Banana Rule?

[Hawgwash]

First time poster, long time viewer. Love the site!

Can't wait to read the responses to this one... Where did the no banana rule originate and why? I first stepped on this slippery topic 3 years ago in Alaska and have since been quizzed by several guides on the north coast B4 coming on board. I bet a landlubber buddy that this is a real deal and not just a bunch of hooey! Thanks.

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Hawgwash

[PeterMac]

Haw - What IS the banana rule, or do I not want to know?????

[Kwiky]

I know this goes against the grain, but I'll tell you this much: last winter I began eating bananas faithfully on the water after I noticed having hookups immediately afterwards. Maybe that's what I'm missing this season!

Kwiky

[BUGLEMAN]

One way I see it is....

1)pack a lunch containing: a can of coke, potato chips, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fruit pie + a bannana

2) Now go offshore at let say the Keni Penninsula where close 5-7 foot wind waves can occur. Make sure your captain is a real throttle jocky.

3) Now try to eat the crunched up gooowwy banana tainted slop off the deck after it has saturated your lunch sack and oozed out.

As for fishing, the one time my brother brought a banana we got skunked. Scientific,,,, I know.


[This message has been edited by BUGLEMAN2U (edited 02-19-2001).]

[willierower]

The Banana is a lame superstition(sp). Some people feel if there is a banana on the boat, You wont catch any fish. They say it has something to do with the smell.
There are some guys who say citrus fruits will cause you to get skunked. According to the citric acid is a big fish repellent.
The only thing I really worry about Is gasoline and oil. Gas on your hands means n fish. I noticed a couple years ago that every morning I mixed the gas and oil for the outboard, I didnt do to well fishing. Everyone else in the boat would hook plenty of salmon. I wouldnt ook squat.

[Big Willie]

Banana shamana, I've caught fish with nanners in the boat. So there

[RichH]

Yeah, but why ruin a good myth. Kinda fun and it sure makes the rookies tremble

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Rich H

[Pete]

There are a bunch of ... nah, a few superstitions about what not to take in a boat. I think they all have a shred of truth. Bananas, when my friends bring them, result in slippery peels on the floor ... a safety hazard. Newspapers fly around in the wind and wrap around the captain's head at 40 knots, blinding him and causing him to run into the bridge abbutment. Peanuts end up in the scuppers and plug the bilge pump and I don't like the smell. WD-40 makes the floor slippery cuz my buddy thinks it violates the prohibition against dumping oil in the water to spray it over the side (yah, like my 2 stroke doesn't blow smoke). Chocolate cake stains the upholstery and causes a tendancy for the boat to list towards the side where the cake eater is sitting. Cigar ashes get in your eyes. I could go on, but I've already exceeded propriety.

[birdhunter]

I dunno guys. I've had really bad experiences with bananas in the boat before. Let me give you two recent examples:

I was fishing near the mouth of the Kalama in late August for upriver brights and we'd had great success. We went three successive days. Caught two fish the first day. The next day we caught 4 fish, including a 45 lber. The third day I brought along a friend who has yet to catch a salmon. I've taken him out many times, in ideal conditions, and never touched a fish. So I thought this was a done deal. Exponentially speaking we should hook 16 fish and keep the best 6. No problem getting this guy into a fish, right? Wrong. Never touched a fish all day. Same lures, same spot, same condions, same everything. Boats on either side of us caught loads of fish. I couldn't understand it. About noon, by buddy opens gets out his lunch and what do you think is the first thing he pulled out of that paper bag? The ugliest, puturid yellow-black banana I'd ever seen. My mouth hit the floor and I immediately told him to toss the fruit over or he and the plantaine would be taking a long wet trip to Astoria. Needless to say he complied, but the damage was already done. We never touched a fish that day while the boats on either side of us limited out and left.

Just a few weeks ago, during the peek of winter steelheading in the Clack I had been doing exceptionally well. One day we hooked 5 fish and landed 3. The next day we hooked another 3 and kept 2. The very next day I decided to try to take this same friend out again. We couldn't miss with steelhead, right? Wrong again. After waiting an extra hour at the boat ramp for him to show up, I should have realized the omen I was getting. When he finally arrived I inspected his lunch to make sure that he didn't have any contraband. Lo and behold once again he had a road-killed banana tucked away. I made him dispose of it at Carver and hoped that the skunk would not follow us downriver. Well it did. Never touched a single fish that day.

I still don't know if it is that friend or the bananas. Perhaps it is both. I have made it my personal mission to catch him his first steelhead or salmon. Maybe we have to perform some sort of Indian purifying ritual first. I don't know. All I can say is that I'm not going to take any chances. If you plan on coming in the boat with me you had best leave the fruit at home.

[Trick]

LOL.......Birdhunter your killin' me.

[Steelheader69]

It's just superstition.
Here's an example...

About a month ago, Os, myself, and two of my friends went on a float trip down the Nooch. Guess who was the only one who had a fish on for the day???? You guessed it, my buddy who HAD the banana. Actually speaking, I used to always (and still do at times) pack a banana in my lunch. My best year was a couple years ago. Limited out on kings everyday. Had bananas with me every day. So, go figure....

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You haven't lived til you've rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.

[onstep]

Did you guys know that smelly jelly makes a scent called banana anise. Supposedly works well on lake trout. Smells just like banana and ansise with silver flakes in it.

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Bananas contain citric acid?

Is that a banana in your waders or are you just happy to see me?

[Nuttinbutnet]

It is a belief out of Polynesia. The Banana Plant is considered one of the physical presence on land of the sea god. Therefore it is considered very unlucky to carry or consume the fruit while at sea(disrespectfull). Since Native Hawaiians were brought to the Northwest in the late 1700's by the Hudson Bay Trading Co. to work and navigate the rivers, I can only assume that that is where it came from.

[Trick]

I'm just happy too see ya'.

[Master Baiter]

I think the banana stuperstition only plagues the believers, case in point:

Some friends were showing me a new river, their home river, I showed up with a banana in my lunch. They cried for a good hour about this rule that I had never heard of before . Bottom line is that I hooked five steelies that day and they hooked none . The fish only care whats on the end of your line not whats in your lunch!

Scientific, not a chance! Just my $.02, draw your own conclusions though.

MB

[This message has been edited by Master Baiter (edited 02-21-2001).]

[Jennie@ifish]

http://www.ifish.net/fishoff!.html

[Dances]

Good one jennie
you know what they say
A banna a day keeps the fishies away :Rolleyes:

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Work is for people who dont know how to fish

[Dances]

Good one jennie
you know what they say
A banna a day keeps the fishies away

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Work is for people who dont know how to fish

[fishbait]

I have a few buddies that believe the Bannana thing. One of my favorite things to do is to eat the Bannana while I am punching my tag. They usually try to get it and throw it overboard. It makes for great fun.
Bannana schamma

[Hoosier Daddy]

OMG, you guys are killing me. I'm going to get fired or worse for giggling at my desk uncontrollably. I had heard this before, but forgot. Luckily, I don't like the damned things anyway, not enough to pack around anyway. Maybe I should start, not carrying one doesn't seem to be working. Later.

[Phish_on]

Biggest chinook I ever caught @ Buoy 10 was hooked while eating banana bread (I was eating the bread, fish was eating a herring)

[Coot22]

birdhunter,

You did notice that pattern of when you went fishing with this friend that two things were the same. He was there and he had a banana. However, one thing you failed to see! I was on the boat each time you spoke of when you caught fish!!! The times on the clackamas I was on the oars guiding the boat and putting the lines where they need to be. I also seem to recall that the day on the Kalama, the second day, I chose where to drop the anchor, it was my lures that we used, and, most importantly, we also used my method of tuning and scenting the lures! I just happen to recognize that pattern. I ain't no scientist but that sounds pretty consistent to me!!! HEHEHE.

-Cody

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"10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish"

Not allowed in my boat. Over the years,
it for sure will not jinx anyone else
that brings them, but I for sure will
NOT even get a bite. Captain's rule,
I guess. (I lied Jeff, I posted on
this one)

******

[parker]

'Nanners = Bad JuJu

Bad JuJu = Unhappy Fish God

Unhappy Fish God = No Fishies for you!

I'ver personally witnessed Bad Banana Ju Ju three times now. Every time, the person involved, was skunked during the day while we tore in to the fishies.

"Just Say No To Bananas!"

Parker

[parker]

'Nanners = Bad JuJu

Bad JuJu = Unhappy Fish God

Unhappy Fish God = No Fishies for you!

I'ver personally witnessed Bad Banana Ju Ju three times now. Every time, the person involved, was skunked during the day while we tore in to the fishies.

"Just Say No To Bananas!"

Parker

[birdhunter]

It's always nice to know I have such humble friends Cootie. I forgot that I couldn't even catch a cold much less a fish if it wasn't for your "expert" techniques.

"Friends don't let friends fish with pink worms"

[Coot22]

birdie,

just given ya a hard time!!! geez. (sarcastically) i was just making a scientific conjecture. ah well. Anyway, It looks like i wont be getting into portland until late. if you get into P-Town not too late, then try and swing by the oc fisherman's. all of the buses are full so i am trying to find a ride.

[Line_Buster]

I had to try this out. just a few weeks ago abunch of guys met at a boat launch at a river. while they were all getting ready and the normal stuff I rubbed banna on all the boats but 1 funny thing was it was the only boat that got fish. one other got one but I didn't get to it they were a little late getting to the river. I think they had a bit to much the night before.

LOL got ya guys!!! you will always have that in the back of yer mind.


Line Buster

Sheesh, now I have to put a "banana alarm"
detection system for my boat and trailer
at the launch!! LOL

[Tanner]

Bull"s..t",
Me always have nana on the boat. Me almost always catch fish. Nana good. Superstition bad.
No, really. Anybody who believes in this crap really needs to develop more confidence in their fishing skills. I remember several years ago the hot scent a select group was experimenting with for springers on the willamette happened to be Banana extract. I witnessed several fish caught with the stuff.

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Work is for people who have an expensive fishing habit to support.

[parker]

I disagree. Smearing a nanner all over someone's boat is not even close to having a nanner *in* your boat or on your possession.

That's kind of like saying "I walked past some nanners at Safeway. Uh oh, I've got Bad JuJu (TM)" (There, I just put a TradeMark on "Bad JuJu").

Next time, bring a bunch of nanners and just start tossin' them in people's boats. Of course, if they find the nanner and toss it out before they launch, then one would not expect Bad JuJu (TM). If they fail to find the nanner, then yes, I would expect they would get hit with some really nasty Bad JuJu (TM).

I've been in situations where I found someone to have nanners in their possesions while in the boat with me. Since I was the one that tossed them (the nanners) overboard, the FishGods rewarded me that day with Good JuJu (TM). The guy that brought the nanners didn't get a hit all day (it was a 15 fish day).

Don't anger the FishGods.

"NO BANANAS"

Parker