Do you use a lure knocker/retriever? What's your success rate?

[Neil McCauley]

In the interest of not losing $100+ worth of hardbaits this season I'm in the market for a lure retriever device. I've seen a lot of different ones, and different designs. Seems like the most common is the weight with two rings and a rope that slides down the line. Has anyone found one in particular that works best, or that there are different types for different situations? How often do you still fail to retrieve a stuck lure?

Traditional sliding weight style:


Chain type:


Spiral stick type:


Most of my hangups are from lures wedged between irregular basketball+ size rocks and boulders. I can get about 90% fo these back by backing over the lure and pulling it free backwards. If that fails, I can get another 5% of them snapping the line from tight to slack by tightening the line as much  as possible, pointing the rod tip at it and releasing the bale. If a few times doing that doesn't work they're usually goners. I'm hoping a retriever/knocker would help get more of these back.

[WRB]

Hanging up a crank bait in rocks where you can't shake it loose is a rare event.

Lure retrievers are designed for crank baits and lures with treble hooks and work good. Trying to knock loose a snagged jig or T-rig weight with a lure retriever rarely works.

Tom

[Choporoz]

I use 'Big Ugly Plug Knockers' from eBay.  I HIGHLY recommend them.  Paid for themselves many times over.  What's more is that they work extremely well on single hooks stuck in wood, also. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-UGLY-Plug-Knocker-Fishing-Lure-Retriever-Quick-Easy-To-Use-NEW-IMPROVED-/331155075605

So easy to store and use and reuse.  I have the BPS chain monstrosity and I've carried pole-types.  BUPK's blow all of them away in their compact storage and effectiveness.

[scaleface]

I have an almost 100 percent success rate using this one . 

 .

[Neil McCauley]

30 minutes ago, WRB said:

Hanging up a crank bait in rocks where you can't shake it loose is a rare event.

Lure retrievers are designed for crank baits and lures with treble hooks and work good. Trying to knock loose a snagged jig or T-rig weight with a lure retriever rarely works.

Tom

Rare but still happened about 8-10 times to me last summer. Rocks at the bottoms of lakes here in the Adirondacks/New England are literally ancient, rounded smooth and some the size of cars, dropped in big piles by glaciers. Plenty of places for lures to get wedged in.

[tander]

32 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I have an almost 100 percent success rate using this one . 

 .

Use this one, I can't remember a time that I didn't get my lure back. Lews sells it now.

[scaleface]

2 minutes ago, tander said:

Use this one, I can't remember a time that I didn't get my lure back. Lews sells it now.

I can only remember one time it didnt work . I lost a prized Rebel Dee Wee R   . Got it snagged is a sunken brush pile . I think it was tangled    in some string .

[Kevin22]

I use the first style, made my own with the same design. 100% so far this year. Lost one last year that was wedged in chunk limestone rip-rap. 

[Raul]

I´d be dumb not to carry one since this is how my everyday looks like:

In between those there´s brush.

I would say that it works 95% of the time

[SDoolittle]

2 hours ago, Neil McCauley said:

If that fails, I can get another 5% of them snapping the line from tight to slack by tightening the line as much  as possible, pointing the rod tip at it and releasing the bale.

That's one trick that I've never mastered. I've seen it done many times, but I have a 0% success rate doing it myself. I use a standard plug knocker, and I would guess my success rate at around 90%.

[Nice_Bass]

almost 100% with pocket knocker. 

I find they are a bit expensive so I make my own now.

buy a big weight (1 oz or bigger).

 

add a small zip tie and zip it on with a swivel attached and trim off the extra zip material.  Use the swivel to snap onto line once you are over stuck lure.

[Fishes in trees]

I carry both types - the "hound dog' type and an extendable pole.   Situations happen when one will work better than the other.   Unless it is a lure that I REALLY don't want to lose, I have a 3 to 5 minute rule, i.e. if I can't get the bait off in 3 to 5 minutes I'm done.   At that point I get a little loose line, wrap it around the boat cleat several times and back off with the trolling motor.   Problem solved.

[WIGuide]

I carry the telescopic pole type. I've got about a 95-98% retrieval rate. It works for baits with treble hooks, single hooks, and the like. Another great use for it is when people you're fishing with manage to get hung up ABOVE the water as well. I've saved a few baits for people momentarily think fish live in trees standing on the bank. 

http://www.***.com/DotLine_Telescopic_Lure_Retriever_178/descpage-DLLR18.html

^ I believe I have this one and if not it's very similar. Fits in the rod locker so it's easily stored as well. 

*edit* didn't realize you can't link to tw.

[MDBowHunter]

Frabil lure retriever pole, it extends to 18'. I bought it at the beginning of last year, and it's already more then paid for it's self a few times over. That's not counting all the lures that I've seen hanging in a tree and grabbed them.

[boostr]

Not to hijack or anything, but how long should the cord be?

[BassThumb]

8 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I use 'Big Ugly Plug Knockers' from eBay.  I HIGHLY recommend them.  Paid for themselves many times over.  What's more is that they work extremely well on single hooks stuck in wood, also. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-UGLY-Plug-Knocker-Fishing-Lure-Retriever-Quick-Easy-To-Use-NEW-IMPROVED-/331155075605

So easy to store and use and reuse.  I have the BPS chain monstrosity and I've carried pole-types.  BUPK's blow all of them away in their compact storage and effectiveness.

Good share! The price is right at $2.

2 hours ago, boostr said:

Not to hijack or anything, but how long should the cord be?

How deep of water do you generally snag baits in?

It should be that long plus a couple feet.

[papajoe222]

I use both types. My telescoping pole reaches 15ft. Anything deeper than that, I use a knocker with the line mounted on an old reel and butt section of a rod.

[Brian6428]

8 hours ago, Nice_Bass said:

I find they are a bit expensive so I make my own now.

buy a big weight (1 oz or bigger).

 

add a small zip tie and zip it on with a swivel attached and trim off the extra zip material.  Use the swivel to snap onto line once you are over stuck lure.

This is a good method. I learned it from a guide. Keep the materials cheap so you don't lose much if the lure doesn't come unstuck.  

[ClackerBuzz]

lure knocker of ur choice tied to a chalk line for easy retrieve and storage.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-47-140-100-Foot-FatMax-Chalk/dp/B00005QVQE/ref=lp_553252_1_9/176-1576984-9465560?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1462237799&sr=1-9

[gobig]

I have used the BPS knocker for years with really good success.

[Bluebasser86]

I use a telescoping type and am very near 100% success ratio. Not only do I get my baits back, but I get other people's baits out of trees too.

[Bankbeater]

If I can't manoeuvre the boat so the bait pulls free then I use a lure knocker.  I also have a telescoping retriever that I use in the trees for found baits.

[Oregon Native]

All good stuff above.  I like to carry an egg sinker with a swivel on one end with a duo lock snap attached.  Sinker weighs bout three ounces and I slide it down the line and it works for worms, jigs, cranks...Make them myself so they are pretty cheap.  I do have one of the bill dance chains and when it's tuff these are almost foolproof.

[Nice_Bass]

11 hours ago, Brian6428 said:

This is a good method. I learned it from a guide. Keep the materials cheap so you don't lose much if the lure doesn't come unstuck.  

Jack?

[frogflogger]

HOUND DOG