Having trouble with the idea of spending $80.00 just on gas for 1 trip.

I am having a lot of trouble with the idea of spending so much on gas just to drive to a lake to crappie fish. We are 2 hours from any lake. MT is the closest, fastest to get to and the easiest. So that is where we always to go. but spending $80.00 just for gas is getting really high. Spending the weekend is not an option. We can only do 1 day trips fro now. May just have to stick to fishing closer to home. Can make several trips locally for that same money. Husband said don't worry about if I want to go we will go. I just don't know. But I would really like to make at least 1 trip. I love to crappie fish. Or really fish for anything.

I'm with you. I'd love to hit Truman every weekend, but the money..... I have 4 lakes within 15 minutes of my house. Each lake has produced crappie just shy of 2lbs each of the last 4 years. Maybe this will be the year they produce some real big ones. Saves a lot of gas money fishing these lakes.

Perchplucker

I know how you feel. I usually take my brother-in-law and sometimes a third person to help spread out the cost. I am semi-retired and now work in retail so most of my days off are on weekdays and sometimes it is hard to find someone who can get off work to go. Sometimes I like to go by myself so I can concentrate and try new things and I don't have to try to keep the other person in the boat in a good fishing spot, but with the price of gas I don't think I will be doing that much this year. I may have to start fishing four in the boat to keep down cost but that sure gets crowded. We are planning on going for the first time this year on Sunday. Hope the rain holds off.

I would say follow your husband's advice and go when you can. No sense being the richest guy in the cemetary.

Good Luck
N2

Dealt with this where I used to live, it was MT in 3 hours or Rathbun in 2 1/2. Forced me to fish bodies of water closer to me and one was the Mississippi which turned out to be a hoot. There's a lot to be said for the experience of learning and exploring a new body of water. Set out to learn something new about it each and every time whether you catch a great deal of fish or not. Don't put expectations on yourself of having to catch a mess of fish to take home. If having fish to consume is your measure of a successful trip stop at Long John Silvers. I'm a big believer it's about the experience and it's more fun when you aren't feeling negative about the money you spend. I live close to one of the best crappie lakes in the country at present and find myself getting bored at times, course when you consider some of the people I fish with,,,,, :D

I agree. Economics always plays a part for me too. Truman is a $50.00. Table Rock is 7 miles but stunk to high heaven last year. But at least it forces us to learn our local lakes a little better.

LOZ is only 40 miles away from me, but its through the backroad numered and lettered highways. Dont get very good mileage pullin the hills. Probably use 10 gallons of truck gas and 5 gallons of boat gas. I use premium in both @ 3.79 a gallon So yea thats 56.85 before I buy beer and ice!

I live close to nothing :( Any fishing trip is expensive. Wappapello is the closest at an hour and a half depending which boat ramp I use. Kinkaid in Illinois is about the same. Reelfoot is about two hours. Arkabutla, MS about three hours and Sardis about three and a half. But you can't take it with you so might as well enjoy it while you're here.

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Originally Posted by Speck

I live close to nothing :( Any fishing trip is expensive. Wappapello is the closest at an hour and a half depending which boat ramp I use. Kinkaid in Illinois is about the same. Reelfoot is about two hours. Arkabutla, MS about three hours and Sardis about three and a half. But you can't take it with you so might as well enjoy it while you're here.

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Those are some darn good lakes to be surrounded by.

Ya, just wish they were a little closer!

X10 speck!!!

If I can find the time and afford to get to the lake I can afford to fish. Yes Stockton is closer but I don't like the wind. Pomme de Terre has always been my home lake in my book. But I like Truman. Granted I am like everyone else the gas for the pickup is what kills me. I usually have to fill up after about every 200 miles or less driven. But I can't afford to have a little truck and a large truck. I use my pickup to pull a lot of heavy farm trailers. One thing about it I can fish out of my boat for 2 days on 12 gallons of gas!

I know what you mean, I have picked up 4 yards to mow to be able to afford to put gas in the truck and boat and go when I want.

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Originally Posted by N2Crappie

No sense being the richest guy in the cemetary.

Good Luck
N2

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Man, I sure like that quote. Made me laugh, about the only laugh I got to have today with the way my day has been.

I hear ya fellas on the gas/fuel issue. Filled up the Diesel this evening and it finally clicked off at $117.56. Then the boat takes just as much, actually more. But it's been almost a year since I've gotten to go and by god, My butt will be on the water in the morning. :)

N2crappie, like I said I really like that quote, but at the same time I certainly want to leave all I can for my daughter someday. Feel like me and my family live a pretty good life. We put in a lot of hours in a weeks time at work but it does provide some extra at the end of the week for me to play and the wife to, well I guess shop.

Hope you all can come out okay and be able to go to the lake financially.

I have the opposite problem,it costs me about .50 cents to get to my favorite spot,but work is about 90 miles round trip-

Originally Posted by N2Crappie
No sense being the richest guy in the cemetary.

Good Luck
N2
Yeh he who dies with the most toys, still dies.........

Listen to your hubby. He sounds like a smart man.
We have already told the kids that there will be nothing for em when we pass on. We plan on living till we have no say in the matter. GO FISHING.