In sports, many athletes have pre-game rituals. Wayne Gretzky would put his pads on in a certain order, Wade Boggs ate chicken, the list goes on.

 

What pre-fishing outing rituals or superstitions do you have?

 

I don't know if mine is more common sense or ritual, but I pretty much can't throw a lure in the water until I've first reseated the line on my baitcasters (at least once, many times twice).

 

And concerning superstition I have this one baseball cap.....and darned if I get skunked every time I leave the house without it!    

I have to have everything rigged up before I go, hate having to rig up at the ramp and lose precious time during that early morning bite!

i need 2 have everything ready the day b4,i go thru my check list..i even leave the boat hooked up2 my truck..if the day b4 the fishing trip things start going wrong, i think of it as a warning sign that the fish day is gonna suck..like if i invite 4 buddy & they cancel,if its gonna be a gorgeous day & the weather changed..if in the morning my trucks battery is dead or i have a flat tire..i know its sily but its thinks i think about,,lol

Probably the most consistent thing I do before going out is to check the barometric pressure.

 

I'm still undecided on whether or not it *really* makes a difference in fishing.

 

I mean, I went out this past Monday which had a low BP, but I couldn't buy a bite. And I've been out on days where the BP was high and had a great day.

 

So it's just something I do with regularity before hitting the water.

 

Not proud of it but it became routine for me to have one for breakfast around 7 or 8 while I fish.

 

 

I too follow the Barometric pressure as well as the moon phase, so I usually know what it is daily and definitely before I go.

 

I have certain songs that I listen to in the truck on the way, and they're different for each lake.

 

The one thing that I do ensure prior to launching the Old Town and this might be more of a self-preservation move than a superstition -

 

Don the PFD ~ don't like dying.

 

A-Jay

I like to take a shower and wear clean, weather appropriate fishing clothes when I leave the house and be certain that rain gear is in the truck.   I eat breakfast on the road - usually 2 slices of Casey's breakfast pizza and a large coffee.   When I get closer to the lake, stop and buy ice and anything else I might need that has occurred to my during the drive.   I try to keep a couple of different sets of weather appropriate fishing clothes in the truck.  At the end of the day, after I've loaded the boat and transferred gear int0 the truck as necessary, I like to change clothes.  I find driving home in hot sweaty clothes is annoying and should I decide to stop at a restaurant on the way home, I think that walking into an eating establishment when you are sweaty and stinky is rude.  I know that there are occasions when that can't be avoided, but for the most part I think it is rude.

 

Other superstitions/habits would include rods rigged and ready to go.  If I'm going to be fishing soft plastics primarily, I want to have my first few color choices out of storage and easy to get to.

I only have one. Most of my fishing involves a boat ride before fishing. The question I always debate is should I fill the livewell first before fishing when I arrive  or wait until the first legal fish is caught to fill the well? Will I jinx myself if I fill it in anticipation of that first nice fish? And the debate continues every trip.

Get up.  Get dressed.  Hook up the boat.  Go fishing.  I know it's crazy, but I am convinced that if I don't get up, it won't be a good day on the water.

, I like to change clothes.  I find driving home in hot sweaty clothes is annoying and should I decide to stop at a restaurant on the way home, I think that walking into an eating establishment when you are sweaty and stinky is rude.  I know that there are occasions when that can't be avoided, but for the most part I think it is rude.

 

 

 

I do this as well - depends on the weather; but definitely if it rained.

 There are some funny looks occasionally shot my way stripping down next to the truck.

 

A-Jay

I wet my line with saliva before I tie the knot

I only have one. Most of my fishing involves a boat ride before fishing. The question I always debate is should I fill the livewell first before fishing when I arrive  or wait until the first legal fish is caught to fill the well? Will I jinx myself if I fill it in anticipation of that first nice fish? And the debate continues every trip.

I go through the same thing- I also have a similar situation with when and where I will take out my net from where I keep it stowed.

There is 0 correlation between either of these things and my success or lack thereof for a day on the water- but it crosses my mind every time.

I have to get everything ready to go to the lake the night before, if I'm going to start with soft plastics, I'll have the bag I'll start with in a pocket or right on top. 

I have to have a hat on, if I forget it, I'll get skunked.

Being a southern boy I HAVE to bring at least a gallon of sweet tea

Catch a fish on your first cast guaranteed to be your last, so if the 1st cast gets bit I won't set the hook

No bananas in the boat

When I am driving to my fishin destination I always play my "fishing" playlist on my Iphone lol

Get up.  Get dressed.  Hook up the boat.  Go fishing.  I know it's crazy, but I am convinced that if I don't get up, it won't be a good day on the water.

 

Thats true you'll definately catch more on the boat than in the bed

 

I only have one. Most of my fishing involves a boat ride before fishing. The question I always debate is should I fill the livewell first before fishing when I arrive  or wait until the first legal fish is caught to fill the well? Will I jinx myself if I fill it in anticipation of that first nice fish? And the debate continues every trip.

 My father in law always laughs at me when i tell him not to fill the livewell before we've caught fish. i also debate about taking my landing net  out of the storage box.. (the net one always comes back to bite me when i leave it in the box)

I never start my day without consuming the "The Big Country Breakfast" i call it ='s 3 eggs, one whole shredded potato for hash browns, 4 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of toast, a big glass of milk & a half glass of orange juice...

 

I don't like wasting time eating on the water, so that pile of goodness sits heavy and sticks with me...all i need is a chunk of jerk mid outing and i'm good...

If I ate that, i'd be circling the lake looking for an outhouse about an hour into my trip.  You must have a cast iron stomach or the convenience of the toon to drop bombs when you want. No wonder the water you fish is always so d**n murky... 

I check BR on the way to the lake. Other than that I double check the plugs on the boat...

I never start my day without consuming the "The Big Country Breakfast" i call it ='s 3 eggs, one whole shredded potato for hash browns, 4 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of toast, a big glass of milk & a half glass of orange juice...

 

I don't like wasting time eating on the water, so that pile of goodness sits heavy and sticks with me...all i need is a chunk of jerk mid outing and i'm good...

That's a great idea. I usually go light on breakfast and bring a bunch of junk to eat. I'm doing The Big Country Breakfast before my next outing and bring some teriyaki jerky for a mid day snack.

Hit the snooze bar once or twice.

Very short first cast so I don't catch one.  Several times I've got them on the first cast and then no more for that session.

Pre fishing to me means getting ready for a $$ tournament and I do not believe in donating any $$ to other tournament anglers. Pre fishing is all about winning a tournament, so everything must be in top condition, batteries checked, engine oil, spark plugs, electronics, trolling motor cables, every reel with new line, every hook sharpened. All my stuff organized so I know where it is when it's needed. Extra clothing, rain gear, hats, sun screen, drinking water, snacks, cell phone charged, every item on my check list.

Pre fishing isn't fun fishing and I don't want any distractions and avoid ramp chatter.

I rarely tournament fish anymore because it can be stressful, rather fun fish.

Tom

Pre fishing to me means getting ready for a $$ tournament and I do not believe in donating any $$ to other tournament anglers. Pre fishing is all about winning a tournament, so everything must be in top condition, batteries checked, engine oil, spark plugs, electronics, trolling motor cables, every reel with new line, every hook sharpened. All my stuff organized so I know where it is when it's needed. Extra clothing, rain gear, hats, sun screen, drinking water, snacks, cell phone charged, every item on my check list.

Pre fishing isn't fun fishing and I don't want any distractions and avoid ramp chatter.

I rarely tournament fish anymore because it can be stressful, rather fun fish.

Tom

 

i think youre confusing prefishing for a tournament with prefishing as in what you do before you actually go fishing. this thread is about what you do before you go fishing, and not tournament prefishing.

 

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me i guess i dont really have any rituals before i go fishing. atleast none that are obvious enough for me to think of right now lol

Me?  I always leave the drain plug out so the bottom of the boat gets a good soaking.  It also serves to get my heart racing at a sufficient level.

When I am driving to my fishin destination I always play my "fishing" playlist on my Iphone lol

 

what exactly does this list consist of?

what exactly does this list consist of?

Music that a majority of this site doesn't like... hip hop lol