I got to thinking yesterday after my hour long phone call with a long lost friend who happens to be Rich G. about some of the whacky superstitions I have pertaining to fishing.
1. Only carry Smelly Jelly Special Mix (because no other scent will catch fish).
2. I must wear the same socks that I wore when I hooked my very first steelhead on the Hoh in 99.
3. 12 wraps in my baitloop. Nothing more, nothing less.
4. Pro-cure with sugar.
5. My Shimano Convergence with the moldy handle. Even if I don't use it, I have to have it with me for good luck.
6. My lucky Cougar Hat. Those of you who fish the Puyallup have never seen me in any different hat.
7. Berkely "Big game" main line. I don't care what the leader is, the main has to be "Big Game."
8. Keys in my left vest pocket.
With these things said and done, the only reason I will not catch fish is because there is not a single fish in the river. All of these preparations and superstitions=confidence. Confidence=multiple hook ups.GO FISH!

Superstition

1. Never tell anyone on a fishing bulletin board what my superstition is. It may bring bad luck.

Oppps I let it slip…

1. Always have to stop at 7-11 in the morning and buy a mountian dew dont ask why cause i couldnt tell ya i just have to.

2. Stop at Mountian View Chevron (if im fishing the sky) and take a squege again i dont know why i just have to.

3. NEVER leave my headlights on!!!!!!!!!! (i had to get a jump for some hatchery workers today )

Tyler

I dont have any I just go fishin.

The only things I always make sure I have with me are my tape measure and my camera. If you dont have both those things you will never know how big it really was and it will only be a fish story and not fact.

I have learned that the best thing for catching a nice steely is to forget the camera.

i have no superstitions, but if you take a banana with you in alaska, they will kick you off. ( i usually take one anyway. there are lots of guides that swear to this.

No banana's or husky shirts in the boat,bad luck.

The only one I have is I always wash my hands good in the morning before I head out.....I've been doing that for as long as I can remember.

I don't really have any that I feel brings me good luck but, the chant of someone saying "here fishy fishy" makes me cringe.

Don't stand next to me if the "here fishy fishy" chant makes you cringe...I chant that like a monk all day! No bananas! Don't tell anyone you're going fishing and if someone asks if you're going fishing say no...so the fish won't hear you. Intead of saying "fishing" you say "I'm going holoholo".......

Always wear clean underwear. You never know when you might get in an accident. Needless to say, Your Banana should also be clean.

1. No Bananas in the boat! No banana bread or banana muffins...No Bananas..PERIOD...
2. Must have a legitiment beer or coffee spill. We rarely catch fish till someone spills their beer or coffee...We've tried purposly knocking em over but that just seems to irritate the Salmon Gods....
Fish-On! :p

ALWAYS get next to the little old lady in the pink rainsuit when you're on the charter boat.

"What's wrong with my pole??????????!!!!!!!"

This was an actual quote of the "pink lady" upon hooking the first of 9 fish she caught that day, including 3 kings over 20lbs! I cozied up next to her and caught 7, only 2 kings.

Oh yeah, whenever there is a derby ALWAYS buy a ticket if you're going fishing. How many times have you seen the big fish of the day caught by a guy without a ticket.

Always go to the nearest mini mart or gas station and snag some Dairy Gold choacolate milk and some powdered jelly filled donuts.

some times it works some times it doesn't

In bad accidents I'll likely end up soiling my underwear anyway so that point is moot.

heard bananas in the boat are good luck

I never utter the word "barbeque" while I'm fighting a fish.

This has nothing to do with fishing,but it might. I make sure that my change and finger nail clippers are in the same pocket(left) and that my car keys and chap stick are in the other one(right). And my change is always 3 quarters,3 nickels,and 4 dimes. I don't go out with out it. I've done this ever since I've been retired. Jim S

Fish don't bite out in the salt in a north wind.

The unwashed fishing pants must be on at all times when on the river. Tyler remember the humpy and silver pants. Yea they must be good luck. Or at least they bring about good times. I need to locate those for the noggins maybe thats why I always hook up and never land them. They get just close enough and they see I don't have the pants, they can tell these things.

banana's,

never heard of such a thing, have at least two on board every day i go fishing. never caused bad luck. Carma is way over-rated, just like manogomy. find some thing else to blame it on besides a banana.

if you don't beleive me, just take a bunch of banana's and put them in the bow of your buddies boat without telling him. bet it won't have a thing to do with his luck over the next week. but don't forget to take them out or it will be

banana's are just some bs to blame it on. every squirl finds his nuts once in a while.

Never utter the word C-A-M-E-R-A until the fish is in the net or on the bank....and even then...

NEVER EVER...EVER forget to bring the lucky Loomis hat

No sex, just ask pimpinshrimp he was on a dry spell for about 3 weeks and now when we go have tells his lady friend the night before we go no nookie. since then he has been on fire.

Why are people making fun of a playful superstition of no bananas ? ...If I want to believe it or not that's my kuleana(problem)...why not make fun of the guys that don't wash their pants?

those were the most disgusting things i had ever smelled/seen!!!!!!! i swear that every time i got in his truck i had to roll the window down cause i couldnt stand the smell.... we fished every weekend and every day after school for about 2 1/2 months, not washed once!!!!!!!! your luck went down hill when your mom snuck in your room and washed em without you knowing.

Remember all those "projects" you had to do and you would come home wearing the pants and your parents would be like "why the hell are you wearin those pants?

Uuuuuummmmmmmmmm........ i spilled pop on the other ones so i put these on!!

Tyler

1. Always Gami hooks, unless I am flyfishing.
2. White "Brew U" hat.
3. Always bring a second reel.
4. Same with camera.
5. Thank every fish I catch. Kiss the steelhead I catch. (Makes wife jealous, ha ha).
6. Puke over the left side of the boat from being hung over...Right Pat???

Fish On, Justin

NO humping the night before fishing! It works with women and sheep. :p Plus I thank every fish I hook.

River fishing:
Never forget the camera.

Always check that the car keys are in my wader pocket.

Never take picture while my buddy is fighting a fish, unless he specifically asks me to.

Saltwater fishing:
Check and make sure I got the van keys and that the van is locked after launching the boat.

If possible, I fuel my boat the night before and try not to crap last thing before going fishing, to avoid strong smells. Either way, wash my hands before touching any gear, and use Smelly Jelly.

If the fishing gets slow, break out the food & drinks... always get a fish on when our hands are full.

Gotta have the black box. Check and recheck that my voltage is just right.

Constantly check the drags on the reels, never know when someone has tightened one down without me knowing.

On my boat, I tie all the knots, unless you brought your own gear... but then don't blame me if it breaks off.

-N.

My waders have a thick layer of egg resin coating the front of my right thigh, which is where my rag is attached. Somehow I generally miss the rag and just rub it on my waders. Or I just forget my rag and rub it on the waders.

I never, ever, even try to clean it off.

I also don't clean my reel handles or rod handles of egg goop unless the reel gets so fouled that it affects its performance.

I have green wool socks that go over my waders, inside my boots. It just doesn't feel right without them.

Always, always, trust a hunch, even if it's a pocket you've never caught a fish in, and never leave fish to find more.

Fish on...

Todd.

I gotta 2nd the 12 wraps in the bait loop thing!! That is absolutely critical

I used to have to wear the same hat all the time and then I started staying at my girls house more and had to do with one of hers--so I guess that is out. A Hat though----that's a biggy!

Getting a Mt.Dew--do thast everytime too, but I think it is more of a habit

Crayfin

Always release the first fish you catch in a given season, homage to the fish gods.

DM knows the trick to catching fish those donuts really do work. can not be held over the side of the boat powder must stay inside the boat.

Fish with drift boat. I've yet to be skunked while fishing with him. We found it highly amusing at first. Now, it's just getting downright spookey.

1. always wear a Dolphins hat
2. 13 wraps to the bait loop
3. try and foul the air in at least one bathroom
in the morning
4. quote cheesy movie lines...you a pothead
Fokker?...Those aren't pillows!
5. make up new musical lyrics to cheesy songs.

OK, I'll play...

First off, place a banana up on the bow. Drives some people insane. May I say we caught a zillion salmon this fall with bananas in the boat! Rub banana all over your plugs, spinners and spoons, too. Harharharhar....

Second, I have to have a chocolate Charlston Chew. Can't catch anything without it.

Then we must always follow The Rules. The Rules have been in place for many years, since the 70's. Upon landing a steelhead or salmon, all must stop casting and partake. I'll let your imaginations fly on that one. To not participate, or not observe The Rules means bad luck of Biblical proportions.

Other than that, always use a Lamiglas and you'll be fine....

N'yuk, N'yuk...

Bill.

It has somethign to do with pharamones on your hands, and the pharamones are less after sex, so therefor, if you want to catch fish, be sure that you have sex before going fishing. I don't know for sure that this works, but please don't tell my wife. I fish alot............

Always wear some type of hat

base ball cap - good on sunny days
stocking cap - good for cold weather
Oregon Reasearch hat -good for rainy day
Jimmy Hat - if you feel you might get lucky

What is the deal with this banana superstition? That has got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I know some people believe in that stupid stuff but why?

NEVER put a banana in the boat of a Hawaiian fisherman .....The belief comes from Hawaiian religion,bananas or 'naio' are one of the 'kinolau' or multiple forms of the god of the ocean Kanaloa. It was considered offensive to Kanaloa to bring bananas on the boat, or to wear red while fishing(red was a sacred to Ku'ula god of deep sea fishin').Of course, there was some variation in worship of Kanaloa/Ku'ula and in a few locales it was considered good luck to have bananas on board.....Don't ask a Hawaiian if they're goin' fishin' either, the fish can hear.

LOL Bill! Most of the guys I fish with "partake" well before the first fish is landed......heck, before the first cast hits the water.

It's thirteen wraps on the bait loop.

Always dip your net in the water when starting fishing.

No Bananas.

baitloops must have 13 wraps.
gatorade (original lemon lime) before you get on the boat.
Cheese nips (the perfect food)
no one pees in the porta potty, just hang it over the side.

And DEEP.

kiss every fish you release, and rub you hands and leader area with eggs before you start

1. Never shave when fishing, the grubbier I feel the more "in-tune" with nature > fish.
2. Always cast two more times after telling yourself or others "just one more cast/drift".
3. Repeat step #2......
4. Wear that special fishing hat. Yeah the one that's all stained & lost its shape.
5. If the person who doesn't buy the derby ticket always catches what would have been the winning fish, then don't buy a ticket! All that money would just spoil you anyway.
6. Last, but not least, forget to bring a writing pen along. This will guarentee you of catching a fish that needs to be recorded on your punchcard!