We All Have That One "friend".....

[Ski213]

How much would it cost to pitch in? I mostly just bank fish. The only time I was on a bass boat when I went with a guide. Just curious..

How much $ varies a lot on the boat and the location. Between truck and boat fuel and ramp fees I think it costs me 50-100 bucks to go out for a leisurely fishing trip.

[Dye99]

I fish out of a kayak, but my issue is, I have multiple kayaks!

So I get people wanting to take one of my back up boats out with me. I don't mind though. Ive gotten a few people into the lifestyle.

And I have people to show my fish off too.

Not a big deal.

[Bluebasser86]

How much would it cost to pitch in? I mostly just bank fish. The only time I was on a bass boat when I went with a guide. Just curious..

Most of my single day trips run around $50 out of pocket for me in fuel and oil. Compare that to what it cost to hire a guide for a day and forking over gas money to cover everything to your buddy is pretty dang cheap, provided they know what they're doing anyways.

[Montanaro]

They would need to chip in with food and drinks at least...and not be annoying on the water.

[Jar11591]

Friends are usually friends because of shared interest. Did you ever think maybe you are friends BECAUSE you fish together and you just happen to be the one with the boat? Maybe him asking when the two of you are going fishing IS his way of keeping in touch? I know a lot of people who have "golfing partners" who only get together on the course. That's why they're friends. Of course I have no idea of your actual situation, but it's just something to consider.

[Bluebasser86]

Friends are usually friends because of shared interest. Did you ever think maybe you are friends BECAUSE you fish together and you just happen to be the one with the boat? Maybe him asking when the two of you are going fishing IS his way of keeping in touch? I know a lot of people who have "golfing partners" who only get together on the course. That's why they're friends. Of course I have no idea of your actual situation, but it's just something to consider.

I know my number of "friends" went way up when I bought a boat, some of them that I'd be around for years and hardly spoken to until I bought it. Now maybe they never knew I fished until then (highly unlikely), but possible. That's what it sounds to me like the OP's situation is, someone being his "friend" just to get to fish out of his boat. 

[scaleface]

 

 

Fishing is a passion I have. A challenge between predator and prey. My happy place. I don't need others to ruin that for me 

 My sentiments exactly . 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Friends are usually friends because of shared interest. Did you ever think maybe you are friends BECAUSE you fish together and you just happen to be the one with the boat? Maybe him asking when the two of you are going fishing IS his way of keeping in touch? I know a lot of people who have "golfing partners" who only get together on the course. That's why they're friends. Of course I have no idea of your actual situation, but it's just something to consider.

Bank fishing is another story that can be viewed as similar to golfing partners. No real cost involved or effort. Drive to the pond (greenway) and use your own rods (clubs) and then fish (golf)

When you want to use my boat you are talking my Jeep gas, boat gas, unload and load the boat, food, drinks, etc.

I take people to show them the ropes at the ponds often. But when I feel "used" when these people mention hitting a lake it is a whole different story.

[BKeith]

In the true since of the word and what most would consider a friend. Someone you might fish, hunt or do something of common interest with and a somewhat regular basis. I've never realy had any. other than my dad, father-in-law, and maybe one or two others but they have all passed. Yea, I've had people ask about bird hunting with me, or say maybe we can get together sometime and go fishing, normally in vehicle and I'm buying the gas or my boat at my expense, and I refer to people sometimes as a "friend" but it's usually just some one I know well enough to give them a hand if the need it. Which I'm a patsy anyway when it comes to helping people, I will go way out of my way to help someone if I possibly can. I've always said I had rather someone owe me a favor over money anytime. Even though, doing people favors can come back to bite you in the butt sometimes.

The trouble is, I just don't particularly like most people. I don't drink or like being around people drinking, I don't smoke and don't want a cigarette near me, I don't like crowds, and most music irritates the h**l out of me, so I'm not a party person. If you want to get your plans screwed up, have someone else involved in them. Many have learned when I set a time, I stick to it. If I say I'm leaving at 5:00AM and you are suppose to go with me, if you are not there by 5:05 I'm driving off without you.

I guess I put true meaning in "he's just and old grouch"

[Fishing Rhino]

Splitting fuel, ramp fees, and buying lunch would be acceptable to most.

 

Personally, I think it's rude to ask someone to use/share their stuff. It puts the person who owns the stuff in an awkward position. The way someone asks would have a lot to do with my response.  Someone who says "When we going fishing?" will get a different response from me than "Tomorrows going to be a nice day. If you're not doing anything, How bout I pick up some beers and a couple steaks?  Fishing on your boat in the morning and steaks on the grill and cold beer at my house in the afternoon"

I'd encourage you to go alone.  After you leave, I'll hit on Peg.  When I strike out on that, I'll go fishing.

[PourMyOwn]

99% of the time I fish with my father or the one fishing buddy I have who is as serious as I am. When we take my friend's boat I always bring food, and he's a bachelor so it's always welcome. He's excited to go with someone who can help load, unload-all the stuff that boat owners do.

 

I have a few friends who are not really into fishing, when I take them I bring my second level rods for them to use. If something breaks, oh well. I'd feel like a jerk if I was frog fishing and they didn't have a rod that could do the job. Nothing worse than a friend who is down to one crappy rod with four hours of fishing left.

[WPCfishing]

Before you throw the guy under the boat consider his situation, finance, time, personality. I have a friend I don't see often that likes to fish. He calls now and then and asks me to take him.

I gave him a reel and some baits so he'd have one decent reel and something to throw. He bought an ugly stick... so, that said we know he's not in the best financial position. 

Then his wife wanted to fish.. They talked about buying a canoe for a year or so. No boat... So I bought him a nice used canoe. He still uses my 30# trolling motor, mount and battery when they meet me at a ramp and I give them a hand full of baits to throw which I never get back...  In short, "It's not they they won't it's that they can't".

 

Back in the 80's when I had my sport fishing boat I fished for Blue Fin.. Now, That was an entirely different story.. leaches everywhere.

[BKeith]

Well, then you have those that truly can't because of some debilitation, physical, mental, or lack of education or just life situations that keeps them well below the poverty level but are still out there working hard at trying to make it on their on. Those I don't mind helping when and where I can.

Then you have those that live off government handouts, food banks and everything else that's free, have no intention of ever "working". Thinks the rest of the world owes them and expects everything to be given to them. Yea they would take some "position" where they could show up when they wanted, hang around a few hours and do most of their personal business on the phone and gab with the co-workers, for some high five to six figure income or more, but don't expect them to "work". Maybe run for public office and become a politician. There's a bunch of those in government jobs. Those, I would not give the time of day.

Then those that actually make a reasonable income, not a lot, but enough they could do ok on, but had rather spend it on meaningless things like lottery tickets, cigarettes, booze/beer, drugs etc, just basically p**s their money away and not even have enough left to buy groceries with to get to the next pay check. Again, yes you feel for their kids (if they have any) but I'm not going to spend my time or money trying to help those either.

[FrogFreak]

I have a friend who shares the passion. He fishes close to home and I go to a lake place. We fish together 2-3 times per year. When we take my boat, he pays for breakfast & lunch and when he takes the boat, I pay for breakfast & lunch. We were in the military together so we bust each other's balls all day on the water. It's pretty comical!

 

I bring kids out a couple times a year and let them use my stuff. It's fun to see their joy. 

 

However, I don't have anytime for leeches. On the other hand, I'm probably going anyway so if it didn't inconvenience me to much, I'd probably take a friend. He better be able to fish though. There's nothing fun about unsnapping someone over and over.

[Preytorien]

"Then again, when my boat is finally repaired, I can see myself inviting random bank fishermen to come out. I thought through this while watching a teenage bass fisherman fish a frog on the opposite bank of the small lake this past summer without much success. I would have told him to jump into the boat had I had it up and running as that's how the lily pads are accessible." - Josh Smith
 

This is how I got to be more "serious" in fishing. I had a guy who knew I was bank-restricted take me out for the first time (he invited me - I still paid for launch), and showed me the ropes, especially on frog fishing. After that I was hooked, it took me to the next level and I started getting really into fishing after that. I still consider that the turning point. 

 

I know this was off-topic, but thanks Josh for posting that, you can really make a guy's day doing that.

[Madd Lunacy]

Friends are usually friends because of shared interest. Did you ever think maybe you are friends BECAUSE you fish together and you just happen to be the one with the boat? Maybe him asking when the two of you are going fishing IS his way of keeping in touch? I know a lot of people who have "golfing partners" who only get together on the course. That's why they're friends. Of course I have no idea of your actual situation, but it's just something to consider.

Exactly my thinking. It sounds like he might not be very fond of this person to begin with.

[Starchalopakis]

If you want to get your plans screwed up, have someone else involved in them. Many have learned when I set a time, I stick to it. If I say I'm leaving at 5:00AM and you are suppose to go with me, if you are not there by 5:05 I'm driving off without you.

 

 In the short time I have had my boat this is the one that annoys me the most, so far that it is. I hate being late anywhere so it's kind of a foreign concept to me how people can agree to meet at a time (usually early morning), and then come straggling along like it's no big deal. I really enjoy my sleep, so if I am up early waiting around for you, when I could be already fishing or still sleeping, I might be a little grumpy to start the day!

[Rick Howard]

Fun topic. I just bought my first bass boat. An old boat but good enough for this guy. I fished out of a row boat for a lot of years. Never had an issue with too many people asking me to take them fishing then. I am betting I will find a few that crawl out of the wood work now.

Rewind to the 90's. My old man had a bass boat. I Burned up his gas, lost his lures, broke his rods, wore out his trolling motors, and almost sank it once. I should just give him my boat but instead I take him fishing or let him use my stuff while I am at work. So far... He's burned up my gas, lost my lures, broke my rods, wore out my trolling motor, and almost sank it. I said to him "at least it took me a decade to destroy your stuff". He replied "I'm not sure I got that kinda time so I wanted to be sure I got it all in." Love him.

[gulfcaptain]

I don't have that friend, but I have the ones that want inside info on the offshore scene or fishing the islands and the only time they call is when they are going and haven't figured it out.  Of course after the 4th time of telling them to figure it out since I wasn't asked to go, they stopped asking.  Fishing buddies will always offer to help with costs.  Some are just fishing buddies looking to fish.  I have a couple friends I call that live 300+ miles from me that I call to go fishing.....but I'm not looking to go for free and have no problems pitching in after I've made the drive.  And if they are friends, be upfront.  If they get their feelings hurt, they will get over it if they are really friends.  More then likely though if asked they will pitch in and help and may not have even thought about it or new they should.