Until we finish the seasons on both the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series, we’ll wait to talk anymore about Jason Christie. Good Lord, can you believe that guy?

Anyway, let’s talk about something else that will really get the fire burning this week for bass fishermen across the country. That one topic that’s near and dear to all of our hearts, that we speak of each time we see each other at the boat ramp, and that we go to bed thinking about: gas prices.

Forgive me for not going into my theory on the price of gasoline in America. One thing I’m sure of: If you believe all the “reasons” we’re constantly fed about fluctuating prices, you need to stop drinking the water coming out of your sink. Refineries closing, refineries opening, storms, spills, trouble in the Middle East, China’s demand. Blah, blah, blah.

Ask yourself this: If gas prices had anything at all to do with supply levels, why is it that during the greatest oil spill of modern times (remember the BP fiasco in the Gulf?), gasoline prices actually dropped as a whole across the U.S.? Hmmm, I wonder …

In any case, bass fishermen are as guilty as anyone in the business of fuel consumption. We operate the largest outboards on the water, aboard boats offering monstrous gas tanks, all the while pulling them across the country with the biggest SUVs and pick-ups on the road.

In today’s modern era of 70-mph boats and expansive tournament venues, 100-mile-plus runs are not out of the question, and competitors in major events routinely burn several hundred dollars worth of fuel each day. In order to compete, anglers often pay monthly fuel bills as high as their mortgages. It’s easy to blame the millionaire oil executives who seemingly charge whatever they can get away with for their product. But, I argue, we ought to blame ourselves.

Like many of you, my first tournament boat was rigged with a 150-horsepower outboard. At the time, I thought the 19-footer was lightning fast, careening over the lake’s surface at over 60 mph. Back then, every boat had a 150, because that was the horsepower limit on the professional bass fishing tour at the time (B.A.S.S.), as well as the maximum size allowed in their Federation program and various other events.

As time went on and other tournament trails began allowing larger engines, most anglers stuck with a 150 because of the B.A.S.S. limit and the performance offered by that size motor on the then popular 18- to 19-foot boats. Sure, a few rebels bought 20-footers with 200s, but they were the minority. Guido Hibdon, Denny Brauer and Larry Nixon were fishing with 150s, so that size was fine with me and just about everyone involved.

As time went on, boats got larger and better built, opening up bigger bodies of water for tournament competition. And for a multitude of reasons dependent upon whom you ask (reminds me of gas prices), tournament trails increased their horsepower limits and most have now settled on 250. This, again, has created a demand for the maximum tournament horsepower class far beyond any other.

A case in point: How many 300-horsepower engines do you see today on the water? Sure, there’s a few here and there, but I’d wager that 250s outnumber them 10 to 1. Yet every major bass boat builder (Ranger, Skeeter, Triton, Nitro and BassCat) has a top-tiered boat with a horsepower rating of at least 300. So why is it that buyers routinely settle on a 250? Because many, or most, fish some type of tournament that has a limit of 250-horsepower, as do all of the FLW and B.A.S.S. circuits, and most organized team trails.

We’re creating the market here, folks. So why is it that we are so anxious to create one that requires purchasing $60,000 boats, burning gas at monster truck proportions?

I had the opportunity to run an aluminum Ranger for much of the spring, powered by a 60-horse four-stroke motor. My point is this: The boat fished nearly identical to my big glass boat, without any exaggeration.

Prior to spending some time in the rig, I thought the only justifiable use for such a boat was to run rapids or crawl through culverts. Not so – the boat was balanced, sipped fuel and didn’t change my vehicle’s MPG at all when trailering. Truthfully, I enjoyed fishing out of it more than a big glass boat for it’s ease of use and maneuverability. That, and putting 20 bucks in the tank was a lot nicer than dropping 50 each time.

Now I realize that a 17-foot aluminum is not going to run the length of Kentucky Lake or take you to the far reaches of Okeechobee, but maybe there’s a compromise. I hate to think this way, but maybe, now that gas prices seem to inevitably be leveling off at a much higher mark than the recent past, maybe boat and motor manufacturers will start to realize that selling functional rigs can outweigh selling the most excessive. Look at the auto market. What do you hear more buzz about right now, hot rods or hybrids?

In any case, the tournament trails will have to get on board from the onset. A few years ago, a large nationwide team trail (ABA) tried it with a 150 tour. Judging by the absence of any updates since 2010 on their website, I’m guessing it was an amazing flop. But why?

Are we ever going to wake up and see the forest for the trees?

(Joe Balog is the often outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)