I use a 3oz weight on large swivel.

My plug knocker is 2 or 3 oz trolling sinker (has a swivel on either end) with a large snap swivel attached. Clip on your line, get directly over the bait and let 'er drop. 90% of snagged cranks will come free on the first drop. If not, do the line pop thing and that will take care of most. If that doesn't work, then I use a "gripper" lure retriever (David Fritts designed) that's tied on 1/4" rope attached to a marker bouy. Slide that onto your line and toss it overboard, again straight over the bait works best, then just bring it all back in.

90% of my cranks are handmade wood baits that cost a lot more than I tell my wife they do. I don't fear to throw these in nasty timber because I know I'm going to get it back. I've only broken off 2 baits in the past 2 years and both of those were because I got impatient.

+1

All of the above ideas do work great...from a boat , where you can maneuver over the lure. However, I would not expect these devices or techniques to work very well from the bank. From the bank, your line will be too horizontal to support this amount of weight enough for the weight to get to you lure.

Blu-Ranger Wrote:

Um... what's the "line pop" thing?

Doug C

xpress x21:
Well, I thought of that but I think that walking down the bank a good ways (which ever side of the stump the line runs around), so that the weight wouln't smack directly into the front of the stump... then holding the rod tip up as high as possible - heck I might even climb a tree if possible too, might get atlease some of the plugs back. That and use a heavier weight. I suspect too that it would depend alot on how far out the hang up is. I think it's worth a try though.

Doug C

theres 2 ways to do the line pop thing,one is grab the line between the reel and the first eyelet,pull it away from the rod the release,thats one way.the other way is to grab your line between your rod and the lure,hold it against your rod in one hand and pulling it with the other hand,and release it,Ive found that this is the most effective,especailly with jigs.

The guides @ El Salto (in Mexico) use a 7-ounce Pacifico beer bottle, a paper clip, and apparently black magic!

I have seen my guide use this technique on each of my 8-trips there, and I still cannot believe it! The guide makes it a mission NOT to lose a lure, and I have only seen one instance in which I lost a crank bait. Incredibly simple, and incredibly amazing to watch!

I have used the "Lure Catcher" from Daiwa. Bought it at Cabelas. It as kinda pricey but has already paid for itself.

Earnest Paty taught me the paper clip and sinker thing. It works.