Just wondering what every one thinks the effect of much more expensive gas prices is going to do, or change to the fishing this year ? whats your plans? I will try to plan better fish more when the fish are near and find other things to do when the fish move way offshore or at least limit my offshore trips to couple times a month
Lets say you get 2MPG on the boat and your average run is 8 miles, 16 miles total, 8 gallons, or 8 dollars more compared to 3 bucks a gallon. You then troll around on burn another 8 gallons for another 8 buck delta. Total extra spend $16, split four ways, 4 bucks per man. Not to bad.
Where is really hurts is on the long runs to Canada with the truck towing - distance of 160 miles at 8 miles a gallong is another 20 extra bucks. That sucks.
JD
Jerome Dorlack Team Reel Naughty
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fishing
Maybe not quite so many runs offshore to "look" for fish, but the boat fuel is not the big thing... it is the gas for the Avalanche to get the boat from Lansing to the big lake(s).
Ryan Think KINGS!
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
Well, I think it sucks. I don't have 4 guys to split the tab, just me and the wife. I get about 1.4 mpg (2x351s) I can get 4 trips on a tank if I'm careful, then it's $250-$275 to fill up. I burned about 500 gal last year, so that's another $500. I posed this question to a friend this weekend. His comment was--this is a presidential election year, and the Bush adm will do everything they can to prevent $4 a gal gas, as that might be fatal to the republican nominee. I sure hope he's right.
Dave
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
Well even if gas is held to under $4 on shore it certainly wont be on the water which is where we have to buy gas.
In actuality based on on average gas cost last year it's another 10 to 15% which is a good chuck of change when you range as far up and down the lake as we do.
We will definitely run the boat on the lowest RPMs we can get away with. I will definitely think about staying tied up on those days when the fishing is marginal - but then again my sanity is recouped on the water and for that almost any price is worth it.
But we did make a change this year moving from one of the best marinas on the East side of Lake Michigan to a lesser marina that is 5 minutes from home instead of an hour from home. Our cost savings in transit gas and slip fees will more then offset rising gas prices - but u can only do that so much then everything overtakes cost savings. But savings are important when you expect to consume well in excess of 1000 gallons.
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fishing
Bill I have a question for you? Have you ever run a full tank of fuel out of your boat in one day? And how big is your fuel tank? HONDA power can spoil you even though they don’t make gas I know one thing I have a 27' 8000lb boat and it takes less fuel to travel from port to port by water than putting it on the trailer and towing it with my one ton ford diesel I certainly love my Honda power!
I just hope we all find ways around reducing our time and fun on the water
Thanks for all the comments guys hope to get out there soon
I'm just thinking that the investment on the Honda Kicker will just end up paying for itself even a little sooner than we anticipated... In the past I havn't really let people pitch in for gas on our boat, but I might be a little more open to it if we get up to thoes kinds of prices.
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
We put a Kicker on my cousin's boat from Frank. It cut our gas by about 30=40% on most days. Well worth the investment when you consider the wear and tear we save on the IO too. Example: Summer months a 20 mile run one way for us is the norm to find cold water..we now burn about 14 gallons of gas for the day..
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
I thought about being brash in my response and saying that the gas prices will not have any impact, but I think that may be an overstatement. The way I look at it, it is either spending money on fishing or therapy and fishing is much more fun .
Honestly though, I doubt it will make a huge difference in my behavior. I may not head out on as many seach missions offshore and I may lower the RPM's when possible. Other than that, I plan to enjoy this summer just as much as those in the past.
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
Amen, Tim.. I will spend it if I have it. I bought this boat to unwind, regain my sanity, Spend the best quality time with my wife and dogs that I could ever ask for and catch a few fish. If that means shutting down the engine out in the middle of the lake and just drifting around, so be it. I'll still hear the waves slapping the side of the boat, feel the sun on my face, and NOT hear any sirens for a little while.. Fill er up, kids!!
Bill Brock Semper FIsh Sportfishing Team Boat.. Just Right
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
medic, as you said amen!amen!amen! i can't speak for everyone. myself i dont really care what the gas goes too i'll always fish, its the few sane moment's in life! ted
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Re:whats 4 bucks a gallon going to do to your fish
It probably won't change my fishing at all, but even at $3 per gallon I'm pretty much convinced that I'll never buy a larger boat. In fact, I'm thinking about downsizing once the current rig is paid off in a couple more years. The Optimax is good on gas, but getting 8-9 mpg on the tow over is a killer. If I had a lighter boat I could get by with a more economical tow vehicle once the Dodge finally dies.
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