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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Just out of curiosity, what is the avg. yearly income of muskie fishermen? (Net, not gross) It seems that everywhere I turn, someone is always getting a new rod,reel, 20 lures, electronics, boat....
I figured this would be the easiest way to figure out an average without doing too much personal prying since you can do a poll anonymously. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Are you looking for the fisherman's personal income or his household income? |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I'm retired I just have outgo and I don't want to calculate it because I might scare myself |
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Posts: 619
| I am guessing most are broke d1cks ... most guys w/ money are chasing hot chicks, taking real vacations, ride big pleasure boats, etc. rather than casting lures all day. Overall, i would say the muskie crowd is fairly blue collar |
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Posts: 8781
| It takes a fair amount of money to have 300 lures at $20+each, 6 combos @$500, a $50k truck and a $60k boat.... Not that everybody is running new rangers, but muskie fishing ain't cheap. Golf is a whole lot less expensive than muskie fishing when you get down to it. I'm reminded of a comment from one of the Badfish videos, when Mark mentioned that he could eat lobster every night for the money that gets spent on hunting and chasing muskies...
Not to say that muskie anglers are rich, but I'd bet the serious ones would live in houses that are twice the size of not for muskie fishing... |
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Posts: 2024
| I like this thread! I have wondered about this topic. I agree, it is a very expensive sport. I am just starting out and have spent close to $2500 on 3 rod/reels, over 60 lures and all the equipment/tackle. Luckily, there is a lot of used gear and used baits available. Plus, you can also get good quality products from TI and other places for much cheaper than the big brand names. I can't imagine what I would spend if I lived by musky waters! Luckily I am single now, as my ex was not an outdoors friendly woman, nor a fan of spending money any way she didn't see fit. However, my daughter thinks I am nuts for "my strange addiction". Maybe a couple of you big-time fisherman can have an episode on that show. I will volunteer to come clean out your storage and work rooms...
Personally, I would be considered a white collared redneck... I grew up in northern MN hunting etc. Now I live in the city and don't get to much. I know many blue collared guys, in AR and MN, who make a better living than I and live in nice houses, but still hunt and fish all the time. They don't do the vacations and going out to eat all the time. I also know several guys who live in modest homes so they can have more money to use for their outdoors fun. I guess it comes down to how you prioritize the things you want to do in life. I am self-employed and make a decent living, but cannot afford a boat. I have to travel for musky fishing and the first thing I look for is a training in the area so I can write off part of the trip. I have also saved some money by using my credit card for almost all purchases throughout the year. Get a credit card that builds up points that you can redeem for cash-back when fishing season rolls around. It adds up throughout the year and can pay for some new gear. Just make sure to pay your balance each month... I'm pretty sure that after my daughter is out of school and finishes college I will be buying a very nice fishing boat though. If she decides not to go to college, maybe I will threaten her to buy a boat with her college fund... |
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Posts: 55
| I'm so poor, I can't pay ATTENTION!! |
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Posts: 1287
Location: WI | I make close to 30k. I live as cheaply as possible, don't pay retail on new equipment if I can help it...deals are out there! My hundreds of lures were acquired over the past 18 years. I would imagine money comes more into play on big water (bigger boats), and people who live farther away from the lake. Gas is expensive, but I have 2 boat launches within a mile of home so my towing cost is low. Fancy boats are nice, but alot of guys do just fine in a 16' aluminum rig with a 25-40hp. |
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I make an average income (according to this poll so far!). And even then, it's still a struggle to make ends meet sometimes. I do concrete construction which has its seasonal busy times, so there are times where my paycheck might be twice the amount in July than in Feb.
There are a decent amount of votes that are over 250k/yr... I don't know what I'd do with that kind of money! Even 150k divides out to $12,500 per month. What's the average mortgage? $1,200/month? For a 3/4 million dollar home, 5k/month? You would still have over 7 grand left. Dang.... My boat is paid for. It's nothing fancy, but I share it with a brother of mine. We just took over payments from my parents 10 yrs ago, and it's been paid off for 6 yrs now. But even with that, just my mortgage, car payment, grocery bill, and utilities, and older credit card debt make it difficult to save any money.
I just find it amazing how much diversity there is. I find that spending $100 at the Chicago show is splurging. Actually, it's more than splurging -- it's living extravagantly. One of these days, I hope to be one of those guys who doesn't have to worry if he's going to be able to make all his payments that month. To those who are one of those guys - congrats! It takes some hard work, and great money management skills to get a high paying job. I'm sure you deserve it. |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | I have a small pension from retirement,Social Security and can only make 15,200.00 income on top of the other two this year.Last year I did 162 muskie charters along with the retirement pension and just got by last year,no extra funds.This year I can only do 35 muskie charters and not loose Social Security funds.My arms should bulk up,more casting this year then trolling. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | JimtenHaaf - 1/11/2013 4:15 AM
I make an average income (according to this poll so far!). And even then, it's still a struggle to make ends meet sometimes. I do concrete construction which has its seasonal busy times, so there are times where my paycheck might be twice the amount in July than in Feb.
There are a decent amount of votes that are over 250k/yr... I don't know what I'd do with that kind of money! Even 150k divides out to $12,500 per month. What's the average mortgage? $1,200/month? For a 3/4 million dollar home, 5k/month? You would still have over 7 grand left. Dang.... My boat is paid for. It's nothing fancy, but I share it with a brother of mine. We just took over payments from my parents 10 yrs ago, and it's been paid off for 6 yrs now. But even with that, just my mortgage, car payment, grocery bill, and utilities, and older credit card debt make it difficult to save any money.
I just find it amazing how much diversity there is. I find that spending $100 at the Chicago show is splurging. Actually, it's more than splurging -- it's living extravagantly. One of these days, I hope to be one of those guys who doesn't have to worry if he's going to be able to make all his payments that month. To those who are one of those guys - congrats! It takes some hard work, and great money management skills to get a high paying job. I'm sure you deserve it.
Jim, when you make that much your total tax bill (fed, state, property, etc) is 50%+ so there's not nearly as much left over as you think.
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Posts: 1141
Location: NorthCentral WI | K.I.S.S.
I know a couple guys that fish together. They have less than 30 lures combined, most of which are much older and much smaller than most of the stuff we're using. They fish out of a 14' aluminum V-hull, I believe the longest rod is 7' and paired up with a vintage Abu. AND they catch more fish than most.
It's definitely easy to drop a lot of money on this sport but don't think you have to in order to have success. The latest tackle and equipment doesn't mean you'll catch more fish. Spend your money actually getting out and going fishing. The average guy would never be able to keep up with all the latest gear anyways. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Compared to some hobbies far more popular, muskie fishing is pretty cheap. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Spending money dosen't buy success. One of my early mentors long dead now owned a 14foot tin boat with a 9.9 and a clamp on rear mounted trolling motor. He insisted on the back of the boat. He had no depth finder but could hand draw a contour map of the lake that is much more accurate than the one currently available from the OMNR. He only owned about 8 lures and I don't remember any that wern't black. I would put his catches up against anybody's.
It's too bad I didn't strive to be more like him because in the past 30 years I've spent enough to by 2 or 3 new trucks. |
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Posts: 1036
| I don't know that I ever enjoyed muskie fishing more than when I was a kid.
I had a well used 14 foot Lund with a 6 horse motor and a transom 12 volt trolling motor that I rarely used.
I had two Mepps bucktails (Giant Killers), one beatup black Suick and a Tallywacker.
Rod was a $20 garage sale special with a Lew Childre reel. Still have that setup and it works great.
And all the time in the world. I could fish all day without a care in the world and dang, did I catch fish and see big fish!
Now I have an 18 foot Ranger with a 150 optimax. 24 volt Terrova on the front. GPS locator. 500 or so baits. No fewer than 10 rods with different expensive reels.
And very little time.
I don't know that I've ever been more frustrated fishing muskies than I am right now. When you only get one outing a week for 6 hours and the wind is howling out of the east?.....just isn't fair.
Which tells me, this sport still boils down to time on the water. |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | Not bad considering you can fish in South America for 35 days !
LarryJones - 1/11/2013 6:42 AM
I have a small pension from retirement,Social Security and can only make 15,200.00 income on top of the other two this year.Last year I did 162 muskie charters along with the retirement pension and just got by last year,no extra funds.This year I can only do 35 muskie charters and not loose Social Security funds.My arms should bulk up,more casting this year then trolling. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | lotsa mortgages, err boat and truck loans with nothing but interest being paid in this sport |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | dfkiii - 1/11/2013 9:17 AM
Not bad considering you can fish in South America for 35 days !
LarryJones - 1/11/2013 6:42 AM
I have a small pension from retirement,Social Security and can only make 15,200.00 income on top of the other two this year.Last year I did 162 muskie charters along with the retirement pension and just got by last year,no extra funds.This year I can only do 35 muskie charters and not loose Social Security funds.My arms should bulk up,more casting this year then trolling.
Yes I get to fish in Guyana South America,but after my airfare from Buffalo,NY return,the rainforest guide trip expenes with all the logistics & costs and spliting profits with my partner,not much left there either.The gig works because my partner is my brother inlaw and I save on food & lodging expenes between guide trips,but everything down there in Guyana costs much more then in the U.S.A..Price of gasoline is over $6.00+ u.s. per gallon,one rainforest fishing trip requires 150 gallons carried in using three 55 gallon drums,11 hours through jungle trails,4 hours up river by boat.All food and Ice must be carried in,along with 3 boats,captian for each boat,etc..
Edited by LarryJones 1/11/2013 10:06 AM
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | LarryJones - 1/11/2013 9:52 AM
dfkiii - 1/11/2013 9:17 AM
Not bad considering you can fish in South America for 35 days !
LarryJones - 1/11/2013 6:42 AM
I have a small pension from retirement,Social Security and can only make 15,200.00 income on top of the other two this year.Last year I did 162 muskie charters along with the retirement pension and just got by last year,no extra funds.This year I can only do 35 muskie charters and not loose Social Security funds.My arms should bulk up,more casting this year then trolling.
Yes I get to fish in Guyana South America,but after my airfare from Buffalo,NY return,the rainforest guide trip expenes with all the logistics & costs and spliting profits with my partner,not much left there either.
Larry, if I got to take a trip like that I would be saying the same thing! 
Musky fishing may tend to be a sport that attracts those with a little more money. Big boats, big rods, big baits. Those all tend to add up a little. However, I've seen a handful of guys with a 14' jon boat, a rod or two, and a 5 gallon bucket with a small handfull of baits in it. Lots of us spend a lot of money on musky fishing but that's our choice. You could get into musky fishing for a couple thousand dollars (including boat) and not spend much more on the sport besides gas and maybe a $20 bait here and there when one wears out.
I would consider myself pretty middle class income wise, and my equipment reflects it. I have a '96 truck with 130K miles that's in pretty good shape, a 2001 Alumacraft Navigator that is paid off and been working well for me for 6 years or so. I try to spend less than $250 on a rod/reel combo and keep them around as long as possible. I don't have the best of anything but everything I have is dependable and works. Looking at the poll, I would guess a lot of guys are similar to my situation.
Tucker |
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Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | I've fished on a few different budgets and it doesn't make a #*^@ bit of difference. Nothing, and I mean nothing can replace time on the water.
If you want to be a better fisherman, you don't need a new boat, rod, reels, lures, electronics. The best investment you can make is your time.
Chris |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | I wish I was in anything but the lowest bracket. U of M grad looking for work! |
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Posts: 619
| Kirby Budrow - 1/11/2013 10:33 AM
I wish I was in anything but the lowest bracket. U of M grad looking for work!
You will. First step would getting out of Grand Rapids and to a larger city. |
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Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | That's a tough sell |
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| Kirby Budrow - 1/11/2013 11:17 AM
That's a tough sell :)
If you don't want to go to the jobs you typically need to create your own wealth or learn to live with less. BR |
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Posts: 1220
| I did it the old fashioned way, I went to work for my pa and then waited until he passed away! Then bought a boat! |
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Location: MN | Kirby Budrow - 1/11/2013 11:17 AM
That's a tough sell :)
I understand your position. Born & raised in northern MN, left after college for work in the Twin Cities. There are many great things about the Twin Cities but I miss the north. |
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Posts: 613
Location: Michigan | There are a couple other things that should really go into this poll, but that would be too difficult probably. Age, marital status, kids, etc all play a big part in how someone spends his or her money. My brother has a TON of lures, including a lot of collectibles, which he will never fish as he just likes to admire them. He doesn't make a ton of money as he is just a teacher, but he is single, has no kids, and rents a house with friends, so he has a good amount of disposable income to spend on lures, rods, reels, etc. |
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Posts: 2015
| Flambeauski - 1/11/2013 8:56 AM
Compared to some hobbies far more popular, muskie fishing is pretty cheap.
I know a lot of guys spending way over 2K a year chasing muskies...I don't know anyone who goes to the movie theater 170 times a year.....if you are serious about fishing muskies its not cheap! Especially for us that require travel to decent water..
5 most popular hobbies (one study):
1)Reading
2)Watching TV
3)Family Time
4)Going to Movies
5)Fishing
Edited by IAJustin 1/11/2013 1:02 PM
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Posts: 619
| Kirby Budrow - 1/11/2013 11:17 AM
That's a tough sell :)
There are some decent work from home jobs or telecommute positions out there too. |
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Posts: 94
| I have to agree that time on the water is the most important factor!
One of my best Lake of the Woods trips was many years ago when I hauled my 25HP Evinrude in the back of a van 900 miles to Sabaskong. I also brought a 12v Shakespeare WonderTroll to clamp on the back of the rowboat which I rented at a local camp. No depth finder, but a good lake map.
I casted from the rear corner of the boat so I could steer the trolling motor between casts. It was actually a pretty good vantage point to see follows. My best baits that trip were homemade bucktails. Hmmm . . . I need to start building those baits again.
I still use a similar set-up on a few very small muskie lakes; it still works. - Kevin |
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