Greetings all:

I am just curious how this struggle economy has impacted your personal fishing habits. For me, I have cut back on the lakes that I want to go i.e. Lake O� Pines/Sam Rayburn/Toledo Bend. And settle for local lakes � Lewisville/Grapevine/Ray Roberts.

Primarily, it has been the price of gas. But I am hearing rumors of the price of metals for lures and part for boats/fishing equipment is going up as well. Just want to get your thoughts on the issue and what you are doing to minimize your cost in this great pass time.

We quit running all over the country fishing tournaments. With the higher entry fees, fuel etc. it just does not make it worth it.

My guide business is doing better than ever so I can't complain there. We just raised our rates but we had no choice. Fuel costs made that inevitable. I think we are still below many guides rates in some instances.

You run out to Lavon on a weekend afternoon and you'd think fuel was still $0.99 a gallon

I have been looking for lakes closer to home and thinking about looking for buddies to go that want to pitch in more with gas etc. It used to not bother me but fuel cost adds up quick these days. Im looking at $100 one way or the other it seems every time I go out.

I bought a boat with a smaller motor than I could have to save a little on fuel. That and Im not in a hurry ever anyway.

I down sized the boat, let the 200 hp go and got me a basstracker with 50 hp merc. Can't get there as fast but then i don't do the tournment thing anyway. I can run all over any lake on $30 worth of gas, and since I live on the water, I don't have the cost of trucking to the lake.

When I do go I try to stay within 5o miles or so of the house, but I can get to Palestine, Hubbard, Lavon, or Bob Sandlin, but still it's about $30 worth of gas to get there.

I went fishing last month for the first time in awhile. Three trips to the lake and my gas bill alone was $400.00 between the vehicle and boat gas. OUCH!!! It has affected my fishing, vacations, etc.

Guide trips are looking better and better!!! Probably cheaper in the long run??????

I hear you, even for me i can remember when you could get live bait for less or a jig or some lure i couldt live with out.The price of gas or any type patroliem prod and even presious metals or lead has all whent up!In my buisness with some corprations i have made changes as to the type materials my products are made from, such as tungsten or even lead of wich a big percent of all is made! Youre absolutly write it cost more for a tank in your boaT AND THE GAS sometimes it takes to get down the road to another tourney or just a nother lake!
I do no some pro staffers that have been even dropped frome what they were doing to even major tackle distributers selling out! Hope this helps because were we will admit it or not it affects us all




See ya on the water!

"CrappieDale"

Definitely trying to stay closer to home due to fuel cost.

That's BS Brian! You're always in a hurry... to catch crappie.

They say you can't take it with you, and in my case, I don't have any to take anyway....so it hasn't changed where I go yet.

In my case I only live about 5 or 10 minutes from the nearest boat ramp. So of course we have been fishing closer to home. Have an 18'6 boat with a 150hp that's paid for. The only thing preventing me from fishing right now is the heat.

I live 10 minutes from the Oak Point boat ramp. I now know before I launch the boat, where I will be going. No more cruising the lake. I've switched back to anchoring/drifting for catfish now to save on gas.

I'm just fishing closer to home more often that before. Fewer trips to RC or CC. My fishing is about up for awhile anyways with football season starting up. I would like to think that by the end of football season the economy will be better but I know thats wishful thinking.

I have been fishing mainly 45 min or less from my house. I was fishing a couple of times a week. Now I have only fished once in the past month. Once the weather cools I will fish more, but still close to home. I had high hopes of making a trip to Broken Bow this fall. But recent hits to my budget may not allow that. Times are getting tough for me. Everything is going up because of the cost of gas...what a bummer.

I definatly let my partners know that hey need to kick in a few bucks for gas. I have one friend that isn't getting called anymore because he won't pony up anything.