asparagus pee and fishing?

Factual Questions
1

Indicates that WWII RAF pilots were given tins of asparagus in their survival gear so they could pee in water and help attract fish for food.

Fascinating story…I smell an urban legend. I haven’t found any corroborating evidence for the 3 assertions this story makes.

  1. WWII soldiers or pilots were given tins of asparagus in their survival gear
  2. The reason to be given asparagus was so their smelly pee would attract fish
  3. Asparagus laced urine actually does attract fish

Does anyone have any better evidence that any of these three assertions is true? Snopes has nothing and I’m not finding anything other than it being mentioned on message boards or referencing the article I’ve linked to. (now I suppose this thread will show up in the searches:smack:)

2

Corn probably works a lot better. It’s illegal to use corn for bait in Wyoming, presumably because it works too well.

3

Well after all this was Europe.

4

The “story” goes back to at least 1957 using Google Books. Limited preview. No Homer Smith.

5

I’d be up for trying it, but would it be considered chumming, which is illegal in some states?