Superstition & Rituals

[Mugs]

I don't believe in superstitions. I think they bring bad luck..

[Catt]

I only fish when the water's wet!

I only fish on days that end with a "Y"!

[slonezp]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

12 hours ago, 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]

I really don't like to catch a bass on the first cast.

[Oregon Native]

15 hours ago, 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]

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]

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]

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]

7 hours ago, Topwaterspook said:

I really don't like to catch a bass on the first cast.

Unless it is a biggg bass. 

[Jar11591]

1 hour ago, 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]

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]

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.

 

Faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

 

I have faith in my abilities.

[FrogFreak]

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]

3 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Unless it is a biggg bass. 

LOL.............You  got that right , Dwight.

[senile1]

On 2/24/2016 at 5:37 PM, 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]

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]

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]

On 2/25/2016 at 5:19 PM, 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]

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]

No. Just happy to be able to launch the boat without sinking it.