Origins of the 1st cast fish rumor... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

thill · 10-19-2002, 03:39 AM

I notice a lot of guys don't like to catch a fish on the first cast. They say it's bad luck.

Well let me tell you, I personally believe some non-fish-catching little WEASEL thought up that little superstition to spook the guys who WERE catching.

Said weasel and buddy are fishing, and buddy hooks a fish on the first cast. The little weasel is jealous, so he says, "Oh man, NOW you've done it! Bad luck!"

His buddy is unsure whether to believe or not, but the stress builds by the minute, causing him to work his lure a little different, faster, trying to entice a hit. Soon, he's becoming desparate, trying to escape the "bad luck. (The little weasel is snickering, now.)

Next, the rumor is spreading, and people start to believe.

Bass are PACK FISH. If you catch one and hurry to get back out there, you will probably catch more. Not always, of course, but fishing is never an "always" thing.

Me and my friends LOVE to hook up first cast! That means the fish are there! PACK FISH, remember? In fact, if one of us hooks up, the other will throw to EXACTLY the same spot, and generally it's DOUBLE HEADER time! That trick works again and again on almost every trip!

I LOVE catching on the first cast! Because generally, that means a fish on the second cast, and third and fourth... At least until the pack of fish spooks or moves on.

Ignore that weasel's little confidence-robbing comment. It ain't true. He's just got sour grapes.

TH

Fish_Eye · 10-19-2002, 07:14 AM

thill,

I don't let superstitions rule me...quite the opposite...I try to buck the trend so to speak. However, on most of my past fishing trips, last one being a BIG exception, if I caught a fish on the first cast, it often resulted in a day that was less than spectacular.

My theory is that many people just don't pay particular attention to how many fish they catch or try to rate the type of day they had...they're just glad to be out on the water...and that's the way it should be. But on those days when you catch a fish immediately, you instantly establish a benchmark of "a fish a cast" and therefore almost anything less is downhill from there.

I scoff at superstitions! But I have been know to throw perfectly good bananas out of a boat

and if you see a butterfly, you're sure to catch a nice fish.

I really believe that if you fish with an Iron Man you're sure to stumble into a blueberry patch!

thill · 10-19-2002, 08:40 AM

Butterfly OR ladybug! Can't forget the ladybug!

But all jokes aside, I normally have a great day if I catch on the first cast.

For example, On my first trip to the Ditch last year, I nailed a fish on the very first cast. When I told Slipknot, who arrived right as I released it, he said "UH-OOH..."

But not to worry. We had INCREDIBLE INCREDIBLE fishing for the entire week!

Remember that, Bruce? I'm still grateful to you!

TH

JohnR · 10-19-2002, 10:18 AM

Well, I got a fish on my first drift last night (at second spot fished after some blue shredded eels at the first) and I didn't get another, only a couple more taps. But, I usually find it encouraging

...

Canalratt1 · 10-19-2002, 06:07 PM

Yah and don't bring a banana on the boat! I fish for bass in freshwater tournies and just scoff at the first cast fish bad luck garbage but some guys will NOT put that fish in the livewell. Bananas are a no-no to some too. Two tournies ago first cast keeper, fish was culled later and I took 1st so go figure. I'm not superstitous but do have my odd habits!

Van · 10-19-2002, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Canalratt1
Yah and don't bring a banana on the boat!

This is one I heard of for a long time.

But I tell my fishing buddies NO BANANAS ON THE BOAT !!

But I don't know why...

Who's got an explaination for that one????

gilligan · 10-19-2002, 10:07 PM

but didn't buy it. but now you can bet you will never see a banana on my boat from this day forth. how about that for a boat name "NO BANANAS" ?

Striper SniperX · 10-20-2002, 12:51 AM

Hey, Guys!
Why are we going 'Anti-Banana' in here ? LOL j/k----what's the superstision 'claim-to do' if there is a banana on the boat ??

I do recall seing a Banana Boat before,,,if that's any conselation,,,,lol

''No-Bananas'' Hmmm,, I like that...LOL

I got another one 'Gone-Bananas' that works on a few diff levels there....

Have a good one!

thill · 10-20-2002, 01:52 AM

Some nasty spiders live in banannas, so old-time sailors didn't want them on the boat.

At least that's what I'm told.

Striper SniperX · 10-20-2002, 01:59 AM

Hey THRILL,
Hmm, Thanks for reply,, but you just changed my concept on Bananas now---i happen to like Banana pudding an stuff...i don't want no spiders tho,,lol i'm hoping the 'nasty-spiders' are from the bananas sitting down below decks from months @ sea ,,,and not fresh ,, right? lol,,,i may never eat another one again,,,,THANK YOU!

lol

see ya's

StarsnStripers · 10-20-2002, 08:45 AM

LOL SSX, I think u were thinking of the Yo-Zuri Banana Boat when we were talking about it and confusing it with the crystal minnow when we were into fresh water fishin'.

thill · 10-20-2002, 11:34 AM

SSX,

No, actually if you know anyone who stocks banannas in the grocery store, they can probably tell you about the Bananna spiders!

They are BIG and VERY FAST! There are a lot of them in FL where I grew up. They are scary as heck, but I don't know anyone who's ever actually been bitten by one.

Ask anyone from FL about "Bananna spiders!"

TH

PS - Bananna pudding....YUMMMMMM....

Striper SniperX · 10-20-2002, 11:12 PM

lol SnS,
Nooo Not the Yo-zuri Lure ,,, there is a company that makes 'Banana-Boats' and if that's "Bad-Luck" what are they thinking ?

LOL just kidding

That's Strange Thrill,, Are they up here in RI as well?? and when i peel a banana i NEVER seen one ,,,If they are BIG they should be easy to spot ,,are they THAT fast ? lol Banana Pudding is great, as well as Banana Bread and Peanut butter & Banana Sandwiches (yum) and just plain banana's are good as well, lol

See Ya's

Scotch Bonnet · 10-21-2002, 07:14 AM

Bananas are gassed with poison before they come into the country. Kills all them spiders. Sounds yummy don't it!

thill · 10-21-2002, 07:35 AM

Are they big? Yup, about 3-1/2 inches across. Big, brown and hairy. Like 10 times as big as a wolf spider.

Are they fast? OH YEAH. Every try to catch lizards? These things chase small lizards down and EAT them. It's a funny thing to see a bug eating a lizard, rather than vice-versa.

At my Dad'd house in the thick live oak forests next to the Indian River, they live in the trees. From time to time, one will crawl down the exhaust fan vents and get into the house.

I warned my wife about them, but nevertheless, on our first visit to my Dad's and I was abruptly awaken by my wife. She was petrified. In the bathroom was one of the biggest bananna spiders I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them. I grabbed a shoe, and threw.

The spider moved like a flash, and the shoe hit bare wall. Did it again, and again, the spider avoiding the shoe. I finally nailed him, but I had to throw like a pro baseball pitcher.

I can see why they freaked out the sailors of years ago. They kind of freak me out, too.

Still, I get a kick out of eating a bannana with one hand, and hooking a fish with the other. Some laugh, and some get mad, but it is a stupid superstition.

TH

Striper SniperX · 10-21-2002, 07:38 AM

Aww Jeeze-- I think Thrill and Scotch changed my veiw on that fruit forever ,,, damn they are good too ,,,

OK, SO they are gassed to kill banana lurking spiders....So do the spiders Die IN the banana ?? or they walk out and die ,,, somthing isn't right here now,,lol---- almost like apple worms but worse....LOL

This thread started as a first cast bad luck thing , and now it's Insect & Animal Adventures, lol

j/k... See Ya's!

Have a good one!

JohnR · 10-21-2002, 07:40 AM

Superstitions make a difference. I bet some guy on Block Island has had a good run of fish and hasn't changed underwear in three weeks

Scotch Bonnet · 10-21-2002, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thill

At my Dad'd house in the thick live oak forests next to the Indian River, they live in the trees.

TH [/B]

Thill they should call them Grapefruit Spiders near the Indian River - No bananas around there. I love the produce spin on this thread, its my specialty! I find more spiders in grapes than anything else. My buddy got bit by one and couldn't move for a week. DO NOT bring grapes on your boat!

schoolie monster · 10-22-2002, 03:19 PM

Sweet fishing down on the Indian River... I love it down there. But if they gots big huge spidies, I'm not movin' down there.

I've got wolf spiders coming out of the woodwork in the garage these days. Big ones... man those things creep me out. It must be ingrained in our genetic make up 'cause even my daughter gets the willies when she sees those things. 8 legs is just too many.

One of my old roommates was a produce clerk and they got alot of spiders in the grapes. He said he knew people who were bit by black widow's that came in the grapes... he wasn't a really reliable source (smoked alot of herb), but he definitely said grapes.