 way from my drive way to the ramp and I fish it 3 times aweek and only drive to prefish or trny day to lakes down the hill or were ever.

When I retired in oct 05 and loss all the nice tax write offs for the bussiness, and I got a fuel bill for 786.00 for 1 month of fishing fuel I had to rethink where and when I was going to fish. I fish 90% of the time by myself so I have to fork out all the money and that can add up fast.

Its Like I really would love to come up to the delta and fish for a week but by the time you add fuel, motel, food and etc it would run me $600.00 plus for the trip so I just put it on the back bruner and stay closer to home were I can fish all month for that. So yes it has change the way I'm fishing this year

Kirk

Oh and with the price of fuel going up I allso loss the company gas card ( free gas for everything ) so I guess that also has alot to do with it.

[DPetty]

Purchased my first boat this year. Therefore I went out more. Fishing is what I love to do so, I'll find a way to do it.

[CORAL 96]

What it winds up being is a lot of $$$'s per fish!! But sometimes it's hard to put a price on FUN!!!!

[Gator]

I didn't slow down or fish less (other than the time I was in Florida with my dad). It's funny, I'd still rather make the pull to Clearlake or the Delta than fish Folsom which is 5 minutes from garage to in the water. I need to get out on that water more often.......

[MIKE TREMONT]

Dave, I don't know you except from this forum, so don't get mad at me I'm just bringing fourth an obervation

I'm thinking with all the major (good) changes you've experinced latley you're reinforcing your decesion to get rid of the boat and focus on your families well being? I think you're doing the right thing and have the same struggles myself.

I own a small piece of property in Copperoplis. If I ever get to the point where I have to get rid of it I'll give you a call if you're still in the real estate thing.

If these guys get this golf/fishing thing together I'll be trying my best to make it. Hope to see you there, Mike.

[Fishin' Dave]

Thanks Mike! I appreciate that.

I plan to be in Real Estate for the long haul, so call me when you are ready!

[Bassin]

Dave,

great topic and as you have read already, the prices just don't hinder the majority of us Californians from enjoying our FUN. I swear the prices could be $5.00 plus a gallon and you still would see boats on the road and all those freaking trailers haulin all those dirt bikes and quads. (I live near Pismo Beach)

So even though it hurts when I am sittin there at the pump, yes I have been on the road more this year then any other. Lets see, what next, 6hr drive to Clear Lake for the USAC TOC. Now how much will that cost me...

[miklanderson]

Dave...keep those numbers away from my significant other...LOL.


I didnt really feel the pain at the pump this year because I have a good job. I also quit smoking in January so that helped offset some of the cost of gas. That and I got a good raise this year at work.

I average 3 trips a month so your numbers were pretty close to right for me...Actually they're probably a little low considering it takes a couple of fill ups of the truck for a Clear Lake trip and I make at least 4-5 of those a year and 3 or 4 Feather River trips.

[swordfish]

The Ranger 390 series and 200hp outboards took hold in the west, BASS used to have a 150 h.p. max rule, I like big boats for rough water, the 18 footers with 150s look to make sense now. How about a good used hull with a new Yamaha 115 four stroke it's bullet proof...? I'll still stay with a full size pick up.. consider engine size, enough to pull ? Iv'e pulled thousands of miles with an in line six, it's the brakin' that counts. Fuel costs are a major consideration , smaller and four stroke ? Perhaps....

[troutnut]

I used to launch almost exclusively at Russo's, but this year I luanched only at B&W, which saved 40 mile drive from Fairfield roundtrip.
Savings:

$7 each trip in truck fuel+ $7.25 for the Antioch Bridge + $10 at the burrito joint in the parking lot in front of Hook, Line and Sinker (so hard to resist). I also used trolling motor more, fished closer to marina, fished more evenings, and did LESS scouting. I also made NO trips to LOST ISLE this year, saving $50 bar tab and 15 gallons of fuel each time!