Labor Day On The Lake, Even With High Gas Prices

Lexington, SC (WOLO)–  Gas prices are a little steep right now but the Department of Natural Resources says that may not stop people from getting out on the water on the last unofficial holiday of summer.

“We’re going fishing, maybe a barbeque, what not,” Josh Karshner said, a fisher ready to hit the water. 

“So we got some bucktails, going to try those out, and some pencil gigs for some top water fishing,” Matt Westbrooks said after coming out of the bait shop with his wife and two kids. 

Everyone is enjoying everything you are supposed to on Labor Day, except maybe not the gas prices. According to Gas Buddy, the average cost of gas in the Columbia, Lexington area is about $2.49. Compare that to last week, that is a jump of about 40 cents.  Last year around Labor Day people were paying $1.94 for gas but the DNR says that is not deterring boaters a bit.

“I don’t know if it really has, just because I think this is generally the unofficial end of the summer, there’s a lot of people talk to it, and they’re probably going to come out no matter what today. So I don’t notice that big of an effect. We still have a pretty good crowd,” 1st Sgt. Hunter Robinson said, with the DNR.  

“Even if gas were $5 a gallon, people would pay to get on the lake, pay to drive anywhere… Can’t let things like that hold you back,” Karshner said. 

“Either way we were going to get on the water today,” Westbrooks said. 

No matter what you are doing out on the lake, the DNR says to make sure you are safe by having all the personal floatation devices you need, registration, and a safe way to get your boat home.

“We always recommend you have a designated driver. It’s not against the law to operate a boat while drinking, but we discourage it. And you can’t be impaired to operate the boat. So the easiest thing is to get a designated driver, then you don’t have to worry about it,” Robinson said. 

Law enforcement encourages having a sober ride on the water and on the roads.