Have you ever seen an angler set his hook into a log completely hidden underneath the water’s surface? That’s not the shocking part. Then, that angler removed the reel from his rod and shot his rod down the line toward the snag like an Olympic javelin thrower. Running your rod tip down to the snag is an option, but it’s problematic. Sometimes that desperate move actually frees your lure from the snag, although I wouldn’t recommend it. The amount of things that could go wrong rivals Charlie Brown’s exploits.
Hanging a lure on the bottom or on a piece of cover is just part of fishing. If you’re not getting snagged sometimes, you’re not likely fishing where the fish are. If you can realize you’re snagged before really driving the hook home, you can usually get your bait back. It truly is a gamble to pull with all your might to see if that branch breaks free — how well do you trust your knots?
Instead, we want to offer different methods for getting your lures back. Some work better in certain situations but all have proven invaluable at times, not only in saving money but also preventing unnecessary litter in the lake. Plus, there are some baits that are simply irreplaceable because they’re too expensive or no longer produced. Keep in mind that if you’re set on getting your lure back, you very likely might stir up the water around you and spook the fish you were targeting.
Pop It
This is the primary method to try after getting snagged. To “pop” a bait free, hold the rod and reel with the dominant reeling hand, then use the thumb and forefinger of the other hand to pinch the section of line between the reel and the first rod guide. Pull on the line back toward yourself while pulling the rod back to create a bow in the rod. You’ll create a bit of a triangle with the line making up the two legs, and the rod blank serving as the hypotenuse. This leaves about 14 to 16 inches of space between the pinched line and the rod blank.
Sometimes, the pressure alone from this step is enough for the bait to pull free. If not, release the line and immediately drop the rod tip so the line can shoot through the guides, sending a jolt of momentum down to the bait to pop it loose.
If this does not work initially, repeat the process 10 to 12 times before trying another technique. If the bait remains deeply snagged, switching to a plug knocker is usually the next best option.
Use a Plug Knocker
A plug knocker is simply some type of weight that can be clipped onto your line and then released so it can travel down to your bait. The idea is that the knocker causes a collision with the lure and breaks it free. That impact of the added weight ideally pushes the hook out in the exact opposite direction of which it came in.
In order for this to work, you’ll need to hold your line tight as the plug knocker falls and then just as you feel it hit the bait, let your line go limp. About half the time, that’s enough to knock the bait free. If it didn’t come loose on initial impact, simply bob your rod tip up and down and oftentimes that will dislodge the bait.
There are times, however, when the bait won’t come undone, and then you’re out a lure and a plug knocker. For this reason, it’s a good idea to use affordable plug knockers. My dad and I make our own out of catfish weights and big clips. Plug knockers are a great option for crankbaits, especially when hung more than eight feet deep. If you’re under eight feet, try this next one first.
Two Affordable Plug Knockers:
Change the Angle
Another good way to free a bait from the bottom is to reposition the boat behind it. If snagged while fishing deep and you haven’t been able to pop a bait free, reposition on the opposite side of the snag. Try to pull the bait backward to free it. That means pulling the opposite direction of the way you were initially reeling.
It’s best to begin by adding a little pressure to your line as you reposition your boat. You don’t always have to complete 180 degrees in the opposite direction for the bait to come free. As the angle of the pressure changes, the hook will often pop free from the structure.
Get Down and Dirty
This one is for shallow-water fishing only, but the last option is to straight up retrieve the lure by hand. If you’re fishing a foot or two of water, motor up to the snag, then follow the line into the water and grab that lure. Watch out for hooks, of course. If you’re lucky, there might even be a fish on the end of it.
When I was a kid, I landed an absolute pond monster doing this exact technique. My trusty lipless crankbait got caught in some weeds along a shoreline edge. I really wanted that bait back, so I walked into the water and followed the line down into the vegetation. At the end of the line was my lure but also a monster green bass that had slurped it. My dad couldn’t believe his eyes.
Bonus points for this tactic include retrieving other lures from the same snag you’re hooked onto. Some anglers can’t be bothered to retrieve their bait; if you do the work, you might be rewarded with their abandoned lures. And lures are expensive these days, especially hard baits. There’s a YouTuber from Wisconsin who takes this technique to the extreme by scuba-diving lakes and rivers, hauling in countless lures and baits from underwater snags. I think he actually runs an online fishing lure re-sell shop with all the baits he finds.
In the Heat of the Moment
These four tactics can really help when you get hung up during a fishing trip. Remembering to keep calm on initial contact really helps. That’s the hardest part, and it is crucial. With the way bass anglers must set the hook on a bass in heavy vegetation, a soft hookset isn’t an option.
At first, try popping the bait undone. If that doesn’t work, you can either try to get behind the bait and pull it free or knock it loose. Whether you use your rod tip or a plug knocker is up to you. If none of these work, pull hard and hope the bait comes loose before the line breaks or the hook bends. That’s about all you can do, and unfortunately some baits might not come free no matter what you try. Well, unless you’re that underwater diver from YouTube. Next up, learn some tips to help prevent lure snags from ever happening.
