# asparagus pee and fishing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 10, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331 "2012-04-10T01:15:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331/1 "2012-04-10T01:15:45Z")

</div>

> **[How to Catch Fish with Asparagus](https://knoji.com/article/how-to-catch-fish-with-asparagus/)**
>
> Asparagus contains chemicals that pass into human urine and attract fish. There are three kinds of asparagus and it is thought to be beneficial in preventing heart disease.

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:)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331/2 "2012-04-10T01:38:00Z")

</div>

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

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331/3 "2012-04-10T01:38:39Z")

</div>

Well after all this was Europe.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331/4 "2012-04-10T01:49:07Z")

</div>

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

> **[Kaiser Foundation Medical Bulletin](https://books.google.com/books?ei=t5CDT93zMIbx0gGi-9DvBw&id=3BAwAQAAMAAJ&dq=asparagus%2Bemergency%2Burine%2Brations&q=asparagus)**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MetroGnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@MetroGnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetroGnome)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-pee-and-fishing/618331/5 "2012-04-10T02:22:04Z")

</div>

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