I am not superstitious. I don't believe the bane of bananas on the boat. I don't believe in black cats, curses nor witchcraft. Having said that I am not sure about Gary the Butt Man's red cooler. We have all seen the butts that Gary catches. Everyone jumps in on the post and talks about mojo. Do you believe in mojo? Do you have any superstitious leanings. I would like the members to weigh in and tell us if they are superstitious and what the superstitions are. Since my trip to Alaska to fish with the butt man I decided to create my own mojo cooler. On the trip up to Alaska, the baggage handlers at Alaska Airlines broke the handle on my cooler. While there Gary fixed the handle on one side of the cooler. On the trip home the gorillas in the baggage room broke the other handle. I emailed Gary and asked him if had a matching handle so that I could fix the other side. He did and mailed me a handle and a piece of rope. Gary's repair was the same as the red cooler with the mojo. I put my cooler next to Gary's mojo cooler and left it there overnight hoping that some mojo might rub off. I fixed the handle today an now have matching handles. Here are a couple of photos. Please weigh in on the question re: superstitions. This could be fun even if you don't believe in superstition tell us some superstition that you heard about or ones that make you feel like "well you never know." Dominick
I always carry something of my Grandad's or Dad's with me fishing or hunting, I think more out of sentimentality and respect for what they taught me, but I think that probably qualifies as a talisman, certainly if it's Pop's favorite reel or fishing hat.
BTW, I have TWO of the vintage red Gary Igloo coolers....:) you'd think I'd catch more, but the only reason is there are no halibut in NC. It's my lie, I'll tell it how I want to.
I'm not superstitious it's bad luck
I have a necklace made of a bone fishing hook I wear every time I go fishing that my son made me.
A Makau.
I also have a certain shirt I wear.
Just trying to create the same scenario the last time I hooked into a big one.
My 90 inch hammerhead came after sitting on the beach for several hours.
John had a young man with us fishing for Sharks for the first time.
John had him say a prayer.
It wasn't a minute later, John's 12/0 started singing. ;)
Yeah, if I believed in superstition I'd also have to believe in all kinds of supernatural stuff that I also don't believe in just to be consistent. There's no such thing as mojo or luck, or ghosts, goblins, werewolves, vampires or the Easter bunny. We create all kinds of stuff to try to explain what we cannot, and as a species have been doing so for thousands of years. I cannot prove any of this does or does not exist, it's just what works for me - since you asked..... I do believe in statistics, though.... and statistically speaking, you will be faced with things in your life that you cannot explain, but believing in supernatural stuff isn't the explanation that's worked for me.
If having fun with a lucky cooler or lack of bananas on the boat makes you feel good then do it. If you think it actually makes a difference, seek help. Either way, have fun!
Yeah. It crosses my mind alla time, perhaps outta force of habit, or, a deep-seated need to believe in supernatural forces. As in:"yeah gotta take that knife again, 'cause a what I caught last time, when I had it with me". But I quickly dismiss it nowadays.
What'ed be interesting would be to study how superstitious belief might effect success or failure in a persons endeavors. Would having/or not having your "good luck charm" change methodology or behavior?
X2 what nelz said. One of the main reasons I believe in God.
I'm not superstitious, but If that cooler of yours sat next to the purple haze for two days, and Gary actually touched it! I'd have to say it's got mojo working and should be designated as a full time bait cooler. I might go so far as to take it to church and ask a padre to sprinkle some water and say a few words. Let me know if you want to sell it!
I believe in the power of confidence and attentiveness when fishing. If I'm not confident then I'm not attentive and if I'm not attentive I don't catch fish. If superstitions and such give you confidence and attentiveness then there may be real world payoffs.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on August 25, 2017, 10:21:31 AM
I believe in the power of confidence and attentiveness when fishing. If superstitions and such give you confidence and attentiveness then there may be real world payoffs.
-steve
Alotta truth to that there.
I am not a superstitious guy, but for some reason when fishing some superstitions tend to creep in to my science.
Well said Steve! ;)
Did any of you guys see the video a couple weeks ago of the south Florida guys catching red snapper using chunks of banana for bait. Red snappers were loving it.
I like your thinking, thorhammer. I miss my Dad terribly & think of him often when fishing. I, too, get a little bit of a special feeling when I use something of his when out on the water. I've got a companion even when I'm fishing alone. Went out for a couple hours yesterday; took Dad's Mitchell 301C along, even though I'm not left-handed & have to cast with my right arm, then swap to left so I can reel with my right hand. Didn't hurt that a few fish came my way.
By the way, being sorta new to the site, what is the "12-year rule" (or am I being the naive straightman on this?) Is it somehow related to the 5-second rule?
Basically it is our vow to never post anything that you wouldn't want your 12yr old daughter to read! Keep it clean, keep it respectful, keep it family oriented.
Quote from: David Hall on August 26, 2017, 02:51:39 AM
Basically it is our vow to never post anything that you wouldn't want your 12yr old daughter to read! Keep it clean, keep it respectful, keep it family oriented.
Succinct and to the point. Dominick
Quote from: Dominick on August 26, 2017, 04:09:35 AM
Quote from: David Hall on August 26, 2017, 02:51:39 AM
Basically it is our vow to never post anything that you wouldn't want your 12yr old daughter to read! Keep it clean, keep it respectful, keep it family oriented.
Succinct and to the point. Dominick
What about the "locker room talk" exception? Steve
Quote from: David Hall on August 26, 2017, 02:51:39 AM
Basically it is our vow to never post anything that you wouldn't want your 12yr old daughter to read! Keep it clean, keep it respectful, keep it family oriented.
thank you........
Back to the original topic.
A lot of superstitions around the world have signifiacant and factual base in history, and the beliefs of the time.
Bananas is a classic regarding boats, in the days of sail and long distance travel, fruits like limes and lemoms were found to be a cure/prevention for scurvy - the English being more fond of Limes, eventually were known as 'Limeys' for their devotion to that fruit (slight historical side track). However, the one things that would damage all the limes or lemons on a boat, no matter how hard and dried the fruit was - was in fact bananas. Hence the very real resistance to having bananas or anything of the plant on a sailing boat.
This example of old beliefs is one of many that all found place in boating folklore from sailing days, when man was totally beholden to their wits and good fortune when sailing around the world in very small boats with none of the advantages we take for granted today with modern electronics ect. The simple association of the English with tea, comes from sailors finding that they suffered less chronic bowel problems from drinking cold tea, made with boiled water - something they learned of Chinese sailors. They got used to drinking tea, and whole empire building module came from that simple plant, and a total way of life for many.
Over the years, have spent many fruitless fishing days when the topic of conversations have come round to supersatition, especially while fishing - so now my superstition is not to discuss superstitions while fishing. That sadi I might still throw a few coins into the water before boarding a boat, to pay Posideon for what he might offer up for the day.
Cheers from sunny Africa
Jeri
While I am not superstitious -- there are things and memories that I am sentimental about...
One would be fishing with old gear that older fishing mentors in my life used regularly.
For me, Elmo was that man.
He was always old -- at least to me -- that is how I remember him.
That, and his examples of how to catch fish effectively -- and have fun doing it.
We would fish out of his boat over at Bridgeport Reservoir -- on the Eastern side of the Sierras.
He and his wife, Mary, would always rent a hotel room for about 4 months
The schedule was to get up around 6:00 (not too early), go get breakfast at the diner, pick up bait and ice at the Texaco, head over to the lake where the boat was moored.
We would fish until the wind blew us off around 11:30.
Come back, clean our fish, keep them on ice.
Go back into town, have lunch, take a nap, wake up in time for the Dodger's baseball on TV.
Maybe head out again for another hour or two of fishing.
Come back to our rooms around 5:00, or so.
Catch a shower, put on clean clothes -- head out to dinner.
Come back and play nickel Gin Rummy until about 10:00.
Hit the hay -- and do it again the next day.
That was what Elmo called "Gentleman's Fishing".
Elmo never used any other rod and reel except for an 8' custom noodle rod with an old French Centaure spinner mounted underneath.
Every time I go back to the Eastern side -- I break out one of the old Centaures -- they are really amazing and well made reels that perform perfectly.
To me that is nostalgic and sentimental at the same time.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: Newell Nut on August 25, 2017, 09:56:12 PM
Did any of you guys see the video a couple weeks ago of the south Florida guys catching red snapper using chunks of banana for bait. Red snappers were loving it.
One of the charter boats I service is tryin with great success pieces of dried Gulp only as bait. He lets it completely dry on the hook so it wont come off. He loads the boat with these little pieces.
Superstitious probably not me, Buuuuuutttttt I do have to take my hat....seems to change every year and last years hat may not produce this year....everything from ball cap, boonie cap, western straw, and a watch cap.....Bill
Quote from: Jeri on August 26, 2017, 07:28:21 AM
Back to the original topic.
A lot of superstitions around the world have signifiacant and factual base in history, and the beliefs of the time.
Bananas is a classic regarding boats, in the days of sail and long distance travel, fruits like limes and lemoms were found to be a cure/prevention for scurvy - the English being more fond of Limes, eventually were known as 'Limeys' for their devotion to that fruit (slight historical side track). However, the one things that would damage all the limes or lemons on a boat, no matter how hard and dried the fruit was - was in fact bananas. Hence the very real resistance to having bananas or anything of the plant on a sailing boat.
This example of old beliefs is one of many that all found place in boating folklore from sailing days, when man was totally beholden to their wits and good fortune when sailing around the world in very small boats with none of the advantages we take for granted today with modern electronics ect. The simple association of the English with tea, comes from sailors finding that they suffered less chronic bowel problems from drinking cold tea, made with boiled water - something they learned of Chinese sailors. They got used to drinking tea, and whole empire building module came from that simple plant, and a total way of life for many.
Over the years, have spent many fruitless fishing days when the topic of conversations have come round to supersatition, especially while fishing - so now my superstition is not to discuss superstitions while fishing. That sadi I might still throw a few coins into the water before boarding a boat, to pay Posideon for what he might offer up for the day.
Cheers from sunny Africa
Jeri
In Hawaii, according to mythology one of Kanaloa's(think of him as a god of the sea) kinolau(body form) was the mai'a(banana). The banana was a offering to Kanaloa and if brought on board he would take the offering and sink vessel.
Quote from: wailua boy on August 26, 2017, 11:30:55 PM
Quote from: Jeri on August 26, 2017, 07:28:21 AM
Back to the original topic.
A lot of superstitions around the world have signifiacant and factual base in history, and the beliefs of the time.
Bananas is a classic regarding boats, in the days of sail and long distance travel, fruits like limes and lemoms were found to be a cure/prevention for scurvy - the English being more fond of Limes, eventually were known as 'Limeys' for their devotion to that fruit (slight historical side track). However, the one things that would damage all the limes or lemons on a boat, no matter how hard and dried the fruit was - was in fact bananas. Hence the very real resistance to having bananas or anything of the plant on a sailing boat.
This example of old beliefs is one of many that all found place in boating folklore from sailing days, when man was totally beholden to their wits and good fortune when sailing around the world in very small boats with none of the advantages we take for granted today with modern electronics ect. The simple association of the English with tea, comes from sailors finding that they suffered less chronic bowel problems from drinking cold tea, made with boiled water - something they learned of Chinese sailors. They got used to drinking tea, and whole empire building module came from that simple plant, and a total way of life for many.
Over the years, have spent many fruitless fishing days when the topic of conversations have come round to supersatition, especially while fishing - so now my superstition is not to discuss superstitions while fishing. That sadi I might still throw a few coins into the water before boarding a boat, to pay Posideon for what he might offer up for the day.
Cheers from sunny Africa
Jeri
In Hawaii, according to mythology one of Kanaloa's(think of him as a god of the sea) kinolau(body form) was the mai'a(banana). The banana was a offering to Kanaloa and if brought on board he would take the offering and sink vessel.
No thst is interesting. 2 parallel myths, likely developing independently of each other. I presume tye Hawaiian is said to predate the anglo-saxon myth.
John
Not likely. Bananas were introduced into Hawaii in 1850.
Nice story, Fred, about Elmo.
That Centaure is classy. The French have a way....
I like that 12 yr. rule. Especially, since I've noticed several recent posts about young nieces, granddaughters, etc. getting into fishing.
Frank
one time far faraway on a island in the Bahamas a college student asked way doesn't anybody swim in the river,,,don't it's cursed her friend said,,,, :-\ who told you that,,,my mother,,,,who told your mother,,,,her mother,,,so she dived off the bridge and villagers would watch :o,,,,but one day a shark got her :'( the river was cursed >:(
Quote from: MarkT on August 27, 2017, 12:54:16 AM
Not likely. Bananas were introduced into Hawaii in 1850.
The Anglo/Saxon aspect goes back to around the 1500's or may even predate that. Limes and Lemons were used as the source of vitimin C, and used because they could still be very effectively stored on boats, and still useful even when very shrivelled up after 6 months or more of storage in wet or dry conditions in wooden sailing boats.
A lot of early European boating superstitions were 'exported' around the world with the very early sailing ships from Spain, Portugal, Holland and England. One particularly about not whistling when on a boat without a metal or wooden whistle - a sailor whistling would be considered to be 'whistling up the wind', while that could be considered good luck ona sailing ship becalmed by lack of winds, you could never rely on how much wind you might get - too much wind was obviously a serious consequence. So, whictling on a boat is still today considered bad luck.
Cheers
Quote from: MarkT on August 27, 2017, 12:54:16 AM
Not likely. Bananas were introduced into Hawaii in 1850.
??? 2 species of banana were introduced by the first polynesian settlers. Do you have evidence otherwise?
Bananas are native to S.E. Asia and have been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. It's entirely possible that early settlers brought them to the islands. Would have been handy food to bring on the trip and have a few to use for seed when you got there. A lot of nutrition in a banana.
I am surprised nobody has mentioned the old Norwegian initiation of biting the head off a fish? My grandfather was full blooded Norwegian he passed this on to my older brother who passed it on to me! I never forgot it, and I never forgot that it didn't help the fishing! I made my son do it anyway, simply because I had been encouraged to do it. Someone once tried to get me to eat the heart of a fresh salmon! I declined and said I'm Norwegian, we only bite the heads off!
Quote from: wailua boy on August 27, 2017, 05:24:57 AM
Quote from: MarkT on August 27, 2017, 12:54:16 AM
Not likely. Bananas were introduced into Hawaii in 1850.
??? 2 species of banana were introduced by the first polynesian settlers. Do you have evidence otherwise?
You're right about that. Bananas as we usually know them (Cavendish) were introduced in 1850 but older versions were already there brought by the Hawaiian's.
Quote from: David Hall on August 27, 2017, 06:04:43 PM
I am surprised nobody has mentioned the old Norwegian initiation of biting the head off a fish? My grandfather was full blooded Norwegian he passed this on to my older brother who passed it on to me! I never forgot it, and I never forgot that it didn't help the fishing! I made my son do it anyway, simply because I had been encouraged to do it. Someone once tried to get me to eat the heart of a fresh salmon! I declined and said I'm Norwegian, we only bite the heads off!
You're supposed to eat the heart of your first tuna. Guys in the know just act like they've done it before when they catch their first!
That would be a lot of heart. Fortunately I've fought several and nobody brought that up on my first. Alan was afraid I might die already from exhaustion he wasn't about to ask me to at the heart! Besides I couldn't get up off the deck anyway.
You only need to take a bite. It helps to have a beer at hand.
yeah, i was never a big fan of that old tradition! ;D
Quote from: alantani on August 28, 2017, 12:43:20 AM
yeah, i was never a big fan of that old tradition! ;D
And I for one greatly appreciate that Alan!
There are only three things you need when you stop becoming a boy and are a man.
Hope, Love and Faith.
If you don't live by those three. You are still a boy. ;)