Superstions? 2025
little_stephen reply :
Im just curious if u guys have any superstions that keep u in line for fishing!?
ive found that each year i organize my tackle once a month all thru the winter, i feel like i wont be well enough familiarized with my tackle when the season starts if i dont!?
(ironically i barely use all of it and by the end of the fall its a mess again!)
so lets see whos a believer in superstions and who isnt?!
ilovefooffur reply :
No superstition here. I just use my favorite bait and hope for the best.
dead eye reply :
Sad to say but yes, I have certain hats for tournaments. I break them in pre fishing.
Paul Roberts reply :
I worked in a large tackle shop for few years. I got to see angler's buying habits and sometimes it was pretty interesting. The most common superstition surrounded lure color.
Some would want something very particular, and that made no rational sense.
Do you have the lime green tear-drop, with the orange-red spot?
I'd pull out five large trays of tear-drops (tiny ice fishing lures) in literally a 100 paint schemes. Looks like we're out of that one, but it looks we do have lime green with the pinkish-red spot.
Nope. And the guy wouldn't buy it. It had to be the exact thing he caught that big mess of perch on. Mind you that he had been fishing 20 feet down through a 6-inch hole into 18-inches of snow-packed ice conditions of complete darkness! I came to realize that, for many anglers, lure color choice had little to do with fish and the environments they live in.
One night a guy came in and spent a long time just staring at the huge variety of color patterns offered by the manufacturer of one popular trolling spoon, all hung across a wall in front of him. He finally picked something then, on ringing out, said, How do you choose? How do you know?
And I off-handedly replied, Oh, the State Fisheries Department imprints the fish with certain colors before they leave the hatchery. Then the lure manufacturers know what color patterns to make.
The guy looked at me, and said, Really??
I said, Nah.
A chuckle went through the shop, but the guy didn't laugh.
Ooops, I thought. I certainly intended to include that customer in my joke. But, I realized in some people's mind, almost anything MIGHT be possible. The truth is, not everything is possible. But much about water and fish are true mysteries, and myths and superstition may fill the voids.
I TRY to refuse superstitions. Realizing how important concentration is in fishing, I try not to get distracted by nagging half beliefs especially negative ones. But in general, I put on my skeptics hat, grit my teeth, and refuse to let the exact color, chipped paint, eyes/spots, or a myriad others things of little importance, distract me from finding and catching fish.
That said LOL I just spent the last week, tweaking my crankbaitts: important stuff like hook sharpening or changing, and fine-tuning, but some less important stuff too likealtering the color/finish on some cranks to look more like the bluegills that live in my ponds! I get a charge out of doing it, but realize that a plug is NOT a bluegill, and is hard pressed to mimic one, except under right, and rare, conditions. My detailing is mostly just pleasing artwork, and I must admit it dips a bit into the superstitious the hopefulness that adds a tiny spark of motivation or enthusiasm to my fishing. I suppose that's the crux of it.
So I guess there are positive superstitions too -like lucky fishing hats, or CBs tinted like "real" bluegills. But I'm just careful not to let such things, especially negative ones, become more important than they really are. If I forgot my luck hat, or the paint chipped off my highly detailed crank, I'm gonna grit my teeth and put my mind where it'll do the most good, instead of fretting about it.
little_stephen reply :
QuoteI'd pull out five large trays of tear-drops (tiny ice fishing lures) in literally a 100 paint schemes. Looks like we're out of that one, but it looks we do have lime green with the pinkish-red spot.
HAHA!!!!!!!! i go with whatever catches the fish! lol its all about realizing whats just dumb luck and whats really important!
Sam reply :
Growing up in south Louisiana we had lots of superstitions, but none for fishing.
Grandmother was a Cajun lady who always had superstitions.
Only one I know of regarding bass fishing is that you are not to have a banana in your boat. 
swilly78 reply :
I always drop a pinch of Copenhagen into the lake Im fishing as a silly little "sacrifice". Its goofy, but its the first thing I do when I go fishing for the day.
EastTexasBassin reply :
I don't like to catch a bass on the first cast. So many times, it resulted in that bass being the only one for the day.
I don't know if this is a superstition, really, but it seems that leaving the camera and/or net behind is a sure way to hook your biggest bass of the year.
Eternal Angler reply :
Hmmm, I don't have anything too big.
I usually change my fishing line every three months.
Make sure I don't touch the bait.
I definitely organize my tackle box every year.
These are probably good pointers, not superstitions 
Fishes in trees reply :
I'm not a big fan of yellow. I never, ever, wear a yellow shirt. Should a buddy have a yellow hat, I'll offer a spare hat of another color. I don't like yellow in my boat. No fish yellow.
Fishing Rhino reply :
No superstitions here.
I don't consider your monthly routine to be a superstition. Although, it has been said that luck is sometimes the result of good preparation. Or, the harder I work, the luckier I get.
It also eliminates much of what we would attribute to "bad luck", such as a line breaking because we didn't check the line for nicks and abrasion after landing the last fish.
Being organized makes you more efficient. That should result in catching more fish.
fishfordollars reply :
No bananas in the boat
No fish on the first cast
Don't get the net out until you need it.
A-Jay reply :
Oh Yes - My wife just has to fish and I mean has to, a 1/4 Green Pumpkin swim jig that MUST have Red Eyes. Now here's the kicker, after having a toothy critter bite one eye off the bait and that bait catching several fish, she insists that I rip off one eye (doesn't matter which one) prior to using a new swim jig because a one eyed jig is better !
A-Jay
bassfisherjk reply :
No fish on the first cast
Also I have a hat that is always in the boat,even if I don't wear it. 
J-B reply :
That the lure has to be in the water and tied onto a line that is attached to my rod. Otherwise, I just never seem to catch a fish.
Paul Roberts reply :
QuoteOh Yes - My wife just has to fish and I mean has to, a 1/4 Green Pumpkin swim jig that MUST have Red Eyes. Now here's the kicker, after having a toothy critter bite one eye off the bait and that bait catching several fish, she insists that I rip off one eye (doesn't matter which one) prior to using a new swim jig because a one eyed jig is better !
Now that's dedication. Hey, whatever works; As long as it keeps her using J-B's advice.
Fun thread.
JohnnyBigger reply :
I dont eat mexican food the night before a tournament for more reasons than one
RyneB reply :
If i have another person in my boat i refuse to make the first cast of the day. I dont know if its really superstition or not but I hate catching the first fish, i feel its always bad luck.
detroit1 reply :
JohnnyBigger- that was funny. Mine is , like others, is no fish on the first cast. So my first cast is usually only 15' and i burn it back to the boat. When your taking someone out for the first time, i make sure they see me do this. The look on their faces are priceless as they wonder if i have a screw loose..(well)...later
flyboy reply :
NO BANNANAS
Radical Conservative reply :
Haha I love the Copenhagen superstition. I might try it pretty soon but I sure hate to waste good Copenhagen unless it works! Ha. I do have certain boxers that I think I do better in.. I'm sure I'm not the only one..
zero limit reply :
No digital cameras never catch any size, but cell phone/camera does not seem to matter
SDoolittle reply :
When I was a kid and Dad took us crappie fishing, we always had to throw the first one back.
SirSnookalot reply :
Nope !
My tackle is a mess and I like it that way, I never organize it and never fish with more than a few lures with me.
I had the same xrap on for 3 weeks, caught a couple dozen snook and more bass........why change?
Luke at Gouldsboro reply :
I always wear a black shirt, and when i step into my boat it's always my left foot first
JohnnyBigger reply :
QuoteNO BANNANAS
HAHAHA Dude in a tourney on Lake Walk-in-Water we threw like 5 bananas on this guy Dave's boat and he ended up wining the tourney on a three fish limit 2 days caught about 30 lbs big bass of 10.52, day 2 he was begging us to through bananas again
Brian B reply :
My partner/cousin and I have a couple:
- always have a 12 pack (unless tounry rules prohibit)
- I'm always in front, he's always in back no matter who's boat we're in
- Always stand, never ever sit (unless runnin of course)
- I always have an orange Gatorade and sunflower seeds on board
Revo_Carrot Stix reply :
First bass on first cast.
Not to allow my lures to touch the water when they are on the boat deck.
Bill Dance Hook Remover tool in my back pocket which is "handier than a sleeve on a shirt."
Ontario Bass reply :
What better topic to make my first post. I have a few things I do. First is i have my lucky fishing hat that always has to be with me when I'm fishing. Second is i have about 3 t-shirts that are my "lucky fishing shirts" and i have to have one of those three on when i go out. Third and probably the most odd is my lucky fishing underwear. I have the really lucky pair and a few lesser but still some what lucky. I know full well that this stuff has nothing to do with catching fish but when you can do something that tricks your brain into having a bit more confidence you should do it because you will catch more fish.
Movarus reply :
Grew up with...
- No Bananas in the boat
- Catching fish on the first cast will probably be a bad day.
My girlfriend has an old pink ultra-light rod and reel combo. She has to catch a fish on that combo before she moves over to any other rods/reels.
bassinbob54 reply :
i dont have any superstions...dangit wheres my fishing shirt?!?
BDS165 reply :
I've got to give my fish a nice little kiss. Just he first one of course. If anyone is a first time fisher I get them to do it too.
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
If I put any fish on a stringer then we're usually doomed to have the pattern we were using fail immediately. Yes this has happened more than once. : :-/
wisconsin heat reply :
if im fishing, and its above 40 degrees outside, and i see some weeds, i HAVE to fish with blackie (my all black spro bronzeye jr.) HAVE TO! i might try a different frog first, but if that doesnt work, im still gonna fish with blackie
SBM-RL reply :
Always organize my tackle all winter wont go out untill its organized.
spinners reply :
I LIKE THE ONE "EYED JIG"TALE A GOOD ONE,A COUPLE YEARS AGO ,I STARTED THE SEASON OFF FISHING A 3/4 OZ SPINNER BAIT,CHART.AND WHITE,CAUGHT A GOOD BASS ,ON IT, AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED TO CHANGE, I STILL USED THAT SAME BAIT, ALTHOUGH I HAD A DOZEN JUST LIKE IT,I FOUND MY SELF TAKING THE SKIRT'S OFF THE OTHER'S TO FIX IT ,WELL THE WIRE FINALLY BROKE AND I FOUND THE FISH WOULD HIT THE OTHER'S JUST THE SAME,SO ENDED THAT IDEA
---LUCK FAVOR'S THE PREPAIRED MIND---I'AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THAT--
BassinSoldier reply :
I give them a lil' kiss before I release them. Anybody that has been on the water with me has seen it...It just works for me
grimlin reply :
QuoteI don't like to catch a bass on the first cast. So many times, it resulted in that bass being the only one for the day.I don't know if this is a superstition, really, but it seems that leaving the camera and/or net behind is a sure way to hook your biggest bass of the year.
I skunk out almost every time i bring my camera.....That's one of the main reason i never really remember to bring it.Of course this is superstition and i know it....it still hard to convince myself to remember that camera though.
I also do well when wearing a tackle warehouse shirt or hat...I make a point in making sure i have one on before a fishing trip.
Bankbeater reply :
My fishing hat is a summer hat. When it starts getting cool out I wear a different hat, but I bring my fishing hat with me in the boat just to be safe.
Hinkle2891 reply :
i believe that if i eat foods that leave a residue on your hands (cheetos, doritos, etc) that the fish wont TOUCH your bait. additionally, i am a strong believer in mojo, i.e. if i catch 20 fish with a certain lure/rod/reel, that is one lucky piece of equipment!
slider head reply :
Regretfully, I have many superstitions when it comes to fishing!
Red Bear reply :
i never really had any till last summer when i dubbed a hat my fishing hat. it was actually a camoflage mossy oak hat that was a gift for when i killed my first deer as i had gotten into hunting in 08. since i wear an orange hat when hunting i dubbed the camo hat my fishing hat. and now i havent seen it for months, like it just dissappeared. what im hoping is i left it at my aunt and uncles house on smith mountain lake. ever since i got that hat ive been outfishing my brother in law who always outfished me before that, i must find it
and as far as cameras, i got a new digital camera last year and took it with me on my final trip to smith mountain lake for the year and caught a few personal bests(striper, carp, catfish, white perch) and was glad to have it with me.
little_stephen reply :
this thread really got a life of its own!
My fiance is kinda like the one eyed bait thing.
she was fooling around with one of my rods after she got bored one time, and landed a bass that alone outwieghed my 3 bass combined!
It nipped a pwer grub that I bled into a custom color (Smoke Green Pumpkin Seed!) Doesnt sound like much, but it works WONDERS on the pond we fish together! When I said it nipped it, i mean it clamped onto the grubs tail end, and somehow didnt let go! And she pulled it up on shore without it getting hooked!
Now, EVERYTIME we go to that pond, she insists I let her try that same grub (The concept that the actual grub she used is LONG gone and that its not easy to match that same color when ur custom mixing them in a plastic bag on the window ledge all winter! lol
Jaben reply :
None here.. I just fish!
zaraspook_dylan2 reply :
QuoteI don't like to catch a bass on the first cast. So many times, it resulted in that bass being the only one for the day.I don't know if this is a superstition, really, but it seems that leaving the camera and/or net behind is a sure way to hook your biggest bass of the year.
Haha, I totally agree with the camera thing.
wvbucketmouth reply :
I wear the same underwear from April till October. For some reason I seem to catch alot of catfish toward the end of May. ;D
JohnnyBigger reply :
QuoteI wear the same underwear from April till October. For some reason I seem to catch alot of catfish toward the end of May. ;D
Gross, dare you to try that after eating mexican food ;D
wvbucketmouth reply :
;D
haha, just jokin. The wife would keep me outside if I did that ;D
little_stephen reply :
SO happy i started this topic! especially when i get to hear about ur nasty mexican stained cruddy undies! JK
This is fun..... keep em' coming!
KC Bass Fanatic reply :
I try to drink a giant Mountain Dew and eat some pork rinds during every tournament. Seriously.
bass or bass ? reply :
I skip a coin across the surface of the water before my first cast.
MtCarmelTriton20x reply :
It has cost me a couple of fish but I will not allow the net out of the box till the first fish is hooked. After that I will leave it out. There is probably nothing to it but it seems every time I get it out before that the fish won't bite. I also usually try to make my first cast where I think there is no chance of getting bit. We all have our quirks I guess.
JacobK reply :
Tournament days I pretend to be a gladiator and pick up a handful of sand and let it run between my fingers. ;D
ab8aac reply :
I have one blue shirt I have worn and won 4 tournaments, placed 2 in 3, and 3rd in 3, only time I haven't worn it I didn't place, so that is mine, my lucky blue shirt.
bigfruits reply :
i always get blazed before i fish. maybe thats more of a habit than a superstition though.
Beastie Bass reply :
I keep a heddon river runt from my fathers tackle box with me all the time. My dad gave me that lure when I was 12 and I dont go fishin without it! I took it out for a week once, I'll never do that again!
trevor reply :
No bananas.
Never say you are gonna catch alot of fish.
Palomar loops always around the back of the hook.
Nitro 882 reply :
Never fill the live well with water till I get my first keeper.
kms399 reply :
when we go to my buddies cabin we cross the mississippi, every time we do we throw a handfull of pennies into it as we go over the bridge, if we miss the river or forget the fishing is really slow.
Rebbasser reply :
Nope, no superstitions at all. I do for other things, but not fishing. Even bananas in the boat don't bother me.
Gangley reply :
I have three shirts that i generally wear, all similar but a different color for each.
Also, once i get the boat out on the water, I will sit for a minute and just look around. I won't cast until i have had sufficent time to look around me and relax for a minute. Kinda like letting everything inside of me get loose and relaxed. I might just thumb through my baits and look at them for a minute or so, or check out the trees, etc. For some reason I think that if I'm relaxed, then the bass will be relaxed as well, haha.
lsufan334 reply :
I have a lucky wore out faded adidas wristband on my right wrist any time i fish. doesnt really help or anything but i have worn it for years playing paintball and it brought me luck then so i thought it would help with fishing. Only bad thing is the obnoxious tan line.
Big Fish Rice reply :
Always, always, always, release the fish gently and respectfully.
(I hate seeing people toss or drop them back into the water)
quantumtrue reply :
for some reason I always have just a little piece of fishing line in my mouth to chew on stupid I know but have to do it
monster reply :
When i start topwater poppin, or walkin the dog, I throw out my lure and let it rest while i light a smoke. Gives it just enuf time for the ripples to fade away, then start poppin.
boomdigity reply :
I always tuck me shoe laces into my shoes but they have to face each other. It's carried over from playing sports.
Paul Roberts reply :
I've had them surgically removed.
related General Bass Fishing Forum topic
most viewed General Bass Fishing Forum topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.