When your hobby start to feel like a luxury

Gone fishing.

Fishing can be a really inexpensive hobby, but if you want to be competative or keep up with some of the newer tech and techniques, it gets expensive fast.

I got into this hobby/sport during the height of the pandemic, so I’m still fairly new to it. I’ve lost countless rigs, lures, and gear to the ocean while learning how to become a more efficient angler—but those lessons have been costly. I agree that fishing can be inexpensive, but kayak fishing can get pricey at the start. I had to convince my wife that buying a $3K kayak was better therapy than seeing a shrink.

****This isn’t intended to be political.**** I was listening to NPR this morning…

 

Thanhdam be careful what you say here you’ll be accused of trolling

I mainly listen to Canadian radio myself

About fishing being expensive it can be just as good without all the electronics and fancy gear etc. Or better IMO

There’s a guy on Marin coast goes out with nothing but a rod and a couple of lures, catches his food and comes in. Secret ingredient is he knows what he’s doing

Thanks for the heads up.

-Thanh

Didnt mean to sound serious there

Except the part about keeping your fishing simpler

My original gear was 1 stubby rod and reel and a few things to entice a fish

Now it's 2 rods + a net and gear to switch up btw trolling or jigging

Some kf the tackle is expensive but with the price of fish what it is

****This isn’t intended to be political.**** I was listening to NPR this morning…

 

NPR is not inherently political. They mention their sponsors when news is related to them and they actually have sources and facts to back up claims. They also redact and update when they make errors.

I think fishing (especially kayak fishing) has been steadily growing in popularity in the last few years, which in turn created a market response (increased prices). 

The beauty part of fishing is that there are countless ways to go fishing, and there are no wrong answers.  Keep it simple and just throw a worm on a hook looking for a trout or bluegill, or buy a million dollar boat and $100k+ in gear to go troll for tuna or marlin, or anything in between.  The only wrong answer is to sit at home when you could go outside and catch a fish.

Given I haven’t fished in 5 or 6 years maybe I’m in for some sticker shock? Good thing I didn’t toss what I have

Simple is better in so many ways not just less $. If I was starting w zero gear and fishing anything but salmon I’d get an ugly stick and a few things to tempt fish to bite

The ff’s gps radios etc aren’t necessary

NPR might be imperfect but there’s some great stuff there + they don’t sound like the RTLM has come to America

I agree that fishing can be very simple. I’ve been fishing since I was 10 years old, and the first rod I ever got was from my older sister—which I still have to this day. I’m 45 now and only got into kayak fishing during the pandemic. It saved me from falling into a deep depression, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The initial cost of the sport was more than I would normally allow myself to spend, but it was my therapy, so it was justified.

Part of the reason for the rising prices is kayak makers feel they must come out with something new and improved every year. Bigger, better with new bells and whistles. Some kayaks are mini bass boats now.

Gone fishing.

What I need to do