Everyone enjoys fishing when the fish are biting. One of the greatest thrills on earth is feeling a giant fish tugging on your line. What many people fail to realize is that fishing can be rather expensive. If you are wanting to save a few bucks, you need to know some basic things to get by. If you really want to be frugal and enjoy the entire fishing season, the biggest rule is to be sure to purchase your fishing license before your pole ever hits the water. Yes, it does cost a bit of money to get your fishing license, but the fee to the DNR for not having it is a much higher cost. This basic step is the biggest one to save cash fishing. Here are several other ways to save money while fishing:
Frugal Fishing Tips
Stop Buying Bait
Bait isn’t that expensive at the store, but you can save money by bringing your own. Catch nightcrawlers after a good heavy rain. All you need to do is shine your light on the ground and you will see them coming out to get dry. Store your night crawlers in a tin filled with moist dark soil.
Some fish even enjoy vegetables. Bring some corn from the garden and bait your hook with a few kernels at a time.
Instead of getting upset with pesky insects, use them for bait. Instead of using a bobber you just let the bug sit on the top of the water. When it is gone, you often will have a fish on the end of the line.
Invest in quality fishing equipment
Like most hobbies you certainly get what you pay for. Nowhere is this more true than in the fishing industry. If you buy a cheapo pole and lures, you will get poor results. In fact, you will probably spend most of your fishing trip unravelling your mass of fishing line that is tangled up in your reel. Spend a few bucks and get a good rod and reel. The investment will pay off in fun and fish.
Skip the Motor
In most cases you can take a boat out without a motor and it won’t cost you a dime. States don’t usually require boats to be registered unless that have a motor. Even if they do have a motor, some sizes are too small to have to be registered. Find out what your state requirements are and come in under them.
Many fish like to stay near the shores in the weeds that grow there, so you don’t really need a motor to get to a good fishing spot. No motor means no gas money as well. You just drop the boat in the water, load up the supplies and get to fishing!
Bank fishing and pier fishing are also quite good as options when you are trying to save some money. When fishing a pond, for example, you will generally have a better result by fishing the banks anyway.
Fishing frugally is really about knowing where to spend your cash. Invest in quality equipment, cultivate your own bait sources or use quality lures and be sure to keep your documentation current. If you do these things, you will fish efficiently and on the cheap.
More Fun Day Trips for Kids
Tips for Visiting a Pick Your Own Farm
Tips for Visiting a Botanical Garden with Kids
You can find more ideas for frugal summer fun for kids here as we share a new frugal summer activity for kids each day for 100 days!
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