DIY Plug Knocker/Retriever.....

[Crow Horse]

Not ground breaking, but I cobbed this together. I fish from a yak and in shallow water. Hopefully I won't need to use it but I rarely get snagged where I fish. That said, I don't want to be tossing 110's and not have a method of retrieving one that might get snagged.

 

I used a dive finger spool reel that connects to the weight. I PlastiDipped the weight.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I made one from an old chalk line. Its compact works well. It doesn’t help if you throw it in the trees on the bank though. Or so I’ve heard. 

[Crow Horse]

26 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I made one from an old chalk line. Its compact works well. It doesn’t help if you throw it in the trees on the bank though. Or so I’ve heard. 

That's a brilliant idea!!!

[GRiver]

What size weight is it? Most of the time use the rod tip to retrieve it method. I have went swimming for them though. 

[Crow Horse]

It's a 2oz. weight. 

[Big Swimbait]

I did something similar with an old marker buoy. Easy to wrap up and store.

[VTFan]

I made one using an old spark plug and a large swivel. Been using it for 10+ years and just recently had it fail me for the first time. Put the line tie ring through the gap in the spark plug, hammered the gap shut. When lure is snagged put the snap end of the swivel on the line and let it fall to the lure.  May have to jiggle it a few times to unsnag. Like I said, I've just recently had it fail me for the first time in over 10+ years of using one.

[Kev-mo]

So I get the knocker style concept... but like how does it work if you snag the back treble of a 110 on a log? I would also think that a 2 oz. weight crashing into say a 110 bill would eventually break the bill.

 

Am I missing something? Would jiggling maybe eventually knock the back treble in my example? Also I guess the weight is falling through water not air...

[RRocket]

7 hours ago, Kev-mo said:

Would jiggling maybe eventually knock the back treble in my example? Also I guess the weight is falling through water not air...

Yes, I think you've got it. 

 

 

[Crow Horse]

I was concerned about that as well. If you control the weight's descent with another line, that might mitigate that possibility. I PlastiDipped the weight so there's a little cushion, albeit a very small one.

[Crow Horse]

I thought Delaware Valley Tackle's chalk line idea was so choice that I went that route. I purchased a new chalk line (all mine had chalk in them) for cheap. Way easier to manage the line and pretty compact.

 

[fin]

Now you've got me trying to remember where my old chalk line is. I may have to rig one of these up.

 

One thing though, looking at your picture, I wonder if a round sinker might be better, and something smaller than those large snaps, because if the weight hangs too low from the line, it's going to miss your lure and hit what you're snagged on instead. It might not matter as much for you in your kayak, but I imagine for me from the bank, that would make a difference.

[Crow Horse]

Good points. I haven't used it yet (and hope to never need it) and I'm sure it'll require some tweaking. From what I read about them, they really don't work well or at all from the bank because you need to be directly over your snagged lure. The snaps I used are 110# and might be too large. Any adjustments should be really easy and very low cost. This was a project that was just too easy to do to not cob one together. I really love DVT's idea of the chalk line reel.

[RRocket]

1 hour ago, fin said:

Now you've got me trying to remember where my old chalk line is. I may have to rig one of these up.

 

One thing though, looking at your picture, I wonder if a round sinker might be better, and something smaller than those large snaps, because if the weight hangs too low from the line, it's going to miss your lure and hit what you're snagged on instead. It might not matter as much for you in your kayak, but I imagine for me from the bank, that would make a difference.

I too have heard similar about importance of sinker and set up style, though I have no personal experience. And what you say mirrors my research.

 

Seems as though many prefer large coin style (or ball) sinkers on a compact (but strong) snap. This to ensure good contact. The coin style seems particularly adept at being shaken/jiggled to free lures...I'm guessing because the whole side of the coin can contact the lure and give it a decent tap.

 

FWIW, I'll be using a coin style when I build mine.

 

Fun and timely topic. I had recently seen a modern interpretation of a lure retriever. I don't know if it was Kickstarter? But it appeared to be beautifully conceived and designed. Would travel down the line with excellent force and speed..and the nose had a magnet which somehow anchored and grabbed the lure. It was expensive ($75) but it was suitably beautiful (like a nicely made reel) and I think I'd spring for one if they work!

 

But I can't for the life of me remember the name of it!