Hurricane High Gas Cost Solutions

[HURRICANEBOB]

Man, tell me that subject line didn't grab your eye?!?!?

I think I figured it out, what's keeping me from going fishing with gas so high. It's not just the price of gas for the truck and the boat. It's the thought of paying all that, then having a really bad day of fishing. And ya know what, I'd rather work and get piad for the day, then spend $100 or more on gas, lose a day of pay, and still get skunked. I mean, in this scenario, you lose not only the day off, but the pay, and the gas: that's a triple whammy.

So here's my idea...I'd call it a solution, but we'll all have to see how it works out before we get that optimistic.

1. Let's all get VERY detailed about our fishing trips and results. Idea is forewarned is forearmed to make a better decision as to if its worth it to give it a shot. When I say detailed, I mean right down to ramp condition, is the water clear or stained or chocolate, what lure, what time, what day exactly (not "the other day"...use a date). Tells us the lure, the depth the exact location or a least a very good description of the type terrain/spot. Again, whole idea is to let folks know when its really worht the gas money to hit the lake or river. Anything that might help to make an informed decision to burn gas.
2. Invite a buddy to go along. If you are invited, then volunteer to either pay 1/2 of everything, or repay the free trip with a free trip. Bottom line here is we'd each get to go twice for the price of one trip. (Nope guys, I'm not hinting, just telling you what I do).
3. If you go 4 times in a month as an example, then designate one trip as a "no big motor trip". Use the big one just to ramp in and out, then trolling motor the whole rest of the trip. Ramp in close to the spot you want to fish. Great examples are at Nolin or Barren and C-land to a certain extent, where ramps are spread out on ends of the lake. Doing this really means that of 4 trips with one boat gas "Free", you've reduced the cost of boat gas by 25%.
4. Take more food with you, snacks,and drinks. That means you can fish longer without a run to the dock for chow. Last fishing trip my pontoon looked like a flipping Kroger's. Funny thing is I didn't get as tired during the trip, I guess cause there were munchies to fuel the fliipin stick.
5. Do a little more night fishing. Why? I guess that means I "got you in the dark"........eh!?! Well, traffic is lighter on the roads at night, and traffic lights at some places take on a more "pass thru" timing schedule for the main roads. That means you'll have fewer slow downs that burn gas to get back to speed after a meathead pulls out in front of you then does 35 mph, or decides to make an unsignaled left turn. With less traffic, you can lay back from lights and coast toward a red with the hopes it will go green before losing major momentum. Anytime you avoid a stop, you avoid paying a second time for the speed and momentum you used to have.
6. Serious note here. Think long and hard before you buy a new downsized tow vehicle to drag the boat around. I know the shine of a new small truck is aluring. While a small 6 might save bucks by itself, it loses a lot of the EPA average when it ries to pull a heavy boat. Think of the depreciation hit you have taken on the big truck, the reduced trade in value you will get for it especially since gas prices are up and dealers will have a hard time seeling it, the fact that as gas went up, the folks who sell small trucks also got the word and are holding out on price, so you might pay a premium price for the new one. Why save $100 on gas for the month in a small new truck, and then have to shell out a $350 monthly new truck payment. And as a rule of physics, a 2900 lb small truck does not stop a 3500 lb boat and trailer near as well as a 3900 lb truck. If you don't need the truck for work during the week, then just buy a subcompact that's 3-5 years old, gets great mileage, use it during the week, and park the truck till its time for the boat trip. Just a thought. Insome cases, depending what you buy and how you insure it, you may find the gas cost avoided by not driving the big truck, will pay for the car payment, insurance, and its gas. And, you're saving miles on the big truck, which means less maintenance, less wear and tear, better resale value, and less chance of getting hit by a meathead on teh way home from work, destroying the tow vehicle for the boat. Risk and cost management.

Okay, Im done. I need to stop here and go drain some more beer cans so I can cash in the aluminum for the deposit and buy boat gas.

[LarryG]

My son was looking to off his ford expedition with the triton engine. They offered him 8700 bucks for a car that he bought new for over 30000 in 06. He said he would keep it, and just keep picking the hybrids out of his grill.

[Bonefish]

If you need a truck with guts, now is the time to buy. I have a farm so I just purchased a V-8 4X4 and plan to keep it.