Superstition & Rituals 2024
Texas_Rig_Aggie reply :
Do you have any superstitious practices or rituals/habits that you do to bring good fortune on the water?
When I remove worn out soft-plastics, the ones that catch fish get a special burial/retirement up in windshield of the passenger side of the boat. The failures get tossed to the floor.
I also prefer to fish on an empty stomach--- I want my primal instincts to kick in to make me a better hunter
BassinLou reply :
Nope... no lucky charms or superstitions here. Just flat out fish. Accept the fact that sometimes outings will suck.. but understand that sometimes they will be unbelievable!!
Darren. reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 6:18 AM, BassinLou said:Nope... no lucky charms or superstitions here. Just flat out fish. Accept the fact that sometimes outings will suck.. but understand that sometimes they will be unbelievable!!
Same here, Lou.
scaleface reply :
I like to tie on a plastic worm , they seem to bring me good luck .
The real answer is no . I am not superstitious by any means .
Dwight Hottle reply :
I always struggle with pre filling the live well before the first fish is caught.
Paul Roberts reply :
No. I've had them surgically removed.
I rely on knowledge, experience, and a keenly trained mind. That said, this is fishing we're talking about so the aforementioned might in the best of light best be described as... self-conjured voodoo.
cgolf reply :
Other than retiring a few river crank baits that defy the river gods I have carried a small stuffed Nemo my kid got me last year. Come to think of it though I did catch my PB Smallie and Musky when I had it with me, so maybe..... 
Now if I catch my PB largemouth this year then there is definately something to it lol. But for real I would say no.
ranger7717 reply :
my superstition and rituals are to keep my lines wet as much as possible - it's been working pretty well so far
ww2farmer reply :
I try not to fish a tournament hung over from the night before............done that twice in 10 years of tournament fishing, 1 time we won, the second time we tanked...........I guess it wasn't good luck after all, because I have won at least 1/2 dozen more without being hung over LOL.
In all seriousness...........I do have one pre- tournament ritual, for that matter..........any pre-trip ritual, and I do it regularly, not for luck, or any other reason, I just do it because I do it.
My grandmother, sister, uncle, and mother are all buried in the cemetery on the north end of Silver lake that over looks the lake, I drive right by it every time I go fishing and on my way home, and every time I go by, I say little something to one, or all of them..........
Big C reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 6:10 AM, Texas_Rig_Aggie said:I also prefer to fish on an empty stomach--- I want my primal instincts to kick in to make me a better hunter
Never fish hungry! If I could I would take a Golden Corral on my boat.
Klebs01 reply :
I always have a coffee or cafinated tea on the way to the launch in the morning. Make sure to hit the can before I launch to prevent any issues later in the day.
A-Jay reply :
I don't get to do it every time but I REALLY prefer to take this man with me every chance I get - talk about lucky . .
A-Jay
WI_Angler1989 reply :
I've never really thought about superstitions while fishing. One thing I do, for whatever reason, is when I catch the first fish of the year on a rod, I take my thumb and get a little slime and rub it onto the rod blank. Kinda like the "blood" of my "vanquished enemies" painting my "weapon."
It's silly but I find it fun. Good juju for me. An offering to the river gods.
WRB reply :
Bananas bring bad luck, avoid having a banana onboard.
Red sky at night is a sailors delight, red sky in the morning sailors take warning. Red sunset brings good weather the following day, red sky in the morning brings rain and rough seas.
Never rename a boat if you named it, bad karma.
When I raced had all kinds of superstitions, the only one I remember carrying over to fishing was wearing my luck hat, did that for years until it blew off and lost it....dam!
Tom
MidwestF1sh reply :
I guess I got two, kinda weird ones.
1) only applys to bass but everyone I catch I smell.... I know its super weird but I like how they smell! It's a rewarding smell.
2) when fishing a drop shot after each fish I need to switch the worm color or size. Catch a fish, switch worms, catch, switch and so on.... Normally its a subtle change between colors of robot worms or trick worms
ranger7717 reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 8:41 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:I've never really thought about superstitions while fishing. One thing I do, for whatever reason, is when I catch the first fish of the year on a rod, I take my thumb and get a little slime and rub it onto the rod blank. Kinda like the "blood" of my "vanquished enemies" painting my "weapon."
It's silly but I find it fun. Good juju for me. An offering to the river gods.
i rub the slime into my hands to mask my scent....not a superstition , but a psychological thing
Scott F reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 6:10 AM, Texas_Rig_Aggie said:Do you have any superstitious practices or rituals/habits that you do to bring good fortune on the water?
When I remove worn out soft-plastics, the ones that catch fish get a special burial/retirement up in windshield of the passenger side of the boat. The failures get tossed to the floor.
I never toss worn plastics on the floor of my boat and get irritated when my fishing partners do. They always wind up back in the bilge area where they get sucked up into my bilge pump and block it up.
But in response to your question, I am not the least bit superstitious. My psychic told me not to believe in that stuff.
Bassguytom reply :
I rub a small dab of megastrike on my fingers and rub it in. Even if I'm not putting it on my baits. That's more of an educated guess then a superstition.
Greed reply :
My only superstition is if I get bit on my first cast it's going to be a slow day.
Smokinal reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 7:15 AM, Dwight Hottle said:I always struggle with pre filling the live well before the first fish is caught.
I will never do this again!
I have 2.....things......I do. Not sure if I would call them superstitious; but I just like to do them. First off, I keep a baggie of baking soda in the boat and wash my hands with it before I touch a bait. 2nd thing is, last year I made sure I was in good position/spot for my first cast of the year; and I caught one on my first cast of the season; then had a heck of a numbers year last year. You can bet I'm doing the same thing this year, same spot.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 8:55 AM, MidwestF1sh said:1) only applys to bass but everyone I catch I smell.... I know its super weird but I like how they smell! It's a rewarding smell.
X2 ~
I do the same thing - something about it, it just smell right.
Hits me in the very center of my inner Soul . . .
A-Jay
lo n slo reply :
anyone else (besides me) rub fish slime on their soft plastic lure after they catch a fish?
ranger7717 reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 9:00 AM, Bassguytom said:I rub a small dab of megastrike on my fingers and rub it in. Even if I'm not putting it on my baits. That's more of an educated guess then a superstition.
i have also done that...i have a lot of faith in megastrike - i put that **** on everything !
CenCal fisher reply :
I always bring bananas with me because they taste good. Otherwise no superstitions
N Florida Mike reply :
I was about to say no,then I thought of a couple things.I usually pray before a trip.And wear my blue bass pro t shirt.The main reason I wear it is because I don't think the bass can see me as good.I don't believe in luck.That's why when people ask me have I had any luck I say NO, because luck has nothing to do with it
Mugs reply :
I don't believe in superstitions. I think they bring bad luck..
Catt reply :
I only fish when the water's wet!
I only fish on days that end with a "Y"!
slonezp reply :
No superstitions. My son and I do have a tourney day ritual. Stop at Thorntons for chocolate long johns on the way to the tourney. Also, I may or may not drink a pot of coffee every morning
. I do not drink coffee on tourney day. More so that I don't get stuck taking a dump in the livewell than anything else. Could be considered a ritual.....
Gundog reply :
I leave the clear plastic manufacturers put on the cork handles of rods until it falls off. I never remove it until it starts to deteriorate. I know its strange. How it came about was I bought a new rod and didn't take off the plastic. I had the best day on the water than I had ever had. Since then its my superstition.
ethan-333 reply :
my ritual is scratching my head on every trip out wondering when the fish are gonna bite.
in all seriousness. i dont have a ritual or any superstitions.
corn-on-the-rob reply :
I am not superstitious, but some of what we fisherman have "confidence" in is definitely borderline superstition.
My most common ritual is to go to bed early, get virtually no sleep, then yawn all day on the water.
Bankbeater reply :
About the only thing I do is go over the checklist while getting ready for a trip. I look over the check list a second time before I leave.
nhpleasantlakebass reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 8:44 AM, WRB said:
Red sky at night is a sailors delight, red sky in the morning sailors take warning. Red sunset brings good weather the following day, red sky in the morning brings rain and rough seas.
Well i dont sail So i always said the same qoute but changed it... Red sky at night fishermens delight, red sky in the morning fishermen take warning
Topwaterspook reply :
I really don't like to catch a bass on the first cast.
Oregon Native reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 6:18 AM, BassinLou said:Nope... no lucky charms or superstitions here. Just flat out fish. Accept the fact that sometimes outings will suck.. but understand that sometimes they will be unbelievable!!
Amen
Mike L reply :
Always throw a frog first, no matter the time of day or where I'm at...Frog first, Always
Always say a silent Thank You for every fish I catch.
Mike
WIGuide reply :
I'm not really superstitious. I did used to have a lucky blaze orange Bass Pro hat. I caught my PB largemouth with it on, my PB smallmouth with it on, and my dad borrowed it during hunting season and shot his biggest buck ever with it on haha. I don't put too much stock in it though. I used to think catching one on the first cast was bad luck, and there's been times it's seemed that way, but I've had days I've pounded them after that too. When it all comes down to it, it's fishing. One cast in the right spot is going to catch a fish and it doesn't matter if it's the first, last or anyone in between.
For tournaments I do have a ritual of drinking a Monster on the way to the tourney. I'm jacked enough to get out there to begin with but that just takes it to the next level. My tournament partner is usually my dad and we also always have to stop to get a couple 100 Grand or Payday bars so even during a bad tourney we still are in the black haha.
Steveo-1969 reply :
Superstition - only one is to be wearing my camo Chicago Bears hat. No confidence without it!
Ritual - I always say "Thanks buddy" out loud to each fish I catch before gently placing them back in the water.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 8:55 PM, Topwaterspook said:I really don't like to catch a bass on the first cast.
Unless it is a biggg bass.
Jar11591 reply :
On 2/26/2016 at 2:45 AM, Steveo-1969 said:
Ritual - I always say "Thanks buddy" out loud to each fish I catch before gently placing them back in the water.
Yup!
WRB reply :
Lots of replies don't believe in luck or superstion, both closely related as being not scientifically proven, same with faith.
Being very competitive sense mid teen years you learn that preparation and practice to improve skills goes a long ways to getting to the top of your game. When you win or do well you repeat what helped and you lose or do poorly avoid those things. This is where luck, good or bad comes into play and can also be when superstitions get started. Being around athletes and race drivers who believe the reason they did poorly was bad luck, they didn't have their lucky charm or got into the car on the wrong side etc., can affect you. I will admit it, rather be lucky than unlucky. Like faith it's real if you believe.
Tom
Catt reply :
Superstition: a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.
FrogFreak reply :
Hmm, I have a couple:
I always listen to country music on the way to the lake
I always hit the bathroom before I go out.
I bring pop tarts with me in the morning and when it gets slow, I eat them and drop a little into the water to get the fish going
Always name your boat, a boat with no name is bad luck. I named my boat the JUBO 3. My grandfather had two boats, the JUBO 1 and JUBO 2. His wife, my grandmother was named June and his name was Bob hence JUBO. I figured I'd keep the tradition alive. He is the reason I got into fishing!
When I'm done fishing, I try to remember to take a moment to soak up the moment and thank god for how lucky I am.
Topwaterspook reply :
On 2/26/2016 at 3:59 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Unless it is a biggg bass.
LOL...
..........You got that right , Dwight.
senile1 reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 7:37 AM, Paul Roberts said:No. I've had them surgically removed.
I rely on knowledge, experience, and a keenly trained mind. That said, this is fishing we're talking about so the aforementioned might in the best of light best be described as... self-conjured voodoo.
I have the number 13 painted on my boat. I always walk under a ladder and open an umbrella inside the house before I leave for the lake. And for good measure, I also break a mirror. Then, when I get skunked I have an excuse other than the weather.
I believe in facts, logic, and experience. Superstitions and rituals have no place for me in catching fish or anything else.
Jake the Cake reply :
I have a collapsible net and do not unfold it until I need it. It's always within reach and it unfolds in an instant, but until I need it, it stays folded up next to me.
Also someone mentioned bananas, don't know where this came from or why so many people follow that rule but I stick to it. No bananas on the boat!!!!
bassinhole reply :
TAB cola and cheese crackers come with me on nearly every trip. I'ts more for nostalgia than anything else. That was the lunch of choice every time my dad and I would go. Sometimes its coffee ham sandwiches and bananas when I'm thinking about my grandpa.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 8:19 AM, Big C said:Never fish hungry! If I could I would take a Golden Corral on my boat.
I'll share a little story:
I have a ton of energy. But I burn a lot of fuel. One day three of us were trolling for trout along thermal bars well offshore on LakeOntario, with side-planers out and the downriggers stacked. After a morning of excitement, the sun got high under that brilliant sky and things got… contemplative. We three sat in silence, watching the sun beat off the water while the motor chugged and the downrigger cables hummed. Eventually I got up and grabbed a sandwich from the cooler. Two bites in and a spark of energy shot through me and I started enthusiastically describing to my listless companions just how exciting it is to have a big chrome steelhead strike, me doing my best wild steelhead strike arm gesticulations. Probably my whole body was involved. I know that I was no longer sitting. “Often they’re airborne before the rod has a chance to respond!” I exclaimed. “Suddenly there’s a big steelhead leaping over the waves, its sides flashing blue-silver in the sun! And suddenly it dawns on you... ‘Which rod is it?!!’”
No sooner had I finished my dance, when a brilliant chromer leapt into the air just off port-side. We stared and it suddenly dawned on us: Which rod is it?!!! Just then one slammed down and the drag started screaming. After the fish was boated and put in the box, it wasn’t long before we were all sitting like lumps, watching the sun beat off the water and listening to the throb of the motor and hum of the cables. After a bit, Jon said, “Get Paul another sandwich.”
Preytorien reply :
Not sure if it's habit or a superstition, but I will not throw a line unless my sunglasses have been very well cleaned. I hate them dirty. Not sure but that seems more like a habit/ritual.
I listen to old timey country on the way to fishing - none of that new candy country stuff I'm talkin 50's-80's
Unless I have a good reason, I almost can't fish without any one of 3 of my favorite hats
Sam reply :
No. Just happy to be able to launch the boat without sinking it.
geo g reply :
I'm not a superstitious guy but I will not eat or take a banana with me the morning of a trip. I also do not like catching a fish on the first cast. Over the years, Too many trips have been a gone south after that! Did I say I'm not superstitious.
Catch 22 reply :
Fishing along with no catching,if I tie on diffrent lure and catch a bass on the first cast with it,its done for the rest of the day. Another lure fish first cast ,its done. Had that happen so many times.
No bananas,no alchohol on board
C22
tstraub reply :
I always make my first cast short and to a place that I feel is unlikely to get a bite then retrieve it quickly to try to avoid catching a fish.
I never fill the livewell until I need it.
Now I have a question. They say it's unlucky to change the name of a boat and it's also unlucky to have a boat without a name. I got my boat used and have no idea if it has a name. If the previous owner named it they didn't mark it in any way to show is name or the dealer removed the name. So should I give it a name and possibly change its name or not name it? Which is the least unlucky?
Mugs reply :
Name it "Whatshername". You should be Ok..
BrianSnat reply :
I'm kind of superstitious. When I played baseball and softball I would not wash my uniform after I had a good game. Thankfully I was not good enough to have more than 2 or 3 good games in a row. When I was a serious bowler I had a routine I had to go through before each time in threw the ball. But fishing? No. Superstition has never come into play.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
southernson1989 reply :
I love Copenhagen dip. It seems that I always start catching the bass after I put in my first dip on the water. Even if I'm using the same lure and presentation. So now i dont dip on the way to the lake and pack a hammer when i get to my first spot before i make a cast. That might be a superstition but 9 times out 10 it works out. I even checked my fishing journal and it seems to be validated. Another thing I do is I spit some bacca juice on my soft plastics and rub it in or on the line when I'm retyeing if got a dip in. It seems when the bang and the jj's magic ain't helping the juice will. Kinda makes sense. Who would have thought garlic and coffee scents would work but they do so it's not that far-fetched to think that tobacco would. Anybody else try this?
N Florida Mike reply :
I probably had a chew in when I caught my best fish but I quit a few years later.I've caught several that were almost as big without it.I've probably caught 80% of my bass without it now.Tried Copenhagen once and nearly barffed.And I chewed red man,Levi garret and beechnut,even whitemule.But quit when I was 25.I catch a lot more fish in general now than I did then but I think its just that I've learnt how to fish better!
Jaderose reply :
A few I guess....1.) I always wear the same old beat up ball cap and I don't usually wear hats. 2.) Like a few others, I always thank the fish and God when I do catch one. 2.) When I catch a decent size fish I always put a slip resistant glove on my left hand so I can handle the fish better. I got finger hooked really bad once when a fish I caught shimmied while I was trying to remove a stubborn treble and I dropped it...which drove the treble into a finger on my right hand. The thing is...I DO NOT LEAVE THE GLOVE ON. If I do, it seems like I never get another bite. I have to put that glove on after I've boated the fish, unhook it, release it, and take the glove off. Weird? Don't care....it works for me.
Another one I thought of....If I'm froggin, on my first cast I will take the time to light a smoke before I ever move the bait. It's amazing how many times I've cast that first frog out there..let it set while I fire up a smoke..and then have it get hammered right after that first twitch.
DelcoSol reply :
I will make my first five casts of the day to areas that "shouldn't" have fish. On days that I have caught fish within the first five casts I always think that it will be great then I either get skunked or something else bad happens to the boat or gear. Also Ice Cube's Today was a good day gets played at least once.
RHuff reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 6:10 AM, Texas_Rig_Aggie said:Do you have any superstitious practices or rituals/habits that you do to bring good fortune on the water?
When I remove worn out soft-plastics, the ones that catch fish get a special burial/retirement up in windshield of the passenger side of the boat. The failures get tossed to the floor.
I also prefer to fish on an empty stomach--- I want my primal instincts to kick in to make me a better hunter
I do too, but to avoid having to take a dump while out on the water.
Megastink reply :
The whole banana in the boat thing makes me laugh. I don't allow fruit to dictate my fishing success.
JGillyFishing reply :
On 2/25/2016 at 9:19 AM, Greed said:My only superstition is if I get bit on my first cast it's going to be a slow day.
This is about my only one too. It seriously happens every single time. I have never got hit on the first few casts then had a good day. Other than that I have my fishing visor that I always wear. I just happened to catch my PB the first time I wore it. I don't think it's lucky or anything but I just like to stick to tradition
Ratherbfishing reply :
Well, I start the day by leaving the drain plug out of my boat. Then, I make sure to flood the engine by priming it too much. I will intentionally forget to lift the trolling motor out of the water so as to create a big rooster tail to shower me and my passengers with dirty lake water and finally, for good measure, I will often forget to pull the anchor up and drag it around for awhile-all the while wondering why my boat is moving is so sluggish. Usually these practices will ensure that I will only fall out of the boat once.
JLL130 reply :
Ritual for me. Get good jig or swim bait so badly hung up you have to cut your line, then offer that to fishing gods as sacrifice for a good catch, all the while cussing them. At least thats what I've convinced myself, kinda like hitting a golf ball into the lake to satisfy golf gods.
the reel ess reply :
I won't leave home without a Rat L Trap and a plastic craw. I can't think of any real superstitions. I used to wear a particular hat but it has proven to let me down.
Dye99 reply :
I fished a few tourneys back in the day, and I started my fishing hat theory.
I fish with one hat a year. So beginning each new year, I pick out a new "fishing hat" and wear it for that year when ever fishing.
tstraub reply :
On 3/5/2016 at 12:21 PM, Dye99 said:I fished a few tourneys back in the day, and I started my fishing hat theory.
I fish with one hat a year. So beginning each new year, I pick out a new "fishing hat" and only wear it and it alone for that year when ever fishing.
I hope you carry plenty of sun screen if the only thing you wear is a hat while fishing. LOL
Tyler
Dye99 reply :
On 3/5/2016 at 3:39 PM, tstraub said:I hope you carry plenty of sun screen if the only thing you wear is a hat while fishing. LOL
Tyler
Hahaha...Yea...the state makes me wear more nowadays!
imagine29028 reply :
dont understand the banana thing....
tstraub reply :
On 3/6/2016 at 1:25 AM, imagine29028 said:dont understand the banana thing....
The story I've always heard is that because bananas have such a short shelf life only the fastest ships were used to transport bananas. If you used a slow boat the bananas would go bad before they reached their destination. Crewmen noticed that the fishing was poor while transporting bananas and blamed bad luck on the bananas not the speed they were moving.
Tyler
Breakin heads reply :
I have one, every time I catch a fish on the first cast the rest of my day is horrible. So before I start fishing I flip my bait about 5 feet out and reel it in quick so I get that first cast out of the way.
ranger7717 reply :
bananas are really good for you
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