Seven Tips for Taking a Bucket List Fishing Trip in Times of Economic Uncertainty
If you’re like us, you’re constantly planning the next amazing fishing trip, or even one or two beyond that. It’s addictive to dream of the amazing destinations where we may someday wet a line. However, we’re also budget-conscious. Like many of you, we don’t have unlimited discretionary funds to spend on these trips, and we try to make every dollar go as far as possible.
That’s not necessarily easy in times of economic uncertainty. As you likely know, the stock market has taken a tumble lately. If you were invested in cryptocurrency you might even have suffered worse. Even if your investments and salary have remained stable, inflation is rampant. At the time of publication, gas is about $5 a gallon around here.
That makes many of you cut back on your luxury plans. You can cast blame wherever you want, but it won’t change the price tag. We’d never encourage you to be irresponsible with your spending (don’t empty out the kids’ college funds to pay for an epic marlin, trevally or taimen adventure), but we do encourage you to go places while you can – and while they’re still there to enjoy.
Here are seven tips to get the most bang for your buck when times are tougher than usual:
Go With the Guaranteed -- OK, obviously there are no guarantees in fishing. Even the best places at the best times have their “off” periods, sometimes for no reason at all. Nevertheless, stack the odds in your favor by going when it’s expected to be great. Don’t cut corners if it’s going to substantially hurt the likelihood that the fishing portion of your trip is a success.
Lock in Prices Now – Not surprisingly, lodges, outfitters and guides are feeling the pinch, too. Some have already informed us of price hikes or surcharges related to gas. Those that haven’t done so may take action in the near future. If you’re all but certain that you’re going to go, get those deposits in asap. Not only will it give you something to look forward to if and when bad news rains down on you, but it should provide a hedge against further rate hikes.
Favorable Exchange Rates – Looking for a bargain? Unfortunately, fewer of those exist, but if you’re an American you can travel to certain parts of the globe and then have your dollar go a long way — or a longer way than it did recently. Even if the fishing portion is charged at a “global” rate, the celebratory dinner and beers, and your first and your lodging charges might come in at a comparative discount.
Think People Power, Not Petrol – As I write this, gas is reaching historic highs across the globe. We’re struggling with it here in America, but it’s even worse in many other developed countries. There’s no doubt that certain operations – like those that troll for marlin, or operate float planes – are likely to raise your rates. Those that depend on drift boats, or wading on a home river, might not need to increase their rates as quickly or as steeply.
Go Where You Won’t Need New Gear – Most fishing trips have a “hidden tax” in the form of new gear that you’ll need or think you need. That could be specialized rods and reels, new lures, or even weather-specific clothing. One of the things we’ve liked about going to Alaska, Guatemala and Panama is that they had everything we needed (from waders to marlin teasers) so we didn’t have to spend a penny on tackle.
Play the Mileage Arbitrage – If you haven’t done it already, this is a good time to get into the mileage game. If you’re already in it, this might be a good time to use those accrued miles. Remember, they’re just a form of currency, and when airfares are low, the trade-off might not make sense, but assuming that fares go up and mileage redemption amounts do not, this may be a good time to use them, before they’re devalued further.
Watch for Cancellations and Specials – Unfortunately, if tough times persist, some potential travelers are going to have to back out of their plans. They may sacrifice deposits that leave bargain deals available for last minute travelers. Similarly, some lodges, outfitters and guides may need to offer special deals to keep their dance cards full. I never like to revel in someone else’s misfortune, but by staying on all of the outfitters’ and travel agents’ mailing lists, and remaining a little bit flexible, you might be able to do everyone a favor by jumping on the deal of a lifetime.
And don’t forget that there’s no shame in taking a year off, fishing around home, and focusing on keeping overall life goals in order. We’ll be on the road and in the air as much as possible, but we’re also going to be as wise as possible given our overwhelming wanderlust.
