Fishing Superstitions or Rituals

[MH]

Just curious to see if any of you have any Superstitions or Rituals that you do before you go fishing.

[EricCO]

I try to wear a blue shirt and a white hat. Big fish colors for me.

I also am starting to get spooky about filling my livewell before I catch a keeper fish, but not sure about it dying by the time I get it filled.

[SUPERTROLLER]

One partner I fish with says never touch the net until it is absolutely needed;;; another guy wets his net as soon as the lines are set.. for good luck and to wash the stink of the skunk off of it. I like to light up a victory cigar when the bite is really tough.. kind of like a rally cap going on inside out. I also do a fish call to wake them up, "C'Mon Fish!" To do this properly, one must stand at the stern of the boat, cup your hands by your mouth and yell as loud as possible. If none of this works, I drink a beer.

[gonfishn95]

SUNFLOWER SEEDS A MUST.AND MUSIC

[T-Mac]

or...if he doesn't get to go fishing... they say, he still does this stuff!

;-) Gotcha Buddy.

[HawkEye Mike]

We always toss a quarter in the water to the fishing gods for good luck. You have to kiss the quarter before you flip it too. One friend insists on throwing it over his shoulder with his back facing the water. I think he is nuts. He claimed a billfish guide did that in Mexico, and he caught six sailfish in one day. On Erie, he usually catches the most sheepshead.

[cisco]

Sailfish have been mighty slow on Erie. At least for me.

[eye guy]

Kind of a rule of thumb that you can't have a beer until you put a fish in the boat, altough sometimes it gets bent a little (the rule). Also as far as throwing money in the water, I toss in enough in the form of tackle!!!!

[lobo]

First fish goes back - no matter what.

lobo

[Tough Guy]

Did you really think this one go by without a Tough Guy response? Tough Guy have many silly superstitions but Tough Guy no feel like silly response tonight. Tough Guy like to pick up litter before beginning fishing. Even if it is only one thing. Tough Guy hate to see litter in tough holes, makes Tough Guy feel like he not getting away from it all. Please don't litter your walleye waters.

[WitchDoctor]

1) KICK a penny overboard before you make the first cast.
2) Smooch your sweetie (either when you leave for the trip or if she is in the boat right before you cast)
3) Take a leak "drain the bilge" as we say...
4) Eat a Twizzler (after washing hands after you test your bilge pump.)
5) No beers until 11:00 a.m.; no beers until a fish is caught.
6) Fill livewell immediately upon arriving at your first spot.
7) Must have a homemade snack in the boat (jerky, smoked meat, cookies, etc.)
8) It's actually good luck for something small to go wrong early; fix it and continue with the trip.
WitchDoctor

[Ron]

On the way "up north" we always take the frontage road around Mille Lacs to pay our respects to Spirit Island. The few times we haven't we have had poor fishing.

[FireTiger(dr)]

I don't know if it's a Superstition or a ritual, but I have noticed that if the landing net or the camera is left in the truck,, it brings me luck

[AquaMan]

Boat Plug. ;-)

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[MH]

Probably the single most important item in fishing or boating, De Plug, This is some really great stuff that everybody does. If you can't have fun doing it anymore you might as well take up golfing. Great mindset everybody! As far as the beer goes I always say "It's always noon somewhere".

[BIG AL]

We always leave the camera and camcorder at home.... last Saturday while walleye fishing,I hooked, landed and sucessfully released 2 LARGE muskies (20lb. class) that I caught on my walleye rod with 12 lb. line and crawler harness. Also got a 3 man limit of walleyes! Both of the other guys asked.... WHERE'S THE CAMERA???? I said, can't catch fish with a camera.. TIGHT LINES AND NO CAMERA CATCH MORE FISH!!!! AL><> ><> ><>

[WAeyes]

Never, and I mean ever, have the camera out and ready. I might as well soak my lure in diesel fuel, the outcome will be the same. Never want things to go perfectly before you start fishing. Minor problems that cause a little agitation that you can overcome always seem to please the fish gods.

[Hawgeye]

1.)Leave the net in the vehicle or at home
2.)Leave all types of cameras at home, or have no film with.
3.)If fishing is slow, eat something, use the jiffy jon, or do something that requires you to place your rod in the rod holder out of reach and out of your hands.
4.)Instead of assuming that every tug on the line is a weed, actually assume they are fish...

By following these 4 rules, you are virtually guaranteed you will catch bigger, more, and have as good success as ever.

[GullGuide]

Better yet,
Pour some beer into the lake or down the hole (if you are ice fishing) as an offering to the fishing gods.
Have seen this one work more than once:)
>"////=<

[Duane-MI]

Never tell the wife to have the frying pan ready when you get home. It is a sure fire way to get skunked.

[Lund_Dude]

Our rule is that you cannot drink a beer until you have landed a "keeper". On those rare days that you have a buddy get skunked while you catch fish, the beer has never tasted better... ;-)

[eyewinder]

1) At least once or twice a summer, sacrifice your current most favorite fishing hat to the fish gods. (I've tried this with a pretty good landing net, too, but results were similar, and the net was a heckuva lot more expensive.)

2) Sometime during the day, release a fish that you otherwise would have kept (an eater), or the largest fish that you have caught to that point -- it's best when the fish is of such a size that its release draws "oohs & aahs" from the boat next to you. This is known as a "karma fish", and guarantees a good day

3) Never, EVER, help a jet skier. If you do, you may as well pack up and go home. The fish will ignore you for the rest of your trip. Helping a jet skier immediately cancels any karma that you've garnered to that point.

[MH]

What about putting a couple of slugs in a jet skier? The Walleye Gods may like this, and then the sun would shine on your ##$%. Just like eyewinder I am a true believer in Karma.

[steve dover]

I never use a net and take fish off in water with pliers; when I went in a tournament with brother and got serious with net etc. I lost two by boat coincidence? I think not! Great question though..

[cmb]

on a slow day, or one where you have to play walleye precentages with a lot of sheepshead, I am a true bleiver in having the net out of site untill you can physicaly see that it is a walleye. otherwise the smart azz fish humor gods will mysteriously turn the walleye into a sheephead or white bass!!

and somehow they know when you are eating!! or at what exact moment during your retrieve you can't efectivly set the hook!

[Jack Frost]

I only do this with my one or 2 of my best partners. I stand on the front of the boat and sing the Virgil Ward Show song. (Remember, "From the lakes of northern Canada the the gulf of Mexico, where ever fish are biting thats where we're gonna go, there's lots of exciting country just waiting to be explored, so join us now in the great outdoors world of Virgil Ward."
I don't think it works too well but it sure can't hurt. We have been doing this since we were kids.
Jack

[Suzuki]

Usually the day of or the day after trash pick-up is excellant fishing because the guts have to sit in my trash can a full week until the next pick-up day.

[little bow mount]

on the way to the lake or river we listen to A.M. classic country (i'm only 19)and if we hear "Alabama" that eqauls a "might as well go home kind of day", if we hear the "Dixie Chicks" this means a holy #####! go grab the camera day. this is very serious to me and my fishing buddy. it never fails. Alabama has a fishing curse against them. no one and i mean NO ONE! ever should listen to them on the way to the lake OR 24 hours prior to the trip. there is no cheating though, you have to listen to listen to a country music station. i hate country music, but i always stick with what the fish gods tell me. and if the fishing is slow, then the litter trick is a sure thing. even if it doesn't work it still does work, if you know what i mean.
pick it up!

[Husker Boy]

1) Never have your rods ready with a lure on. Gotta do it on scene!
2)Always throw a few jigs overboard before fishing. Pay homage to the fish gods.
3) Never keep the 1st fish. If he doesn't go back, there is no one to tell the others that it is o.k. to bite.
PS) I love the Virgil Ward thing. It reminds me of my childhood!!
PPS) My dad loves to say,"Everybody out for lake trout, everyone in with a Thin Fin." It works for him.

[TangledAngler]

We always listen to the worst country song ever recorded: Hank Williams, Jr.'s, "Hog Wild". CAught one fo the biggest fish of my life while that song was playing.

[Mean Mike]

On our annual trip to Canada everyone must eat some butter rum life savers during the drive.

Must have a bet for the first keeper fish caught, amount of bet does not matter. sometimes fishing with no action and realize we have not placed a bet on the first fish, do so, then bam someone gets one.

I don't know if this has any effect on our fishing but Huntsville, Ontario seems to be our bad luck town to drive through. Something bad almost alway happens there, car breaks down, someone gets sick, luggage falls off top of vehicle, etc.

Singing of the Virgil Ward song was hilarious, and I might try it next time.

[Rookie-Wis]

This is a great post! The funniest thing in reading it is the true belief in some of the things we all do. The first couple of years I was brought up to Little Bay De Noc by my buddy I did something that I will always do now given the success associated with it. Early in the morning for what ever reason, we struggled to get that first fish. Being the team player I am, I told my partner that for the good of the cause I would open up a bottle of Seagrams Golden Wine Cooler and give it a pull. Well, you wouldn't believe the outcome! And by the way, that's another funny thing about this post, you have to qualify your methods with, "Really, no lie it works". This HUGE unselfish action on my part not only helps catch fish but it gives me the chance to show people that I am willing to go the extra mile for the effort eventhough it's painful in nature. I mean really, who wants to sit out on a boat and enjoy a beverage but me?

Rookie

[Skis]

The first day of a trip, regardless, I wear my Just Have to Fish t-shirt with my Northland Tackle cap. No beer drinking or cigar smoking until the 1st fish is caught. Don't rig my lines until I'm on the water. Fill the back livewell only.

I'm just curious how many of these posts played baseball as well. I think these two sports are the most superstitious sports out there!

[Greg P.]

Suzuki,

Great one.

Thanks for the laugh.

Greg P.

[Gumbo]

No bananas on my boat!

[GregK]

1. Listen to Handel while going up 502. Not sure if this works but the esthetic experience is just wonderful.

2. Pour red-hot coffee preferably while balancing the cup on your knee. The temperature of the coffee is proportionate to the size of the fish. For some reason this also works for duck hunting.

3. We have had a quarter bet on the first fish since the beginning of time. It's even more fun when you throw your partner's quarter in the lake. The wager is not to be paid quickly but discussed at some length with the better sessions going all day. I can recall my wife hooking a rather nice eye and while fighting it I connected with a 6 inch cigar and immediately boated it, which entitled me to the quarters. This discussion went on until my cousin, who was in the center of the boat, stuck her fingers in her ears and started pleading "no more, no more". My spouse now saves the dirtiest, nastiest looking quarters all year for our annual trip to heaven.

[Homer]

I'm not superstitious, but I have also gotten into habit of looking for the same "lucky" t-shirt when I get dressed the morning of a fishing trip.

[Kevin/CO]

I don't know about those baseball players being that superstitious or atleast not more superstitiious then dem der hockey playing types. But as far as my own superstitions its always got to be the same hat and always got to drink one CocaCola before we can catch a fish. Maybe its superstition but hey seems to work.

[Tennessee Jed]

LOL! I remember Virgil Ward, too. Remember how every fish, no matter if it was an 8" bluegill or a 30-pound laketrout, made the same splashing noise. Ol' Virgie was probably sloshing a bucket of water around as he read the script...

I have a couple of lucky hats. My one confirmed unlucky hat has to be UNDER the trash can on the back deck of the cabin, or I don't catch fish.

[Tennessee Jed]

LOL! I remember Virgil Ward, too. Remember how every fish, no matter if it was an 8" bluegill or a 30-pound laketrout, made the same splashing noise. Ol' Virgie was probably sloshing a bucket of water around as he read the script...

I have a couple of lucky hats. My one confirmed unlucky hat has to be UNDER the trash can on the back deck of the cabin, or I don't catch fish.

[cisco]

Yeah, but there was a time when a quarter would buy something.

[Cangl]

When fishing with a friends wife it is bad luck to leave a note to him asking to send money.

[CJHughes]

This one has been working wonders for me this summer,allow all the kids ,wife and dog to go swimming all around the boat.The more noise they make the more fish I catch.The plus to this is no self respecting fisherman will come within a mile of your boat no matter how many fish you catch.Also never ever allow anyone to throw anything (litter) no matter how small the pieces of mono are into the water , and I agree if you pick up litter you gain points,lots of points.I caught a five pound walleye at cumberland lake last week , I had to tell my boys to move their tube that they were swimming off of so I could net it

[Greg W]

My superstitions;

#1. Always pay the lake. Paper money don't work, and new copper penneys are usually the best.

#2. We troll exclusively, no worms on my boat. I'm still paying for the last trip a guy brought worms and actually put them on my Reef Runners, his idea but I should have known better.

#3. We rotate the boat operators, so everybody has a chance to fish(reel in white bass/sheephead, change lure colors, etc.), but once in a while, we only catch fish when a certain person is driving(it's mostly been me this year), then that person gets stuck driving, though we do let him reel in a few fish. Also, the person driving the boat first ALWAYS reels in the first fish.

#4. No trash fish in my cooler. Only Walleyes, Yellow Perch, and Steelhead.

And finally, on the way to the lake, we always check to see if the cows are feeding(means the fish will be hungry) or sleeping/resting(means the fish will be inactive).

Great topic.
Greg W

[m.n.obucket]

wear the got skunked fishing shirt ...every trip....I have been wearing it every trip to every lake,from Canada to the Florida Keys...wear it for duck and goose hunts also.....after that much bad luck it comes back full circle and I don't leave home without it..It also is a good idea to give the spirit of the lake some tobacco,from your own can not some you mooched off your buddies because your wife won't let you chew any more....MNO...

[bigfish1965]

We like to fish the French River in Ontario, form time to time. However the rocky bottom used to always eat an expensive pile of lures and jigs. We fixed that problem. As soon as we arrive at the river, we take a brand new lure out of its package and hurl it into the water. As it sinks, the gods of the river are satisfied and they leave the rest of our tackle alone!

[WAeyes]

I like that one. That way you don't have to retie when you lose your lure.

[CJHughes]

I will have to try that one , does it only work when you first get on the lake or can you do it after you have lost about 30 jigs ?

[Backwater Eddy]

One thing I have noticed is if a Rapala is becoming more and more riddled with teeth marks, the more inclined I am to continue to use it. The more holes it has the more superstitious I seam to become about the lure?

Weird HUH?

Just plain Spooky EH..!!

;)