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Old dogs can learn new tricks, especially when your bank account is affected. The recent skyrocketing gas prices have caused a lot of anglers to rethink their fishing habits. With boat fill ups are approaching $150+, it gives us a new perspective on boat operations and tournament tactics.
It also gives a lot of anglers the thought of downsizing. This is ok, but it may be a knee jerk reaction to the situation. Here are some ways to keep your motor size so when you need it you will have it, but you also will be able to afford running it.
Soaring gas prices makes for rethinking the old, “full throttle always attitude”, and is giving way to the new half throttle, “we will get there a few minutes later” thinking. This not only saves us gas, but also is kinder to our bodies and equipment. It is a proven fact, note the charts below that were provided by Mercury Marine, that fuel/oil savings increase dramatically as motor rpm’s are reduced.
Reduce the amount of rpm’s to the 4000 range in tournament prefishing days and note that fuel consumption is lot less and it hampered prefishing only slightly.
Secondly, fish fewer days, but longer hours. This saves on motels, road mileage, and fuel consumption. Anglers should try to concentrate efforts in a particular area or even trailer to another arm of the lake before making a second trip.
Watch the prices, the Springfield, Missouri area has been the lowest price for the last several years. Waiting to fill up can save you as much as 45 cents per gallon. If you are filling both your tow vehicle and boat, fuel fill up management can save you $27 if you put in 60 gallons. This was the case at the August Grand Lake tournament.
Lower rpm’s also save on oil consumption, the price for a gallon of oil has also risen and anglers can enjoy a savings here as well.
A lot of anglers also like to “make the long run”, this is traditional thinking, but in reality we are driving past a lot of fish by doing so. Look for similar spots closer to tournament weigh in sights and you may be rewarded with more fish and less expenditures. By cutting your running time if half, you not only save fuel and oil, but you are also increasing your fishing time. The old adage’ “you can’t catch ‘em when your lure isn’t in the water” rings louder than ever in this era of high fuel prices. An 80 mile round trip run will cost approximately $57.05 with a 225 Mercury XS at full throttle, when you cut that trip in half you will save $28.53. If you can throttle back some of the run you will also increase your savings further.
Chose fishing areas that can provide as much diversity as possible. Restricting your flexibility can result in higher costs in moving to other areas or may also create low catch rates.
Buddy up whenever possible. Prefishing with a buddy can save you a lot of expense. It also can help you sort out fishing patterns and techniques.
The future cost of fuel is anyone’s guess so changes are not always bad, but the results for the smart fishermen will be fewer costs and more fish in the weigh in line.
