Can we move this thread to the bunker or Off-topic now??

You know people always are commenting on the great help, and advice they get on the texas fishing forum. The guy simply asked for tips so he might be able to continue to fish some. He didn't ask, nor does he probably care what your political opinion is. I will get off my rant now. Wild Bill, there are some things you can probably do. Make sure your motor is tuned up, clean spark plugs fuel filters ect. Gas is not cheap, but 87 octane is definitely cheaper than ethanol free. I have used 87 for a long time, but I also use biobor every time I put fuel in with no issues. When running down the lake, instead of going balls to the wall, slow down and keep the motor trimmed down more. Like your vehicle faster speed equals more fuel consumption. As far as your vehicle, fuel treatment, slower speeds, might look onto a programmer. Those alot of time will increase mileage. Also you can Google a concept known as hyper mileing. This gives you tips about driving habits ect that can increase your mileage. Hope this helps ya some.

If fuel goes up much more, I'll have to cut back on trips. I don't have any fishing water less than 70 miles. At least my boat is economical on fuel.

It's going to get interesting when the price of fuel gets to the point people cut back enough to cause the fuel storage facilities and refiners start lowering the price to make room or to avoid shutting down refining capacity. It happens every time. Just when that point is reached is the question.

Curious to see how much the fields drop on the opens and even the Elites with the bottom tier guys that were just barely scraping by... There's no way they are gonna be able to afford to travel 15-20 hours, practice, and fish tourney days and then drive to the next one not making the top 50 cut.

It will cut some of us back for sure. I know it will cut my trips back significantly. However, some guys will throw everything on a credit card trying to "make it work".

Just spent 4 days in a row on Roberts, could have gone to a resort and been treated like a king for what it cost me in fuel.
I’m driving 65 mph all the way to the lake instead of 70-75 to get the best mileage I can. Same with the boat, cruising around the lake at 45 - 50 instead of 68 mph everywhere I go. That’s about the only thing I know to do beyond fishing closer to home.

If you have a NEMA (or similar) input, add fuel economy to your screen. My boat can get ~4.2 miles per gallon . Unless I need to get somewhere in a hurry, or I am blowing out the suds, I am targeting that number (not a speed) regardless of the price of gas. That is normally at ~40 mph (depending on chop) with enough trim to not plow water...too slow (e.g., below 35) or too fast (e.g.. above 45) and I quickly get into the 3 mpg range.

Also, if you know your mpg, you can look at the distance of a run before making it and decide if it's worth it.

I think it will impact many of the club level tournament numbers. Prices were better back in September or October when club schedules were made for this year and some of those tournaments will no longer make much since for pre fishing, then fishing a lake 100 miles away (or more). This will become more critical as the season goes on and many will realize they are monthly donators.
This is unfortunate as tournament fishing becomes more and more of a rich persons sport.

We got 3rd in a 32 boat field and made a dismal profit in February. Before gas rose like it is today we decided if it's not within 30 miles of home we will not fish any more club tourneys. It just makes zero sense. Payouts have to justify expenses.

I am going to fish my creek in my kayak a lot more. Just like the old days when all I had was a bps pond hopper and a trolling motor. You can fish all day if you take two batteries.

I live 1 hour from my work and then volunteer at church multiple times a week. Last week I put $270 worth of fuel in my truck between all of the trips I had to make. I am going to consolidate as many trips as possible to try to save gas. I feel so blessed...we garden, have chickens and quail, deer hunt and fish, and we have been raising a domestic pig which is going to the processor tomorrow.

Hang on folks, I don't think things get better with this bozo or any other lifelong politician from either side in charge. In a socialist society you need a ruling class and peasant class. Slowly but surely those classes are being established. So fellow peasants, remember what is happening today, when you decide who you are voting for in November please. Please stop giving away our freedom in the name of "we need a statesman in the white house", clean air, lgbtq rights, racial equality, free college, free health care, the police are mean, etc..etc...Think before you vote and remember the majority of Americans asked for this two years ago!

Hope it goes to $10 bucks a gallon. Keep all the 20 year old youtubers from fishing.

I think you will see tournament trails like champs and TXTT take a major hit too. Rayburn only drew 200 boats last weekend. They drew 291 for the same tournament in 2021 and 268 for the same tournament in 2020.

It's the towing part I think will be the biggest issue for most of us. I've owned 5 bass rigs in all over my lifetime and this ZX200 Skeeter I have now seemed to outweigh the others by quite a bit. Two 300 series Rangers, a 18 foot Nitro, and a Tracker aluminum boat and none of those seemed to load my tow vehicle nearly as much as this Skeeter. My fuel milage dropped off towing the others but no where near as much as my current boat. When you factor in and extra axle, power poles, and all the modern amenities my bug has over the old boats, that all ads up. I'll still be able to go fishing but may be restricted to no tournament fishing at all unless I can put together a deal like I got into this past weekend and get sponsored. Like I said in an earlier post though, if I didn't have one child still in college I could swing a few tournaments. That will come to an end this fall.

Hate to tell ya, this gas increase won't effect them... Their gas will be "wrote off" and plus they make a very wealthy penny off these videos... now add more fishermen (mostly the younger crowd) sitting at home, probably going to be watching videos and putting more money in their pockets.
In the end, the $10 a gallon will be the joke on you.