Eastern Sierra Trout Anglers Could Suffer From Rising Gas Prices More Than Others On Fishmas Weekend

As the statewide trout opener beckons at the end of this month – we’ll post our trout preview stories from our April issue as the official opening weekend gets closer – America’s rising gas prices due to the war with Iran may hit even deeper for those trout anglers who head for the Eastern Sierra’s April 26 “Fishmas” weekend opener. Check out the pain the region is facing from the cost of filling the tank around Mono County, via CNN:

“My husband and I were watching the news this morning, and it came on about $4 gas and I said, ‘Well, where are you? Ours is $7.50!’” she said, citing the price at the only gas station in her town. The Mono County average was $6.72 as of Monday, according to AAA.

Like many rural counties across the country, Mono County faces rising gas prices from a higher cost to transport fuel there, limited demand and reduced competition. But it’s also located in the state with the most expensive gas in the nation due to a combination of taxes, fees, regulations and the closure of many local refineries. …

For Lear, she limits trips to the nearest grocery store 20 miles away to once a week. She uses a bicycle or golf cart instead of driving to check on the 42 vacation rentals she manages around town.

If she needs to refuel her hybrid Ford Explorer, she often will drive 120 miles to cross into Nevada where the gas was “only” $4.57 the last time she filled up. Still, the cost is the least of Lear’s worries. She’s concerned high gas prices will keep away the summer travelers that are crucial to her town’s economy.

Judging by President Donald Trump’s defiance over Iran the last couple days, the war seems far from over, so filling the tank might come with some sticker shock on Fishmas weeekend..