Many professional anglers lend little credence to the concept of superstition. They believe that luck has little to do with their ascent to the pinnacle of the sport, and that happenstance won't make or break their chances in its premier event – the Bassmaster Classic.
Others are different, and feel superstition can affect their performance.
With that in mind, BassFan surveyed some of the anglers fishing this year's Classic to find out if they have any fishing-related superstitions. We also asked what time they'd set their alarm clocks each day (they must check it with BASS officials at 4:30 a.m. each morning).
Here's what they said.
Denny Brauer
"I don't believe in superstition at all. The only thing I try to do routinely is make sure I'm totally organized before I leave home. I'm kind of a nut about organization, but that has nothing to do with superstition."
Wake-up time: 4 a.m.
Jeff Kriet
"I'm terrible – I've got a bunch of them. I've got tattoos that are supposed to bring me luck and I'll only wear black, green or blue underwear. Black is for bass, green is for money and blue is for water."
Wake-up time: 3:15 a.m.
James Niggemeyer
"I don't believe in luck, but I don't mean that in a cocky way. I just put my faith in God and go out and do the best I can, and try not to let myself get too overanxious or tense."
Wake-up time: 3:45 a.m.
John Crews
"Believing in superstition will drive you crazy. If you're worried about having everything a certain way and then, for whatever reason, you can't have it that way, then you're already mentally out of it. I like to be as prepared as I can, then let my instincts take over."
Wake-up time: 3:30 a.m.
Mark Tucker
"A good friend of mine who baptized me 8 or 9 years ago gave me a cross, and I take it out of my pocket and rub it in the morning. He was a deacon at a church right here in Alabama, in Decatur, so that might be a good sign for this tournament. Since I've had it, I've made the Classic every year. I also won't let any bananas in the boat."
Wake-up time: 4 a.m.
Edwin Evers
"I have to have my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I make them in the morning on every practice day and every tournament day, and I never get tired of them. It's not a superstition – it's just something I like."
Wake-up time: 4:10 a.m.
Kevin VanDam
"I'm not a superstitious person. I believe in the old saying: Worry about the variables you can control, and don't worry about the ones you can't."
Wake-up time: 4 a.m.
Matt Reed
"I don't have any superstitions. I don't let that kind of stuff bother me."
Wake-up time: 3:30 a.m. (will hit snooze button twice)
Mark Tucker rubs a cross each morning before he ever makes a cast.
Jared Lintner
"I normally don't have any superstitions, but if I have a good day, I'll wear exactly the same thing the next day. I had a good practice day (Wednesday), so I already have those same clothes set aside for today." (Note: For the record, he uses Right Guard deodorant.)
Wake-up time: 3:15 a.m.
James Charlesworth
"I never fill my livewell until I can put a fish in there. And no bananas in the boat, ever. I also don't want to catch a fish on my first cast. I've had that bite me before."
Wake-up time: 3:30 a.m.
Jason Quinn
"I don't have any superstitions. I'm not into that."
Wake-up time: 4 a.m.
Dean Rojas
"I don't have any superstitions, but I really like to stay calm when the Classic begins. You can't win the Classic on the first day, but you can lose it."
Wake-up time: 3:45 a.m.
Aaron Martens
"I don't have any superstitions. But I do think your first few fish of the Classic are extremely important for the rest of the 3 days. You really want to land them, because they can help you that much."
Wake-up time: 3:30 a.m.
Ish Monroe
"I always have a Cheetah energy drink when I wake up, and I listen to hip-hop music on the way to the lake."
Wake-up time: 4 a.m.
Mike Iaconelli
"I try to eliminate superstitions, but I do try to stick with clothes that are working."
Wake-up time: 4:20 a.m. (he's always the last one to the bus)
Skeet Reese
"No bananas!"
Wake-up time: 3 a.m.
Steve Kennedy
"I don't have any superstitions, but I always carry pizza in the boat to eat."
Wake-up time: 4 a.m. (but he'll probably be awake at least 2 hours before that)
Peter Thliveros
"I don't like to catch one on the first cast. I always make my first cast away from the spot I'm fishing – out toward nowhere – and I reel it in real fast, then go to work."
Wake-up time: 3:45 (but he'll probably wake up around 3:00 on his own)
