Am I out of touch with modern fishing, or am I right that.....

[Slyster]

Here is my situation... (and a way of not letting myself get jelous of those beautiful boats!)

I would rather make less money yet have 3 full summer months off to fish every weekday in a 14' boat then work my butt off all year and have a Triton sitting in the garage.

But.. I would like both!

[hanson]

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This used to be an extremely friendly, open-minded group of people who were more interested in what's working to catch fish, where they're biting, and sometimes getting together than it has become. It's disappointing, and to be honest, I'm finding myself not checking things out as often as I used to. We need to lighten it back up a bit and remember the old motto... "WE HAVE MORE FUN"... not "Get hacked for whatever you say"

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Sounds like you need to check out the Catfish Forum here at FM. Thats how we roll man! Fun, Fun, more fun, sharing, helping, and having a good time doing it. We just had an awesome get-together on the MN River- BBQ, drinks, and fireworks too!

[papabear]

I personaly do not care what someone spends or has. Maybe he inherited it. But looking at the amount of debt the American public acumulates it makes me cringe just a little to see $30,000 boats and wonder if he/she is in hock beyond belief to afford it. Affording is not the same as buying.

As far as making $30,000 and living up north. Why do you assume everyone working up here makes less than those in the Metro area. We have just as many toys, acres, and debt as anyone else. Of course the cost of those acres are rising thanks to their popularity.

[Eckie]

Papabear ~

As a courtesy, you may want to re-read MnFish's entry again. Doesn't appear he was casting any judgements upon anyone.

" Some people choose choose to make $30,000 a year and live in the live in the outstate area and some choose to make $300,000 a year and live in the city in the city. neither one is any better than the other only one more than likely has more toys and the other more than likely has more acres. "

[Muddog]

I'm all for the exchange of money. It is what makes the country tick.

I keep trying to think of what the perfect fishing boat for what I do would be. A dream boat, so to speak. The boat that will get the lure to the fish the most efficint and effective ways posable. It is always the 16' tiller boat sitting on my drive way. I can work a sharp drop off in a way that the bigger boats couldn't possibly work. But that is fishing.

The other day I saw a 20' bass boat with a 200hp motor. Nothing funnie about that. I looked into the boat as I walked by, There I saw two rods. both had Zebco 404's on them. I'll leave it up to you if that is funnie or not.

[PerchJerker]

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both had Zebco 404's on them. I'll leave it up to you if that is funnie or not

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I usually have Batman and Princess fishing poles somewhere in my boat. I caught a dandy pike on the Princess pole earlier this year --- my kids were going nuts cheering me on, so were the people in 3 nearby boats I guess it was pretty funny

[channelfats]

I say if you want it, get it. Do what you have to do to afford it. I love fishing out of my friends pro-v, and another friends alaskan, but in my mind COMFORT and the BEST times, to ME, comes from MY OWN boat even if it only has 30 horses and 3 bench seats. Its kind of a spin off those people who will only [PoorWordUsage] on their own toilet, if thats what your comfortable with, thats just fine.

[JohnMickish]

Why did you assume I meant up north? I didn't specify any area of the state. I did say what I did because I grew up "outstate", and am very familiar with the pro/cons of living there along with the payscale.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

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I never could see why someone needed a large, fully rigged boat until I fished out of one. All I can say is it is incredible. I could never fault anyone for having a rig like that. I would if I could.

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Let me guess: single, works in the construction biz, & drives a decked-out F350. Envey

[Jim Hudson]

For some, having a boat like that was mentioned and all the bells and whistles attached are tools of the trade, sort of speak...

Depending on certain situations, certain bodies of waters, etc, etc. Each one of those tools might need to be incorporated to stay in touch with the fish. Be it on a calm day or a day with 3 to 6 footers. Your boat and each tool on your boat used seperately or combined can make a day or break a day.

I know of one guy that runs the exact set-up as described, and know others who have similar brand boats as big with the same tools. These people guide, tourney fish, etc etc. And if it werent for that boat and their tools, on marginal weather days with anything less, they would not be able to work.

But even so, when even a hardcore angler or the weekend warrior has that type of boat, I bet they rig that boat for the same ideas I listed as people who make a living on the water.

[Surface Tension]

All you men here should understand that, "He who dies with the most toys wins".

Live within your means and you won't envy someone with a boat payment.

And lastly, Judge not lest ye be judged.

[papabear]

Good thing we cant see what a lot of people take into the woods or we may be judgeing their choices of guns, or bows. unless of course you are duck huntig out of a yellow 22' Ranger.

[cold one sd]

I'm cool with the toys that I own and I think that is what matters most. I'm sure there are people that are envious of my toys and some that have better toys. What does it matter what the Joneses think?????

[harvey lee]

It doesnt unless you let it.

[cold one sd]

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It doesnt unless you let it.

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My .02 also.

[toughguy]

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What does it matter what the Joneses think?????

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But I hate the Joneses and I'll be darned if they have better dump than me.

The 2 best days of a boat owner's life: The day he buys it and the day he sells it.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Interesting. I've heard some guys are no longer getting into the sport because they think they need all that "stuff" to be successful.

Sounds like a nice setup to me. Sort of like having a trophy wife

[pfluemis]

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Funny you should bring this up. I had a similar mystifying experience a couple of weeks ago. It was odd that it had multiple different size gas engines and a trolling motor.

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I didn't even bring up the boat I seen later in the day. It was an older plain old Alumacraft 16' fishing boat with a 35hp main motor, 8hp kicker, and some type of giant electric trolling motor...all on the transom. True redneck boat. That boat had so much bow lift, it had to be down right scarry to drive against the wind.

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I've done this. My late father's S16 Lund (not a bow mount style boat) was rigged with a kicker motor mount bracket. He liked the idea of a spare when down-rigging on Lake Superior.

A few years ago I coughed out some cash for a cabin on Birch Lake near Ely. I used the S16 with a 25HP, 6HP kicker, and my trolling motor, all on the back. My brother had told me the 25 hp wasn't running well. I wasn't going to waste all that cash with engine trouble for three days, nor get stuck on the far side of that big lake with a family of five. The trolling motor came in handy when we switched to fishing crappies in the shallows...Sure, it was a little crowded back there.

A guy with 10 motors on his boat, might be the greatest guy in the world...and that's all that really matters.

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I've seen, first hand, rescuers die trying to save people who do things that they knew was unsafe. Senseless risk. Overloading a hull and risking safety is never worth the risk. Imagine for a moment, taking the over loaded boat out, having some sort of accident, then have a rescue person die trying to save you. Was it worth it??? Better yet, put yourself in their shoes. Go out and risk your life trying to save someone who did something they knew was unsafe.

[pfluemis]

Funny how the thread turned to $$$. The point wasn't really about money spent, it's about the excesses of modern fishing. Myself, I have 3 boats, each use specific. I have a 12' boat for rowing and using the e-trolling motor, if allowed, to fish restricted waters, a 16' full windsheild boat for general fishing, and a 21' CC boat for the "big" waters. I do like having the right tool for the job. I just don't see the point in overkill.

[BoxMN]

Haha, you gotta see the irony in this.... Fun thread to read though.

[PierBridge]

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I just don't see the point in overkill.

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That why we tried to explain to you that it's not over kill to have a boat with 2 trolling motors a kicker and a big main.

3 boats for you including a 21'er....LMAO.....

[Surface Tension]

Overkill?

I've got 8 watercraft if you count my 2 canoes, kayak, and Sunflower sailboat. And I love everyone of them.

Counting weed wackers, How many gas engines does everyone have? 20 here and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

[harvey lee]

The new boat I purchased this year has a few items that I really didnt have to have. The older boat always did the job. It is nice to purchase some newer items with a few extra's that one wouldn't have to have but that why one works.

To each his own when it comes to toy's. I could go hunting with 3 different guns but I own 18. Overkill yes, but I have a perfect gun for every hunting situation.