Will High Gas Prices Affect Your Fishing?

[Captain Phil]

Experts say we may have $6.00 a gallon gas by the end of the summer.  If so, will this change your fishing?

[Mike L]

I don’t own a boat but during tournaments I increased what I give to my boaters. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Mat_ski]

Yes, just last weekend I changed my destination from 60 miles away to 11 miles away at the gas station.

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

While the higher prices might not affect my fishing directly, they will and have required spending modifications in other areas to account for the extra gas $$ needed for the boat & the tow vehicle.  Retirement pay for an enlisted man only goes so far.

Either way, I can always make a few trips in Old Town canoe, which requires minimal $$.

A-Jay

 

 

[DaubsNU1]

Not likely, as my two main fishing lakes are just 10 minutes from home. 

[FishTank]

We have noticed less bass boat traffic but the same,  if not more,  pleasure boaters. If anything, we won't be going flat out and the trolling motor will see a lot of work. 

[TnRiver46]

Already has, several times. For example, Last night I used my canoe and a launch 1.5 miles from home. I’ll be working more evenings than fishing this summer 

[BayouSlide]

Definitely will affect where I fish.

 

One area I like to fish requires burning a full tank of non-ethanol boat fuel (10 gallons) to get there and back: that's not even counting the cost of gas for the 2 1/2 hour round trip for my SUV. With the cost of non-ethanol gas, I'm thinking my trips there will be few and far between.

 

I'll settle for places closer by or a lake I like that's an hour and a half away...but the only time I start the boat motor there is to get it back on the trailer at day's end.

[WRB]

Add .98 tax to your gas prices, that is what we pay in California.

It double the cost of traveling, pulling your rig and on the fuel used. However the high prices hasn’t reduced the traffic on the water or highways.

Tom

[Catt]

One reason I run a 16' Alweld with a 40 hp Tahotsu.

 

Easy to tow & I can fish 2-3 days on 6 gallons.

[Deleted account]

Yes, but not like you think, I'll just be shipping more product, "I need more money, more fish are going to die"...

[Jig Man]

I doubt it.  For me it is a 100 mile round trip.  My truck gets a little over 13 mpg.  I use about 7.5 gallons.  It costs about $30 now as I am paying $4. At $6 it will make it $45.  I’m not letting $15 keep me home.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Not likely, as my two main fishing lakes are just 10 minutes from home. 

 

All the launch points I'll use are within 15 minutes of me - so I hear you there.

 

43 minutes ago, Catt said:

One reason I run a 16' Alweld with a 40 hp Tahotsu.

 

Easy to tow & I can fish 2-3 days on 6 gallons.

14' Alumacraft - modified of course - and I'm looking at a 25hp Envinrude this afternoon.

[SWVABass]

I’m interested to see what inflation does in the long term to the cost of boats. If a recession hits and then things reset and stabilize and I get the promotion I applied for I maybe able to afford the boat I want. If not I’ll stick to giving up gas offerings to my boater.

[NHBull]

I live 10 minutes from where I dock my boat and seldom use more than 4 gallons an outing, so no.

 

That said with COL 8-10% higher this year, there may be coal under the Christmas tree.

[Bankc]

Nope.  First, I kayak.  And second, my car gets pretty decent gas mileage.  

 

However, if food prices continue to rise, I might have to switch over to crappie and walleye.  

[gim]

I'll probably do more fishing closer to my house.  I've never been one to drive more than about 60 minutes to fish anyways.

My 75 hp 4-storke Merc uses minimal fuel.  I put ethanol free premium in it about twice a season.  The fuel I burn is in the truck pulling the boat to the lake.  There is an advantage to owning an aluminum boat compared to a heavier fiberglass one too when it comes to towing.

The bonus lately is that I am able to work a hybrid remote/office/field schedule now instead of always having to commute into my office, so that is saving me a fair amount of miles in the vehicle on a daily basis.  Instead of going in 5 days/week, I go in about 2 days/week.

 

Maybe these high gasoline prices will keep some of the wakeboats off the lake.  Those things guzzle fuel.

[Jigfishn10]

Nope, once my boat gets on the mooring, it's there for the summer. I just need to ride 3 miles out and 3 miles in. I'll drift jig with the engine shut down. My biggest expense is getting the boat to ME from MA and back again this year.

[Bird]

No, it's the only hobby that I actually have to spend on anyway.

Now $6 per gallon will likely make me rethink though.

We're at $4.29 currently.

[HookInMouth]

I kayak but transport in a hungry Ram 1500. At $6.00 a gallon I'll probably skip the 2 hour road trips to Presque Isle this year.

[flatcreek]

I’ll keep fishing and running water and cut spending in other areas that are much less important to me.

[Bluebasser86]

Already has for me. Trips are much closer to the house to the lakes that aren't nearly as good and trips are much less frequent. Not sure how much longer I can keep the Stratos at this rate either.

 

It's killing us as a single income family. 

[GreenPig]

Yes. I've been spending roughly a $100 every week on gas a week between the truck and boat. Summer's my toughest season so I'll pull back a bit but when Fall gets here I'll be full on again.

[Darth-Baiter]

Indeed!   I’m a kayak basserman so it’s not on the water costs.  Getting to the lake and back is expensive since we are already at $6.00.  
 

I’ve been carpooling when I’m can with two kayaks per truck.  I have declined all bass boat invites from my friends.  It’s not that I cannot afford the fuel, I just don’t want to pay for so much. I only go once a week to distant lakes now.  I’ll manage. 

[NoShoes]

I commute 80 miles round trip a day. I already budget a good bit for gas. 
 

It won’t keep me from taking the boat out.