Economics of Bass Fishing
We all know a Zebco pole and reel will catch bass, and similar gear is likely responsible for the seed of tenacity that sprouts a lifetime of unabashed bass fishing expenditures. Many of our parents bought us beginner gear when we were first starting out - that belief that our parents, friends, or family told us that our gear was the best that's out there, (even though it was cheap and a tool to get us off their backs) it still changed our trajectory. Given that most of us are on a budget - out of all the reels, poles, electronics, shallow-water anchors, lures, and bass boats; I cant help but wonder if competitive bass fishing is still with in the means of the majority? Those tools are the competitive advantage. I'm no slouch, but dang...When a loaded bass boat costs as much as a mortgage - that implies it takes a mortgage to keep competitive. I'm curious as to what the pro's think about the cost of bass fishing keeping a fully loaded bass boat in mind (not to mention a truck to pull it) as the primary means of this discussion - especially when it comes to younger generation.
I certainly think that equipment quality is part of each level of recreational and tournament fishing. That's one reason why I don't tournament fish anymore. Former business owner with $100,000 boat and tackle and all the free time in the world winning $500 prize tournaments. I don't have anything against it, if that's what he wants to do, but there's no level where my equipment is going to compete, if half the boats have the best of the best. I'm not that driven, I'd rather have $20,000 used boat with a 4 year old graph and not have a payment every month.
I believe in good equipment too, much to your point, I'm not interested in a monthly payment. Like most people ( I think ) trying to finagle a way to get affordable quality equipment is tough especially with the cost of living right now. I have an older boat ( no payment ) and just priced out an ultrex, two 10'' helix's, two talons and that's about $8,000.00. I'll be installing everything myself too. I'm grateful enough to be able to have saved for some bigger ticket items, but when my son asks - how can I afford this sport going forward my best response is "1. Work your tail off! 2. I'm reaching out to the BASS University community, to get their perspective. 3. Work your tail off even more - no one is going to hand you anything!".
Again, thank for the reply Clarence.
-TJ
It's a good question. When I was younger I played competitive golf and the prices to be competitive after a few years of green fees and equipment were actually pretty close to having a nice boat and equipment, back then people called golf a "rich man's sport". Today, I don't think it's even close, bass fishing, by far would be a rich man's sport. As a junior member, my first year might be $15,000, but after the first year initiation fee, it's probably $500/mo after that (which about the same as monthly payments on a 20 year loan at 4% on a $75k boat). Equipment isn't even close either. I can buy a nice set of clubs for what I have in my single most expensive rod/reel combo.
All that being said, if you're going to be a successful professional angler:
1. Take the Boyd Duckett approach and be a successful businessman before full-time fishing
2. Hope against all odds that the technology gets cheaper
3. Fish the collegiate level and hope you can get enough sponsorship interest to cover a lot of your outfitting costs
4. (The most important) Give it a try with the equipment you have. Invest some money in pre-fishing and fishing the Open levels to see if you like it (I did not). When I fished the Everstart trail many moons ago, I didn't know anyone. Sleeping in the (often not so great quality) hotels, hauling in/locking down all valuables every night, dealing with any mechanical/electrical issue that arose, eating cold pizza, missing family, and, in my case, also trying to do work for clients at night proved to take the excitement out of the dream of doing this professionally. Some might say this was not working hard enough, but I had no problem with the work, I wasn't compatible with life on the road away from family. Also, I didn't make a check in a single event, so I was paying to not enjoy time away from family.
5. What I do, enjoy fishing with what you can afford and pass the love on to your kids
The costs are very high. A new bassboat with all the top gear will cost around $80k. He is something that is very interesting. Guys like John Cox, Bill Lowan and Jason Christy are all competing and winning from aluminum boats. Greg Hackney has a great quote that I have adopted. There has never been a better time to be a shallow water angler. All the advanced electronics have pulled the fisherman off the bank to catch suspended and offshore fish. This can leave the shallow fish under pressured. Used boats are another great opportunity to cut some expenses. bassboat4sale.com has a lot of quality boats for sale.
There are a ton of anglers with very expensive gear that don't catch them in tournaments. Study here at Bass U and Concentrate on your strengths and you can compete no mater what gear you have.
All posts well put.
Another route you might look into is kayak bass fishing. While it might not be the big hit of a bass boat with the speed, storage and capability on demand, but hear me out here. You can get a very good kayak, outfit it and be on the water in the fraction of the cost of a bass boat, possibly even a used bass boat. As in all thing like this, there are advantages and disadvantages but all of those should be taken with a grain of salt as well.
With the boat, there are many advantages.
1. Speed-The bass boat gives the angler much more ground to cover in minutes over a kayak with minimal effort. The speed of a boat makes time management much easier in a tournament situation.
2. Storage-This goes with out saying, you can pack a ton more stuff on a bass boat over a kayak. You can do a lot more on a boat over a kayak as well like have a co-angler if the tournament you are fishing allows them.
3. Room to move-A boat has tons of room to move over a kayak as well. go out on your favorite lake on the weekend and see how many bass boats have upwards of 4 people fishing in them. I have seen them with a person on the front deck, one on the rear deck, and one in each seat. They still has room to get up and move around because of the size of the deck and stability of the boat.
There are some disadvantages to a bass boat as well.
1. Cost-A new bass boat alone can go for upwards of 80 grand. And that's just the boat it self. Now figure in the cost to outfit the boat proper (electronics, power poles if it doesn't have them already, and anything else that you might want to add to it). The cost in the first sentence is all the up front costs. Look a the fuel cost right now as well. I live in SW Pennsylvania, and fuel right now is around 5.15-5.25 a gallon, and that's jus for 87 octane. I don't know what bass boat uses fuel wise, but I would think that they could run high test, so basically, add a dollar a gallon. And don't forget about the maintenance of the boat and trailer.
2. Storage-You can put a ton of gear on a boat. Look at a pros set up. The rods, lures, terminal tackle and everything else that fits in the deck lockers, holders on the deck and anywhere else there is a place to stick something. With having all of that stuff, it could lead to analysis paralysis. This is why you hear of some of the pros parsing down what they carry.
3. Storage of the boat itself- This could lead to another cost if you live up north or in a colder climate of the country like I do. If you have a garage or your own building to put it in, then you can ignore this, but if you don't, then you have to find and rent a place to store it as well when it isn't in use, which is another cost on top of everything else.
Now there are some advantages to a kayak.
1. Cost-You can get a top of the line kayak at a small fraction of the price of a bass boat. I might be picking on Mike here a little bit, but you can get a MIRAGE PRO ANGLER 14 360 MIKE IACONELLI EDITION for 5,800 bucks. This is before tax and title on it as well, different states have different prices on that. Now that's less than 10% the cost of a bass boat, more specifically a fiber glass bass boat. You can add electronics, trolling motors, and other things to it, but with the money it frees up, isn't unattainable.
2. Accessibility- if you can get the kayak to a body of water, you can get it in the water with less issue than a boat. You don't need a launch for it, for one. This also frees up some bodies of water, more than likely smaller bodies, that you might not be allowed an engine or motor of any sort, including trolling motors, (I have a couple around me). These are bodies of water to look into since many of them will have way less fishing pressure on them. plus, you don't need a trailer to tote one around. Depending on how much stuff you put on it, they can be hauled in the back of a pick up or on top of your car you already have.
3. Storage-Might seem odd that I put this as an advantage, but with the limited storage you find you will only take what you need and fish your strengths. I'm not saying not to try new stuff either, but you have to kind of be picky and choosey on what you take with you and what you leave at home. This will also minimize analysis paralysis.
4. Storage of the Kayak-i know not everyone has a basement or garage, but if you do, they can be literally hung off the wall. If it fits in the door, you can probably find a place to put it.
There are disadvantages too.
1. Speed-They are much slower than a bass boat, so time management is much more crucial in a tournament situation. Unlike a boat that can go tens of miles in a short amount of time depending on conditions. A kayak, on the other hand, is only going to cover a mile or 2 in the same amount of time. You also have to factor in current, wind, waves and other factors that you wouldn't have to with a boat.
2. Storage-Just like a boat, it's a blessing and a curse. Lets face it. There are going to be points and times you wish you have more storage on a kayak. This isn't really a pro or con, just an it is what it s situation.
3. Power-YOU power a kayak, unless you have a trolling motor on it. That's also another reason why the range is limited over a certain amount of time. Human power can only go so fast on it's own.
As I said before, take all these pros and cons with a grain of salt and realize, if you can't make one thing happen, there are other things out there to get you out on the water.
