3 Tips for Anglers on a Budget

It’s priceless to keep doing what we love, but we don’t necessarily have to drain our pockets in the process! There are loads of expenses when it comes to fishing: from the necessary heavy-duty machinery such as boats to the smallest tools such as baits, there’s always money to be spent.

Luckily, there are many ways to cut costs without cheaping out on the fun.

Use your tools wisely

Don’t throw away your lure just yet! And no, it’s not that that you shouldn’t clean up or throw “trash” where they’re supposed to be. It’s just that bait can actually be reused and have longer lifespans than you initially thought.

Just as Drew Cook from Bassmaster says, “a 6-inch worm doesn’t have to be 6 inches long.” It’s commonplace in the fishing community to throw away bait as soon as they manage to catch enough fish and get worn out. But simply cutting off the worn out parts could actually give new life to bait! It’s essentially the same bait that caught you tons of fish; just shorter.

But what if you didn’t need to buy bait at all? To save money, you can simply make use of the current resources you have available and catch your own live bait. If you already have a good cast net, try asking fellow fishermen where live bait thrives. Although artificial lures have their advantages, nothing beats good old live bait in the eyes of fish.

Simply taking it slow on your boat will also help you save some bucks. On top of slow boating being generally safer, running at slightly lower revolutions per minute (RPMs) will save you fuel money in the long run. After all, boats already burn more gas than cars as is. Why be careless with it? Ride slow, stay safe, and hold on to your hard-earned money.

Know where to spend your money

Naturally, some expenses are necessary. Can’t fish on an empty stomach, after all, but if you’ll grab yourself some food and beverages, make sure to do so from a grocery store. Because gas stations or convenience stores keep smaller inventories, they’re bound to have pricier items compared to your local supermarket.

But if you’re looking to save even further, shopping online is the way to go. Not only do you essentially cut costs by not having to travel, online stores also offer some good discounts that physical stores can’t. Your local tackle shop is still good, of course, but if you’re not in a hurry whatsoever, you could just wait for your tools to arrive at your doorstep.

Always be prepared

Speaking of not being in a hurry, simply being prepared for fishing trips is yet another way to up your thrifting game. If you leave while having forgotten some of your necessities, you’ll end up having to buy them somewhere else so as to not be forced to come back home for supplies. That’s money burned on already existing supplies.

It helps to brush up on your fishing gear maintenance, too. As they say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Or in this case, don’t buy it. To actually save money, you have to ensure that your purchases last long, and the best way to do that is by taking care of them.