You may know that fishing is one of the most popular outdoor sports in the United States, but did you know that it’s also one of the most expensive? In fact, fishing is the sport with the highest inflation-to-ticket prices ratio in the United States. Why is fishing so expensive? And how is it that fishing caught on a rod and reel is considered a luxury sport, while deep-sea fishing and fly-fishing are considered more affordable options? Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
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Inflation-To-Ticket Prices
The cost of fishing doesn’t fluctuate much from year to year, which makes it one of the most susceptible sports to inflation. During high-inflation periods, such as the late 1970s and early 1980s, the cost of fishing equipment and participation increased significantly. The price of gasoline also increased significantly during this time, which made it more affordable to drive to your favorite fishing hole. When inflation is taken into consideration, the cost of fishing in 2018 is significantly higher than the cost of fishing in 2008, which in turn is significantly higher than the cost of fishing in 2002. This scenario is similar for other luxury sports; the cost of tennis, golf, and yachting have all increased significantly since 2002. So, if you want to fish but can’t afford the luxury of a cruise, you may want to consider alternatives such as fly fishing and deep sea fishing. Fly fishing doesn’t require expensive fishing equipment and isn’t particularly susceptible to inflation, while deep sea fishing doesn’t require expensive boats and involves some of the most reputable fishing brands in the world. When comparing the overall costs of these two sports, you’ll see that it’s significantly cheaper to fish on a lake or pond than it is to fish off the coast of a continent.
Fishing Rental
According to the 2018 Parks Canada Recreation Survey, over 80% of Canadians enjoy spending time outdoors, but only 19% of these people reported that they spent money on activities such as fishing. Given the increasing popularity of fishing, it’s no surprise that more and more fishermen are looking for ways to make their sport more affordable. One way is to rent fishing equipment instead of buying it yourself. Additionally, you can get an insight into the kind of fish that are biting by looking at online fishing reports, which can help you predict when and where fish are most active. This allows you to tailor your fishing trips to higher and lower cost areas based on your time constraints and wallet strings. Think about all the money you would have to spend on gasoline if you were to drive your own car to the fishing hole? Consider instead renting a boat for the day – especially if you want to fish off the coast of a continent, where renting a boat is significantly cheaper than taking your own car. If you want to catch a certain fish species, you can also look for locals who are willing to sell you some of their fish – which is a great way to get hooked on fishing all over again even if you’ve been fishing for years!
Fishing Gear
Although fishing is a timeless sport with a rich history, it’s interesting to note that the gear used for fishing changes almost as often as the seasons change. In the 1960s, people mainly used smaller rods and simple fishing hooks, while the big-game fish were mostly caught by hand before being refrigerated and preserved in ice-houses. The invention of the bobber, which is a weighted sphere that you connect to a fishing line, changed fishing forever. Even then, modern fishing gear consisted of mostly of wooden poles, braids of sweetgrass, and a few other simple, one-use items. Today, people fish with a wide variety of tools – from the simple to the complex. The fishing rod and reel are two components that continue to appear in almost all fishing scenes because they’re so essential to the sport. However, other modern fishing gear, such as the light, adjustable fishing pole, continue to get more and more expensive as the demand increases. It’s important to note that the majority of fishing gear is completely reusable, which makes it significantly cheaper to invest in than most other luxury sports, such as skiing and golfing. If you take good care of your fishing gear, it will last you a lifetime and allow you to participate in this exciting sport whenever you feel like it. If you want to learn more, just visit our reputable manufacturers’ websites or contact our specialists today!
The Luxury Of A Rod And Reel
It’s no secret that fishing is one of the most popular outdoor sports in the United States. For decades, fishing was seen as a working-class pastime, reserved only for people who couldn’t afford other outdoor sports. It was only in the last couple decades that fishing started becoming a bit more luxurious – at least, in terms of the equipment required to participate. Before that, people mainly used wooden poles and simple fishing hooks, with only a handful of people using electric fishing lines and gear. In fact, until the 1960s, most fishing was done from a boat, and only the very wealthy could afford to rent one. Even then, most boats were only a few feet in length, which made it affordable for almost anyone to join in the fun. These days, getting up to the boat is no longer an option for most people, especially since boat docks and marinas have also increased in cost. Luckily, there are alternative ways to enjoy fishing – including the option of fishing from an area that is easily accessible from the shore. This keeps the expense of getting into the water down, since there’s no need to bring your own boat. If you plan to fish off the coast of a continent, consider flying or driving to a nearby island where there are boat options for rent – or at least, where there are people who know how to catch the fish. If you want to catch a specific fish species, you can ask fishermen who live in the area about when and where they usually catch it so that you can plan your fishing trip around this information. This is how fishing evolved from a working-class sport to a luxury pastime – at least, in terms of the equipment required to participate.