View Full Version : Bringing down costs of fishing?
Ultralight
9-10-15, 12:42pm
I have been thinking lately about the costs I pay in order to go fishing. Obviously fishing is cheaper than hobbies like collecting muscle cars, flying jets daily, and compulsive gambling. But I still noted that I put a fair amount of cash into fishing, and as fall fishing season starts to ramp up I am thinking of ways to bring the costs down.
I tallied up the average (give or take) costs:
$12 -- to drive to a lake
$5 -- for live bait and/or fakin' bait
$2 -- for a bag of ice to dispatch the fish humanely in a cooler
$3 -- in tackle (jigs, spinners, etc. that get lost because of snags and such)
But I noticed after a long day of fishing, despite having thoroughly enjoyed it, I will often buy a cold bottle of Perrier or grab a burrito at the Chipotle. So that tags on another $2 - $7, so say about $5.
$5 -- immediate after-fishing refreshment
Then I have all the kitchen costs associated with fishing, things like water used, ziplock bags for freezing the fillets, oil, flour, cornmeal, NA beer, for deep frying, gas for stove, and so forth. I will estimate the costs of this to be about $3 per trip (I catch a haul of fish about 80% of the time).
$3 -- for kitchen costs
So my average fishing outing costs me around $30.
Whoa!!!
I need to bring this price tag down!
I don't know. For an entire day of 'vacation' that totally relaxes you and brings you peace and contentment, $30 bucks isn't so bad. Everyone needs to unwind and find their center. Some sew or paint or cook, or garden. Some fish. (I sit on the dock and feed my fish that were more expensive than i care to say) All can be expensive and drive you a bit crazy if you try to tally up the real cost of that tomato! But it's something we need. Everyone needs a creative outlet. It is very human and necessary i believe.
Unless you are fishing instead of paying the light bill, I wouldn't worry about it. Cheap therapy KWIM?
Yes, it's fairly reasonable for a hobby. It depends how often you are going, how much food you are getting out of that cost (as you'd have to buy more at the store if you didn't fish) and how much you are saving/putting towards your debt.
Ultralight
9-10-15, 1:53pm
Yes, it's fairly reasonable for a hobby. It depends how often you are going, how much food you are getting out of that cost (as you'd have to buy more at the store if you didn't fish) and how much you are saving/putting towards your debt.
During April-May-June I go from 2 to 4 times a week. July-August I go once a week. September-October I go once or twice a week. I don't fish from November-March though. Lakes are iced over.
$0 Stop by mother's house.
$0 Row boat out into ocean a wee bit
$0 Bait (easily netted or leftovers)
$0.50 crap/prawn trap maintenance (always drop in a couple of pots while fishing, then you'll at least have something)
$2.00 butter, veggies, and other essentials.
$0.00 wine/beer - have guests bring
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MxkvrpbJ_mo/TX7rkKiZxXI/AAAAAAAACXQ/tpj4eWrqVUM/s912-Ic42/119-1927_IMG.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PfOECZG8Z7o/TidJ-06rW1I/AAAAAAAAC_s/arAptphzXcU/s912-Ic42/108-0889_IMG.JPG
Ultralight
9-10-15, 2:03pm
bae:
Looks great! And you can't beat those prices!
You didn't mention fishing license.
Our state license is $12 per year and if you want to add a trout tag its another $7. Not a bad deal at all. They do offer a few free fishing days per year but those are always crowded.
I can be in water within 5 minutes of my house so I don't have a big gas bill, plus there isn't any place to stop for goodies between here and there either. Dad makes the flies and keeps me stocked in other supplies as well, plus my beautiful filet knife was a gift from him (and made by a knifemaker we know) so my expenses are almost nil other than the license every year.
Ultralight
9-10-15, 2:29pm
You didn't mention fishing license.
Our state license is $12 per year and if you want to add a trout tag its another $7. Not a bad deal at all. They do offer a few free fishing days per year but those are always crowded.
I can be in water within 5 minutes of my house so I don't have a big gas bill, plus there isn't any place to stop for goodies between here and there either. Dad makes the flies and keeps me stocked in other supplies as well, plus my beautiful filet knife was a gift from him (and made by a knifemaker we know) so my expenses are almost nil other than the license every year.
You have a good set-up too. The fishing license is a flat rate of $19 in OH. Trouts or no trouts.
It's cheaper than my shooting hobby.
Ultralight
9-10-15, 7:18pm
It's cheaper than my shooting hobby.
Tradd:
I used to go clay shooting a lot! Whoa...! Now that was pricey. I stopped breaking clays because it was breaking the bank.
I think you have to think in terms of the great fish dinner. Bicycling is printing money, and so is pulling gourmet food out of a lake. 1. you have to eat something which you would be paying for just like you're paying for this, and 2. fish is expensive! Doing the fishing in your grocery store would cost you $8-$20 and be nowhere near as enjoyable. Now the perrier ... freeze a bottle of whatever you like and stick it in the fish cooler with a bag of doritos. Maybe spring for an extra layer of protection ala ziplok baggie.
ETA - could you possibly do this trip with partner and split the gas, or is that unappealing?
Ultralight
9-10-15, 8:08pm
I think you have to think in terms of the great fish dinner. Bicycling is printing money, and so is pulling gourmet food out of a lake. 1. you have to eat something which you would be paying for just like you're paying for this, and 2. fish is expensive! Doing the fishing in your grocery store would cost you $8-$20 and be nowhere near as enjoyable. Now the perrier ... freeze a bottle of whatever you like and stick it in the fish cooler with a bag of doritos. Maybe spring for an extra layer of protection ala ziplok baggie.
ETA - could you possibly do this trip with partner and split the gas, or is that unappealing?
Preparing a beverage and PB&J ahead of time could do the trick. My friends all all vegetarian or squeamish or not outdoorsy. I do fish with my BIL about 10% of the time though.
I think I should probably catch my own worms.
Chicken lady
9-10-15, 9:22pm
How many meals do you get out of that $3 in kitchen costs? I think you probably have a savings there.
Know you will want after fishing refreshment and take something cheap. My dad always had a can of beer in the ice chest.
We fish our pond - stocked it once years ago. No licenses and the fish seem to like the local worms. Or balogna. One slice of cheep balogna goes a long way!
Ultralight
9-10-15, 9:28pm
How many meals do you get out of that $3 in kitchen costs? I think you probably have a savings there.
Know you will want after fishing refreshment and take something cheap. My dad always had a can of beer in the ice chest.
We fish our pond - stocked it once years ago. No licenses and the fish seem to like the local worms. Or balogna. One slice of cheep balogna goes a long way!
I get two meals usually. The first meal and a fish sandwich leftover.
You have a good set-up there with a private pond. Private ponds have the best big bluegill! Yum!
Fishing, I watch my grown son and his Bass Fishing habit. The planning, the researching the baits/spots/water temp/rods/reels/seasons.......then i make a joke a about tossing a worm in the water. If it brings you as much joy and get away time as it does my son, you are lucky and deserve it!
miradoblackwarrior
9-11-15, 6:21am
Gosh, so complicated! And here I used to only drown worms once in a while to get my fishy fix. Question: have you a freezer to store all that "free" meat? ;)
Susan
Ultralight
9-11-15, 9:18am
Gosh, so complicated! And here I used to only drown worms once in a while to get my fishy fix. Question: have you a freezer to store all that "free" meat? ;)
Susan
I have a small freezer. I use it to store one or two hauls of fish. But I usually won't go fishing if I have two hauls in the freezer. I'll stay home and deep fry the fillets!
you could make your own ice vs buying.
Ultralight
9-11-15, 1:15pm
you could make your own ice vs buying.
Ya know, I used to. Then I got flaky about it. I should do it again!
Ya know, I used to. Then I got flaky about it. I should do it again!
In the winter you can save snow and freeze it and use that to not even have to pay for the water.
Ultralight
9-11-15, 1:30pm
In the winter you can save snow and freeze it and use that to not even have to pay for the water.
That might work best just before ice-out! haha
You could make you own ice and save $2. You could also net your own bait (shiners, etc) or take a walk after a rainstorm and collect some worms and save $5. Since you are packing ice already, you should pack your own cold bottle of Perrier and home-made sandwich and cut that $5 to about $2.50 or less. Total savings about $9.50 or more or about 30% of your cost.
Ultralight
10-6-15, 10:42am
You could make you own ice and save $2. You could also net your own bait (shiners, etc) or take a walk after a rainstorm and collect some worms and save $5. Since you are packing ice already, you should pack your own cold bottle of Perrier and home-made sandwich and cut that $5 to about $2.50 or less. Total savings about $9.50 or more or about 30% of your cost.
Yes, I am going to do these things! Thanks.
This is more of a long term thought than something to do tomorrow, but if you are really passionate about fishing, is there any possibility of moving to a more advantageous location? Obviously if you're going to have to spend more driving to work this won't be cost effective, but is there a creative alternative in here somewhere? Live in biking distance of a good lake and take public transport or carpool to work, for example?
Ultralight
10-6-15, 11:24am
This is more of a long term thought than something to do tomorrow, but if you are really passionate about fishing, is there any possibility of moving to a more advantageous location? Obviously if you're going to have to spend more driving to work this won't be cost effective, but is there a creative alternative in here somewhere? Live in biking distance of a good lake and take public transport or carpool to work, for example?
I would love to do this. Obviously lots of coastal places are an option, as is Burlington, VT. It is longer term option though, as I need to get some financial things in order.
Virtual Fishing?
http://static-3.app4smart.me/uploads/posts/thumbs/529/f-6006-df888673f6.jpg (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCNiE8aiVrsgCFcyKDQod2kkLyg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapp4smart.com%2Fen%2F529-fishing-superstars.html&psig=AFQjCNEesALbqQUfuWm3mn_Bqm_dgm9Btw&ust=1444231541755588)
She's sure got plenty of bait.
I would love to do this. Obviously lots of coastal places are an option, as is Burlington, VT. It is longer term option though, as I need to get some financial things in order. Yep, it's agreed, we all want to move to Burlington. :) I was actually thinking more locally than globally - you say it's about $12 to drive to fishing, could you make it shorter without compromising other things?
considering you get to eat the fish, I think this is a deal .The only suggestion would be to go with a friend if you wanted to and split the cost of gas, but I wouldn't bother. i would enjoy the day
She's sure got plenty of bait.
The OP's major interests seem to be women and fishing, both on the cheap. She's got all bases covered. ;)
Well, if you go fishing with a friend, you can offer to clean the fish for them and actually make some money in the process. People hate cleaning fish and gladly pay for someone to do it.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 10:53am
Well, if you go fishing with a friend, you can offer to clean the fish for them and actually make some money in the process. People hate cleaning fish and gladly pay for someone to do it.
I'd be open to that. I don't mind cleaning fish. I do a gutless, skinless filet in no time. :)
I was shocked when I heard the going rate for cleaning fish after a perch charter in Port Clinton - 1.25 per pound. :0! So there you go. We did ours ourselves.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 11:57am
I was shocked when I heard the going rate for cleaning fish after a perch charter in Port Clinton - 1.25 per pound. :0! So there you go. We did ours ourselves.
You live in Port Clinton? I was born there.
I'd like to go on a Perch charter!
No, I don't live in Port Clinton. I wish :D. I am about 1.5 hrs west from there.
catherine
10-7-15, 12:17pm
I would love to do this. Obviously lots of coastal places are an option, as is Burlington, VT. It is longer term option though, as I need to get some financial things in order.
Got $190k? Here's a place I actually went to look at last time I was there. It's not in Burlington, but it's in Charlotte, a couple of towns down, and it's right on the water, you get your own dock. I LOVE the little outbuilding/guest house. And the marina is practically right next door.
I nixed it because it's a little bit too much in the woods for me. No place to garden. I guess I could clear some trees, but.. anyway, I'm not quite ready yet.
http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Charlotte-VT/2102635243_zpid/10784_rid/100000-200000_price/365-729_mp/44.376508,-73.127232,44.245813,-73.344899_rect/11_zm/1_rs/
But in terms of the original question, I'd just enjoy myself. $30 a day is a bargain for something you love, especially if you get to eat the fish.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 12:29pm
No, I don't live in Port Clinton. I wish :D. I am about 1.5 hrs west from there.
I grew up near Cedar Point.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 12:30pm
Got $190k? Here's a place I actually went to look at last time I was there. It's not in Burlington, but it's in Charlotte, a couple of towns down, and it's right on the water, you get your own dock. I LOVE the little outbuilding/guest house. And the marina is practically right next door.
I nixed it because it's a little bit too much in the woods for me. No place to garden. I guess I could clear some trees, but.. anyway, I'm not quite ready yet.
http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Charlotte-VT/2102635243_zpid/10784_rid/100000-200000_price/365-729_mp/44.376508,-73.127232,44.245813,-73.344899_rect/11_zm/1_rs/
But in terms of the original question, I'd just enjoy myself. $30 a day is a bargain for something you love, especially if you get to eat the fish.
Looks so amazing!
You live in Port Clinton? I was born there.
I grew up in Huron.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 12:45pm
I grew up in Huron.
Small world!
Small world!
We used to go over to some fish place in Port Clinton for this all-you-can-eat perch feast on Fridays.
When I was back in Ohio/Michigan a couple years ago, I was stunned to see how much perch costs in restaurants now.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 1:21pm
We used to go over to some fish place in Port Clinton for this all-you-can-eat perch feast on Fridays.
When I was back in Ohio/Michigan a couple years ago, I was stunned to see how much perch costs in restaurants now.
There are a couple places like that over in the Port Clinton area.
I like a place called Cheese Haven. Most people go there for the cheese -- especially the aged cheeses. But they also sell a wide variety of smoked fish. The smoked trout, salmon, and whitefish are really good! The smoked carp is dang good too! I don't care for the catfish, though some folks like it. They make ghost pepper cheese that will give a 60 year old alcoholic trucker's taste buds PTSD!
Anyway, Port Clinton is a fun little town. I took Ju Jitsu lessons there in my mid-teens, went to the beaches, and took Jet Express and such.
We've been passing Cheese Haven on the way to East Harbor. Have to check it out after this. I am not much of a cheese person but I do love smoked fish.
Ultralight
10-7-15, 2:33pm
We've been passing Cheese Haven on the way to East Harbor. Have to check it out after this. I am not much of a cheese person but I do love smoked fish.
I am not much of a cheese person either, but they have so many different kinds. They also have candies and such, if that is your thing. You can sample many of the cheeses.
If you have never had smoked carp before don't let the "carp" part scare you off. The backstraps are succulent. It has a ham-like flavor. Like all smoked fish, a little goes a long way. :)
Let me know what you think of the place. It closes during part of the off season, so check ahead! :)
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