-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Rut Reporters
- Deer Camp
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Catchbook
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
- Hook Shots
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Health & Fitness
- F&S Adventurer
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
-
- Rifles
- Shotguns
- 2nd Amendment
- SHOT Show
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
Merwin: Bananas & Lucky Charms
Recent Comments
Categories
- Ammunition (1)
- Animal Attacks (4)
- Bass Fishing (267)
- Big Game Hunting (1)
- Bird Hunting (1)
- Bow Hunting (2)
- Camping Gear (3)
- Close Calls (3)
- Deer Hunting (1)
- DIY (1)
- Fire (1)
- First-Aid (2)
- Fishing (721)
- Fishing Gear (52)
- Fly Fishing (237)
- Gear (43)
- Guns (2)
- Hook Shots (1)
- Hunting (7)
- Hunting Gear (3)
- More Freshwater (250)
- Other Survival (4)
- Rifles (1)
- Saltwater (226)
- Shelter (1)
- Shooting Gear (1)
- Shotguns (1)
- Small Game (1)
- Survival (11)
- Survival Gear (2)
- Trout Fishing (276)
- Trucks (3)
Recent Posts
- Vintage Tackle Contest: Soap-A-Lure
- Peeing Swimmers Kill 500 Fish in Germany
- 40-Pound Kamikaze Barracuda Launches Assault on Anglers
- Protect Your Skin: How to Use Sunscreen and Keep it Off Your Lures
- Killer Snakeheads: The Real and the Hollywood Varieties
- Vintage Tackle Contest: Whirlaway Rod & Reel Combo
- What Were Some of Your Milestone Rods?
- Smallmouth Jerkbait Tips from Bass Pro Bill Lowen
- How to Free-Line Live-Bait Minnows to Catch Shy Brown Trout
- Vintage Tackle Contest: Heddon Crazy Crawler
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
Syndicate
The Honest Angler
in your Inbox
March 25, 2009
Merwin: Bananas & Lucky Charms
By John Merwin
There are lots of anglers and charter captains who won’t take any bananas on a fishing boat because bananas have a long-standing reputation as a jinx. According to the latest issue of the IGFA newsletter, this superstition was first described by angler Harlan Major in his 1952 book, "Fishing Behind The Eight Ball." Major supposedly “proved” the banana problem by smuggling a banana on board a charter boat and then spending the day catching nothing.
I am not a superstitious guy. But I’ve heard the banana thing so often from so many people that I don’t take a banana on my boat either. Why tempt fate when I’d rather live without bananas than without fish?
I don’t carry a rabbit’s foot, and I don’t mind walking under a ladder (after first looking up). Our housecat is all black, and she crosses my path several times a day.When it comes to fishing, I have no lucky charms tucked in my vest or boat.
But maybe--just maybe--there’s something to angling superstitions after all. Fishing luck is a funny thing. Who knows what controls it? If I search long enough, I know I’ll be able to find a couple of 4- leaf clovers in the yard. Maybe I’ll put one in a tackle box, just in case...
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Loading...
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
Fieldandstream.com is part of the Field & Stream Network, a division of Bonnier Corporation.
Copyright © 2012 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Comments (19)
Power of suggestion is a strong mental deterrent, for some.
Funny thing though, I feel lucky when I do go fishin’.
Hey Merwin, are you a magician? From what I have read you seem to catch a fair share of fishies, jinx's or not.
it is a good thing i do not like bananas
How far does the bannana jinx extend? If I eat one in the morning, does it count as a bannana on board?
You did it now Mr. Merwin! All us superstitious anglers will not eat bannana's when we fish, the industry is going to tank, and they will need economic stimulus money for a bailout.
Also dont forget you cant whisle either, and women aint allowed on board, oh and urinate on the leeward side.... the last one really aint a superstition just a good piece of advice!
Harry Chapin wrote a song about bad luck and bananas - 30,000 Pounds of Bananas. Based on a true story - the driver had picked up his load of bananas from the docks in New Jersey, came down the hill into Scranton at 90mph and made a real mess of things. Some folks in Scranton, PA might feel the same about bananas, too.
Wonder what a charter captain would do if you started singing that song while boarding his boat. Just be sure to end it with, "Yes, we have no bananas. We have no bananas, today."
I don't know about the bannana thing but it's a good rule to pick up a little trash while fishing. The fish Gods will love you for it.
I got my biggest red ever with a few bananas on the boat. That is the god-honest truth too. In fact, I believe I posted the pic of that fish on here a while back. That morning my brother-in-law and I caught 20 or so reds combined, the smallest being a solid 4lbs. I've never been big on lucky charms(no pun intended). Or for that matter, I don't really have anything I consider unlucky.
I guess I did have a hat once that I caught my biggest bass, killed my first turkey, and caught my biggest bream and red while wearing it. I also missed the biggest deer I've ever seen in person, gotten a truck stuck when I wasn't supposed to be driving, and done lots of other unlucky things. Luck is what you make of it.
Sorry god-awful lack of parallelism in that last post.
I think it's good to have a superstition, a man has to have something to blame his bad luck on.
I have a lucky orange hat that was given to me in AK. That's about as far as my belief in luck goes.
I have a lucky coin that is in my wallet, but that is as far as I go.
I do have lucky lures that seem to catch more fish, but I don't go overboard with it.
Men need something to blame their bad luck on. Just like the first thing that most hunters blame when they miss a shot it their optics. Many don't like they are the reason or naturual reasons are the reasons for their bad luck.
there is no luck its just god he test you to see if you faithful
Amen
Brennen Harper Age:10
i agree with Jim in Mo, you have something to blame your bad luck on, but my thinking is why take the chance leave the bananas at home, as well as cats, ladders, mirrors, and salt shakers.LOL
well i dont care. i love bannans, their not juicy or messy and taste great
When a "rookie" angler steps foot on my boat I make sure to do a "banana check". Taking a banana on board is like cutting your gas line while your driving to your secret whole.... you just don't do it! Why don't you do it? Who knows, it is just one of those fishing superstions that you have to do.
If a boat skipper allows, or worse... brings, bananas onboard, I'm staying on the dock. Also, you don't rename a boat. It's a curse.
I have freaked out my fishing buddies numerous times by catching fish within seconds of making a "sacrifice to the gods". Usually pouring a sip of beer or a pinch of tobacco into the water when we weren't catching anything. The world is stranger than we can know and not respecting the forces that make is so is plain foolish.
couple years ago on lake kipawa we had alot of beavers around us and no fish...we had the curse of the beaver. we made peace with the beaver by taking a floating stick back to his dam...after we did that we caught fish again.
Post a Comment
Power of suggestion is a strong mental deterrent, for some.
Funny thing though, I feel lucky when I do go fishin’.
Hey Merwin, are you a magician? From what I have read you seem to catch a fair share of fishies, jinx's or not.
it is a good thing i do not like bananas
How far does the bannana jinx extend? If I eat one in the morning, does it count as a bannana on board?
You did it now Mr. Merwin! All us superstitious anglers will not eat bannana's when we fish, the industry is going to tank, and they will need economic stimulus money for a bailout.
Also dont forget you cant whisle either, and women aint allowed on board, oh and urinate on the leeward side.... the last one really aint a superstition just a good piece of advice!
Harry Chapin wrote a song about bad luck and bananas - 30,000 Pounds of Bananas. Based on a true story - the driver had picked up his load of bananas from the docks in New Jersey, came down the hill into Scranton at 90mph and made a real mess of things. Some folks in Scranton, PA might feel the same about bananas, too.
Wonder what a charter captain would do if you started singing that song while boarding his boat. Just be sure to end it with, "Yes, we have no bananas. We have no bananas, today."
I don't know about the bannana thing but it's a good rule to pick up a little trash while fishing. The fish Gods will love you for it.
I got my biggest red ever with a few bananas on the boat. That is the god-honest truth too. In fact, I believe I posted the pic of that fish on here a while back. That morning my brother-in-law and I caught 20 or so reds combined, the smallest being a solid 4lbs. I've never been big on lucky charms(no pun intended). Or for that matter, I don't really have anything I consider unlucky.
I guess I did have a hat once that I caught my biggest bass, killed my first turkey, and caught my biggest bream and red while wearing it. I also missed the biggest deer I've ever seen in person, gotten a truck stuck when I wasn't supposed to be driving, and done lots of other unlucky things. Luck is what you make of it.
Sorry god-awful lack of parallelism in that last post.
I think it's good to have a superstition, a man has to have something to blame his bad luck on.
I have a lucky orange hat that was given to me in AK. That's about as far as my belief in luck goes.
I have a lucky coin that is in my wallet, but that is as far as I go.
I do have lucky lures that seem to catch more fish, but I don't go overboard with it.
Men need something to blame their bad luck on. Just like the first thing that most hunters blame when they miss a shot it their optics. Many don't like they are the reason or naturual reasons are the reasons for their bad luck.
there is no luck its just god he test you to see if you faithful
Amen
Brennen Harper Age:10
i agree with Jim in Mo, you have something to blame your bad luck on, but my thinking is why take the chance leave the bananas at home, as well as cats, ladders, mirrors, and salt shakers.LOL
well i dont care. i love bannans, their not juicy or messy and taste great
When a "rookie" angler steps foot on my boat I make sure to do a "banana check". Taking a banana on board is like cutting your gas line while your driving to your secret whole.... you just don't do it! Why don't you do it? Who knows, it is just one of those fishing superstions that you have to do.
If a boat skipper allows, or worse... brings, bananas onboard, I'm staying on the dock. Also, you don't rename a boat. It's a curse.
I have freaked out my fishing buddies numerous times by catching fish within seconds of making a "sacrifice to the gods". Usually pouring a sip of beer or a pinch of tobacco into the water when we weren't catching anything. The world is stranger than we can know and not respecting the forces that make is so is plain foolish.
couple years ago on lake kipawa we had alot of beavers around us and no fish...we had the curse of the beaver. we made peace with the beaver by taking a floating stick back to his dam...after we did that we caught fish again.
Post a Comment