I am so sorry to all of the people living in the wake of Katrina. I wish I could take away your pain. All that you have lost, I couldn’t ever imagine. I am afraid that all efforts to restore civility, are going to be more than expensive, but almost impossible. The gas shortage is involved into every aspect of the cleanup and maybe, rebuilding some of what was lost.
I believe that without the involvement of the entire nation, this will turn into years of suffering and depression. The American Red Cross, seems to be the best way to donate anything you can. I am going to start with 100.00 dollars that I really don’t have to spare, but feel compelled to help.
A few months ago, I wrote about the Article, “Gas me up”. Thinking half heartedly, that gas prices may effect tournament fishing. With the Gulf of Mexico coast destroyed, underwater, and a complete mess, I think our oil supply will tap into reserves, and I need to go fill up the boat with gas. I’ll finish when I get back.
Well it came true. I never thought it was coming to this, but we are going to have to think about how we use our boats in the future. Remember when, to “fill er up” was about $20-30 bucks? Well I hate to break the news to you but presently, the $75-100 fill up, is only going to last for a little while, It’s going to get worse! I predict that gas will eventually get to $5.00 bucks a gallon. No doubt in my mind.
Now, all tournament anglers will hope to win the big fish pool, just to pay for the gas that got you there. That’s if we can get to the tourney in the first place. I do not believe that we can continue to fish without having gas a major factor in the mix. Personally, I fish every single day. I usually fill up once a week, maybe twice. I have changed to a point, where I’ll pick apart the water more and use my trolling motor more, before I pull up and blast to another spot. Just to save some gas.
This is after BASS has increased entry fees to $5000.00 per tournament, with an entry cap at 100 Pros. OK the top 50 pays out to $10,000. But what about the rest? The same goes to FLW, where $100,000 will go to first, but $15000-$18000, goes to second place! We need better second place and up payout’s. This means that pro fishing has to be as big as NASCAR in order to pay the bills.
The rest are going to find part time jobs just to pay for the gas and get to, and fish the tournaments. I just don’t see some smaller sponsorships paying the bill for the rest of the anglers trying to stay on the pro tour, or trying to get in. We each need to either win the lottery, or have a rich relative!
I am hoping that we see more incentives for the other 50 anglers that have to come in knowing that they have the chance of loosing 5 grand. Otherwise we might not even see the field get to 100. Most smaller sponsors will not pay unless they are guaranteed to get some face time on the T. V.
Sometimes though, fishing a tournament can be the farthest thing from your mind, if you live among the thousands displaced by the storm. Please, let’s help them.
Scott Perratti
“The Rockin’ Angler”
scott.perratti@ultimatebass.com
