How much do you pay.....

[robodad]

There is no reason what so ever for the host to foot the entire bill to take some guys fishing, I think that most of you would agree, sure they will say crap like "Well I was going anyhow" or "Its my treat" Here is another one I hate, "It will all come out in the wash" but in reality it shouldn't be like that. I know that if I were to put up $50 per trip to help with all the expenses that I would be invited back. I know there is much more to owning a boat then gas to the launch and back home and some lunch, what about boat payment, and license for boat and trailer and insurance and oil changes and tuneups and tow rig expenses and launch fees and Sportco bills and Cabelas credit card bills and drift sock losing fees ( ) and gear lost and bait and internet research fees and, cleanup fees, and, and, and, and etc.........

Point is that those of us that get invited to go fishing need to contribute to the fund more and the host needs to communicate with those he/she takes out with them so this part of the trip isn't so uncomfortable. There is no such thing as too much when you have a good time, but there are cheapskates too so that's why I suggest an unwritten rule that we pay $50 upfront to go. Could be less depending in the host but it needs to be said !! 

Here is how I see it, If we gave $50 per trip (just using $50 as a figure, could be less or more depending) these guys would be much more willing to get the boat wet and wouldn't wonder at the end of the day if the folks he took out are going to help pay !!

Maybe that will make more room for those willing to pony up and eliminate the freeloaders !!

[jackelope]

you can see how you choose, but i won't be asking anybody for or expecting money from anybody that i invite to go fishing in my boat (that i used to own).
 i should qualify that by saying if i decide in my own little pea-brained head that you are a freeloader, i simply won't invite you again.
i will also add that it's a lot cheaper for me to take someone fishing now with my driftboat than it was with my bluewater...but money transfers to oar time now...bring your biceps with you on my boat 

[washingtonmuley]

Well said Robo.I agree with you 100%.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Wow good subject to be brought up. I read through it all and seen a lot of good ideas. I own a boat I have gassed it up when gas was 4+ a gallon and put 120.00 in tank and never got an offer from the person I took out fishing.

And I agree totally with Jackelope on this, maybe this time did not have the extra cash to contribute. But if at anytime I think they are a freeloader, they do not get asked again and I have had some ask me that i thought was a freeloader, go hey when we going fishing again. I tell them point blank as soon as I empty my tanks and you fill them up..

[cohoho]

I thought I posted something in response but it is gone...  Anyhow, I think I'm probably somewhere in the middle.  My thoughts, I like to go as much as possible, but reasonably can't go every weekend if it is going to cost me each trip from Seattle to the Columbia and back anywhere from $150-175 depending upon truck diesel, boat gas, bait, launch fees, etc... I'd be looking at $600-800 plus a month just to go myself fishing, not counting boat cost, up keep, the later of which I never ever would ask someone to even share in in a million years.  I'd sell my boat and quit fishing, if I didn't cut the cost of getting there into equal costs...  Since I like to go often and like meeting really cool people... I figure splitting the bill in equal ways to cover the cost.  If we got four guys gas and stuff would be about 40 bucks each.  This is, in no way linked to receiving monetary compensation for fishing or guiding as suggested previously.  I normally have the gear, rods and reels and terminal gear for everyone on the boat, I buy it in sets of four anyhow, so everything is the same...  I don't offer anything but four guys or girls   cutting cost to do something we each like doing.  Guiding is totally different, he is paying for his business license, his boat, his advertising, his gear, his bait, his time, his everything else and your meeting the guide at the dock, paying for expectations that he is the "EXPERT" and will put you on fish each and everytime, if he can't then he doesn't get repeat customers and slowly out of business or living on a shoe string budget...  Lord knows I don't get fish everytime but get repeat FRIENDS that like to go and give it a go as much as possible, too me that's what it is about.  All while keeping each of our cost down.  I can't imagine going fishing four or five times a month and paying guide fee, plus transportation cost to and from....  It would be in the ballpark of let's see, $1200 bucks a month just for fishing and haven't even eaten yet...  All the while on a an 8 hour set schedule for his time...

[rasbo]

no boat here but willing to pay to go fishing..hint hint well I do have a 12 footer but cant load or unload it yet

[robodad]

you can see how you choose, but i won't be asking anybody for or expecting money from anybody that i invite to go fishing in my boat (that i used to own).

If you would have invited me to go fishing with you would you have refused my $50 ??

I respect that you don't want to ask for or expect money from those you take fishing but we as those taking you up on the offer are clueless as to weather or not you want help with the expences so at least mention the fact that you don't want any money for going or at least communicate that you'll accept what ever I have to offer, this is why I mentioned the unwritten rule about giving the host a set amount per trip so no one feels the pressure of "Well are they going to pony up for the bills" or "Crap I wish I knew what he wanted for taking us out fishing" Like it or not these questions plague every fishing trip I go on because I don't want to be thought of as the "freeloader" nor do I want to insult the "host" by offering him/her money if they don't want it. There is nothing worse then offering someone money and having them refuse it, that is just akward and actually disrespectfull IMO

[popeshawnpaul]

You know, I don't mind a couple bucks for gas but I really don't expect it if I'm going fishing.  If it is someone that I like and we fish a lot I usually end up going with them and it all evens out I think in the end.  I know I owe Cohoho a few trips that will even us out but that makes it fun.  I do things he likes and vice versa.

[jackelope]

robo--with my current choice of fishing vessel, yes i would refuse $50.00. if we go a long ways to fish then maybe i would take $20.00 for gas money for the truck or lunch or something, but i wouldn't expect it.
with my powerboat that i had, if we had to stop to tank up before leaving, maybe through me a 20 or pay the launch fee, bring lunch or pops or something like that...but again thats just me. 

as the captain of the mighty lavro driftboat, i can't spend too much time fishing hard because i usually am the guy on the oars, so the offer to row a bit so i can fish would be the exchange for $$ for gas...but unless you know what yer doing, there will be spots where you just won't row the boat.

[robodad]

robo--with my current choice of fishing vessel, yes i would refuse $50.00. if we go a long ways to fish then maybe i would take $20.00 for gas money for the truck or lunch or something, but i wouldn't expect it.
with my powerboat that i had, if we had to stop to tank up before leaving, maybe through me a 20 or pay the launch fee, bring lunch or pops or something like that...but again thats just me. 

as the captain of the mighty lavro driftboat, i can't spend too much time fishing hard because i usually am the guy on the oars, so the offer to row a bit so i can fish would be the exchange for $$ for gas...but unless you know what yer doing, there will be spots where you just won't row the boat.

Well yeah I agree that everything I am saying is in direct correlation to the type of fishing you are doing of coarse. If it cost's more to do then it should cost more to go !!

Since you posted that you used to own a "bluewater" boat I posed my question in past tence just to make the point. I realize that some of you are willing to take folks out all the time and never ask for or expect a nickle but realistically not all you boat owners are like jackelope and made of money 

I'll trade you a trip down one of your rivers for a trip down the Hoh or Bogey, I'm not the most experienced rower but have taken my boat down some streches of the Sol-Duc too so maybe this winter sometime !!!  I could use the excersize !!

[klickman]

First off great topic.   

This is on my mind during fishing trips all the time.  I am actually on both ends every year.  I own my own boat.  I also fish out of my friends boats.  Unfortunatly they don't really like to out of my boat so I don't really trade trips. 

When I fish out of my friend's ocean boat I will either pay for the launch ($45) or give him $40 - $50 for gas.  I will also pick up a package of bait.  We use his gear for halibut.  So I think thats fair and my wife and I get invited back as much as we want. 

When I fish with my friend on the lower Kenai we use his power boat.  We use our own gear, I provide all the bait and we split the gas.  We take turns running the boat also.  Been doing this for the last 6 years. His house is like a second home in July.  My wife and I are there every weekend. 

When I take my own boat (aire raft) I don't ask for but I do expect some sort of help with gas and any other expenses.  I really do appreciate it when someone offers to row.  I love rowing but sometimes its nice for someone to help with the rowing.  When I get stuck rowing for someone and there isn't even an offer to row you'll never get to fish on my boat again.  If I wanted to row all day and not fish I'd be a guide, at least I'd get paid to not fish.  If you don't know how to row I'll probably decline the offer but at least there is the offer. 

If I take someone fishing and he doesn't put up any gas money he won't be asked again.  If some one does put in some money thats all I want. Just help out, and show a little appreciation.  I fish by my self a lot so I really don't mind not taking someone out because he's a freeloader.  I usually take my wife and daughter now so the freeloader factor isn't in play as much as it used to.   

If you are the guest on the trip you should split the bill evenly between all including the host.  My old landlord took a friend of mine fishing.  My friend drove both ways, 4.5 hrs each way, while my old landloard slept.  My friend bought all the gas for the truck and boat and he bought all the food and drinks.  The only thing my old landlord did was drive the boat.  Now that is a bunch of crap. 

My two cents

KLICKMAN

[klickman]

Here's the ultimate freeloader and I love every second of it.   

[jackelope]

klick...i was gonna try too that but the age mine is at and being mobile now, she has no patience for the kelty pack.

[klickman]

hahaha

Yep it was easy last year she was just a little ball.  This year she wants to run all over the place.  It will be totally different. 

Klickman

[TeacherMan]

If I'm taking someone I don't expect anything, especially if I invited them. I will usually pay for all the gas in the boat or the truck if I go with someone. Or I will pay for everything one trip and not the next. Some days I will pick up all the food, drinks, bait, and any extras... Depends on who it is also, tuff question.