Average Walleye Fisherman????

[James]

In the Sunday paper, I read an article that states the average walleye fisherman

1. fished 51 days last year
2. spent $2,348 on fishing gear
3. Is 97% male,
4. 67% are between 25 & 54 years old
5. 85% own their own home
6 84% own either a truck, van or SUV.

I have 5 of the 6, if I could afford it, I probably would spend a bit more on fishing gear. How do you stack up.

[Mike]

If I have a truck and an SUV, does that mean I score a 7?

[Juls_WI]

well if I was a male...i would have made all 6 catagories..hahaha

Juls

[Ness]

Like Juls, I bombed on number 3. Hmmm, only 3%
are women???? Guess, that makes us special, Juls.
:-)

[Walter]

Yep, six for six.

[Den]

Geeze, i thought i would qualify easily for all of them, but seeing that i am over the average age , i guess that i am in the 3% too, all but one ain't all bad i guess. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Gilligan]

Well actually the bank still owns the house but the important things are paid for- the boat and truck.

[EJ]

5 out of 6, I think I fished more than 51 days. LOL

[Starfish]

Batting a thousand, but I have to admit most of my 51 fishing trips were chasing salmon and steelhead...

[cisco]

How can you be 97 percent male?

Besides, I never catch "average walleye."

["COMA"]

5 of 6 here. Last time I checked I was 100% male though. I think ? :-Þ

[JustLookN]

I hope I didnt spend that much again on tackle so 5 of 6

[mkebenn]

yep, thats me, but only 'cause I just bought an old boat, and counting all species. Mike

[Dan]

Batting 6 for 6 if you count the new kicker, the lowrance, and all my gear.
I thought I was above average, I'm just keeping up.
Oh well.

[erik]

I'm six for six if $250 a month for a boat payment counts as part of the $2400.

[Gary]

Well I'm 5 of 6. I don't know how to spend that much on tackle. I presume I'm 100% male(maybe you should clarify that part)

[Chris Koester]

2 through 6 don't mean much if you come up short on #1. :)

Chris

[Hans]

I don't know where that paper is published, but some of those numbers just don't seem real at all. I think the reporter needs to take a reality check.

51 days on the water AVERAGE? Not very likely.

Over 2 grand on fishing equipment on AVERAGE? Even less likely.

Those kind of numbers are are pretty hard-core for a working/family person, which most fishermen/fisherladies are.

Hans

--
"There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as simply messing about in boats." :-)

[Scott F.]

I would like to see the article you are refering to. What was the paper and date?

Thank you

[eyedoktr]

The $2348 seems high and the 51 days seems low. I probably spend less than $1000 and am not happy unless I get at least 100 days on the water. Generally, I get near 200 days fishing. Yup, I even work full time.

[FJH1]

Six for six.

Best Regards,

FJH

[Todd_NE]

I would bet the article referred to was in yesterday's Omaha World-Herald. The article showcased Reel Bait Tackle in Seward, NE., and its owner Al Patterson who has created a tackle company that does a great deal of business on the internet - upwards of 20 nations of clients. Without the benefit of looking back at the article, I think Mr. Patterson said this data was an "average" of his customers. Remember, are averages that useful - depends on what you want to use the data for.

Certainly most angling companies compile demographic data of this sort, I believe Mr. Patterson also referenced specific species differences for anglers and which markets are easier to enter. He made a strong case for his success through internet sales and eventually retail displays. I wish him well.

By the way, I suspect many of us spend a lot more $ on fishing than we realize. Lodging, food, subscriptions, time, vehicle choice, insurance, permits, equipment, phone bill, travel, etc. I sure wouldn't own a suburban if I didn't fish and hunt.

Todd

[twogun]

Since JAN. 1st. 2000 have spent more than 51 days fishing for walleye. Came off Mille Lacs went right to the river in FEB. 20th. in the boat (MN.) Have spent almost half the average walleye fishing budget. 43yrs. young all male. On my second owned house. ( sold 1st. in different state) Have fulltime 4x4 pickup and a SUV. I know i fish to much, if there is such a thing. Fishing is my release, it makes me feel rejuvenated and restores peace of mind. It brings me back to feeling youthful again. I will keep my walleye fishing 1st. in my life, it is more than average to me... Keep Crank'en

[eyewinder]

If you include boat payments (if you are making them), or divide cost (the difference between what you paid for the boat and what it bluebooks for) by number of years used, you may come closer to the above-mentioned average spent per year.

Good figurin'!
eyewinder

[TBO/MN]

Vanessa, you and Juls are very special, especially to those of us that frequent the chat site. :-)
The Big One

[Nate W.]

51 Days?!?!?!?!? I wish!

Even if you include the $600 I'll spend on my trip to Canada I'll short on making the "average" amount spent. I'll have to print this post and show my wife and my boss and tell them I'm being short-changed! I wonder how that will fly?

Seriously, 51 days on the water? Don't "average" walleye fishermen have jobs? I guess I'm an Average Walleye-Wannabe!

[Grampa_Joe]

51 days is probably a quarter of my fishing trips in a year. Open water anyway. I have a "real" job too. A very flexible one. I am not married, so that's no problem. My dog looks at me sourly now and then though. I know I am over $2,348/year though in fishing gear. Now lets talk gas/oil/food/lodging/etc. There's where the real money is spent.
I am 6 for 6. I feel like I have just been stereotyped!
-Joe

[ufda]

Missed 1,4 and maybe 3. I am 60 and have fished for 57 years, am not retired and live in AZ where it is difficult to fish 51 days a year. In a couple of years when I retire and come back to Minnesota in the summer...............! As for No. 3 I guess I must let my feminine sensitive side come through about 3% of the time :-)
ufda

[SUPERTROLLER]

I think some of us are more manly than the rest. I like to give it 110%. But that's just the way I am. Now if some of you wimps want to go around claiming to be 97% males that's okay , too. Go buy a bassboat and fish for easy bites on flat water. We're supposed to be walleye fisherman here. We're cut from a different cloth. A little tougher and not afraid of the elements. Resectful of Mother Nature's power and her beauty. If I let the weather dictate how much I'd fish I wouldn't make 51 days. I work 3 out of 5 weekends and think I just squeak past the 51 day limit. Don't come close to spending that much every year but my boat is paid for. (The above post is for those 97%'ers that don't know if they're all male or not- Please disregard if you do not have a sense of humor. Thank You.)

[cisco]

Seems to me that 97 percent male is as difficult as having 2.5 children (another "average" often cited). Does anyone really care? Tell me how to catch the "average walleye." About that I do care.

[Den]

I will second that TBO.

[eyeguy/mn]

Without a doubt!!!

[TIM-WIS]

WELL I WOULD HAVE MADE ALL 6 BUT I PAY ALAMONY (OR AS I CALL IT ALL THE MONEY) I DON'T OWN MY OWN HOME ANYMORE. TIM

[AquaMan]

Average? Who's average?

1 - Time? The wife and I differ on whats enough or how much I get to go...so for the sake of agument, lets assume it was not enough...hahaha.

2 - Spend? I did spend that kind of money when I was single and got started, but annually it is new line and replacement items for the most part. A new rod and a few reels every so often. Maybe $3-400 a year now. But food and beer is another story...Whoa!

3 - Sex? Yup, I like the women. I like to catch and release the females, too...

4 - Age? 18 till I die!

5 - House? Bank owns that.

6 - Truck? Wife drives that.

Guess I am 0 for 6...hmmmm. Maybe I ought to get a new hobby?


AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Nofish]

Well,

I would be 5 of 6, I think. I don't own my own home, so that makes 5 of 6.

However, I'd also like to think I am more than 97% Male. So I guess I am 4 of 6? Hmmm.;-)

Good luck.......R

[schaefer]

6 for 6 (7 for 6 if you count both a pickup and SUV) and I wish I only spent that much on fishing junk, not even counting boat payments. Good Fishing

[Weyes1]

That's about right. Got to fish a little more last year. This year I will probably average the same. 100% male last time I looked!
Good Fishing!

[chrism]

6 outta 6, and I still can't catch 'em! But I feel good knowing I'm not the only addict!

[Bo]

I'm 6 for 6. I guess that's why everyone always told me that I was just "an average boy."

[Ness]

Gee, guys thanks :-) (Blush) I think you are the greatest too. And I'm sure Juls feels the same way. How about it, Juls????

[EricCO]

I think I lost that much tackle last year!

I easily break the 51 days if throwing a crappie jig in my aquarium counts. Actually 51 days is only 1 day a week. If I didn't get to fish at least one day a week I would go postal. No wife, no kids...ahhh yes just me and the walleyes (if I could find them).

[Jan]

Well, I really bombed...I only got two. I enjoyed fishing so much I bought a resort on the lake and this year, not true of other years, I only fished about a dozen days. But I probably talk to 300,000 fisherman a year. Does that rate?

[Juls_WI]

Yep...I'm blushing too..;-) Thanks guys!!

Juls

[Eyez (SD)]

well, I only got 3. I fish about 175 days a year, I didn't spend that much (I hope), I checked with my wife, and I am %100 male, but I'm too young for that category. I don't own a house, but I do have a Jeep!

Eyez (SD)

[Melonbob(ON)]

hmmm....Well, I'm male, I'm 27, don't own a house, do own a truck, fished about 60 days last year and spent about 2000....so I'm pretty much average. Except for the house part...bought a boat instead!!!! lol

And Juls, Ness, you truly are a rare breed, and very special to all of us. (Whew, glad I found Melissa, those are not the greatest odds....lol)

[RickTK]

Didn't spend enough but I really have pretty much everything I need. The boat gets cluttered with too much stuff if you keep on buying. Unfortunatly I didn't fish enough, probably about half of the listed amount.

[MarbleEye's]

1. fished 51 days last year
Once a week, I would die if less than 3-4 times a week during summer. Have that one covered.
2. spent $2,348 on fishing gear
Do my Truck and Boat count? If not im dead in the water on this one
3. Is 97% male?
Im pretty sure im a hundred, so ill go with the odds and say yes.
4. 67% are between 25 & 54 years old
Does being a teen count?
5. 85% own their own home
I don't own the mississippi or any lakes around here, so thats a no.
6 84% own either a truck, van or SUV
Have the truck covered

Well i have a solid 3 and 2 1/2's (depending on your opinion) so id say im a young fisherman who needs to buy the mississippi!!
But im sure with a 6 lb 20 in largemouth so far this year i do OK as an "average" fisherman

[cisco]

Is that a 6 lb 20 inch "largemouth" walleye?

[MarbleEye's]

Yeah, its pretty ssad i had to settle for a 20 in, 6 lb largemouth bass =(. But its the biggest bass of my life so far and im pretty pleased with it. If the walleyes would bite on the mississippi around here i wouldnt be wasting my time with the bass, but the walleyes are somewhere and biting on something. So far there not where ive tried and not biting on my jig, but eventualy they should move up where im fishing.

[Dobblr_86]

Well Im 5 of the 6 too.....If I had more money too spend I would...Spent over $500 on Bass pro shop stuff this year alone. Imagin that...LOL

[smiley]

Well I missed out because of #3....but that's okay because I am 100 percent female! I do own an awesome truck that my husband wishes was his. I bought my OWN boat last summer and I have a beautiful home nesteled in the woods. I am very grateful.

smiley

[5_speed]

5 for 6 , i spent the money years ago and if you take care of it will last a long time,51 days is not enough, i like to fish alease 100 days a year,the includes icefishing when i'm laid off for the winter