Snags

[hitormiss]

So many times I read on hear about dropping jigs and T rigs into underwater brush, limbs, etc. Is there a secret to not getting hung up and losing lures and hooks? You guys talk about bouncing a jig through or off of lay downs, if it's there I hook it! Help.

[skillet]

Hitormiss,

 Hopefully not too obvious :-?, but if you are rigging it right (T-rig) you shouldn't be having this problem. Check the search option above for a diagram. I fish a lot from the bank and if I hang a jig it is usually the head trying to come thru a small crotch of a submerged limb or roots...

                                            As Ever,

                                             Skillet

[Raul]

So many times I read on hear about dropping jigs and T rigs into underwater brush, limbs, etc. Is there a secret to not getting hung up and losing lures and hooks? You guys talk about bouncing a jig through or off of lay downs, if it's there I hook it! Help.

Jiggin, crankbaitin & woimin ' are KONTACT sports my man, if you ain 't fishin 'em where they hang up you ain 't fishin 'em in the right place. There ain 't no secret, with time, practice and lotz & lotz of brush feedings you learn to detect when the bait is going to hang up ........ after loosing a big bunch of stuff on the learning process, crap happens.

[NCthompson]

this happens some to me when bank fishing.There are logs but obviously you cant pull lures through them so you have to over them or through lots of brush. Then the hook slides off and the hook is free. At least I think.

[Shad_Master]

Don't let these guys get their bluff in on you -- they hang up, too -- we all do -- that's how the bait monkey gets fat.  With practice you may find little subtle tricks that will cut down on the snagging, but it ain't gonna go away.  Just make sure that snag ain't a big ole hawg before you go breakin off.

[gloomis7]

Hitormiss,

I fish in a lake that has tons of laydowns and underwater brush, in the beginning, i couldn't help but hang up on stuff. Like Raul said, trial and error are key. One way that i keep from getting hung up is by going really slow while working through brush when I feel like i'm about to get really stuck just let some slack in your line and shake it a lot of times it'll fall back through.

[Garnet]

In the jig deptment there jigs for wood and rock and there are jigs for grass and there hybrid commbos that are just about use less.

Garnet

[roadwarrior]

Don't let these guys get their bluff in on you -- they hang up, too -- we all do -- that's how the bait monkey gets fat. With practice you may find little subtle tricks that will cut down on the snagging, but it ain't gonna go away. Just make sure that snag ain't a big ole hawg before you go breakin off.

If you're not getting hung up, you're probably not fishing the right structure and/or cover. It's part of the program. Fishing soft plastics weedless will significantly reduce your snags, but you will still get hung.

[Catt]

Exactly what Raul & RW said!

What do you want bass in your live well or baits in your tackle box?

You can't have both

[Alpster]

Like others have said, get snagged a lot and you will learn where bass live. JMHO

Ronnie

[Raul]

Don 't ask me how many sinkers I loose during a dropshotting session, just let me tell you that after a while what I hate is that run out of sinkers in the middle of the session.  >

[clipper]

If you are fishing shallow brush use a lighter jig head or weight.  The worm will look more natural, you will feel bites better and the lighter weight will hang up less and come free better than a heavier head.  For shallow fishing I use a 1/16 oz Charlie Brewer Snagless Slider head with a 4 or 5"  worm.  Of course if you are fishing a 14" worm for big bass you will probably need something with a wide gap hook but a lighter weight jig head or sinker will still get hung up less.  You also have to use 8 lb line on spinning gear to cast a 1/16 oz jig head and check for line damage and retie often.  Give light tackle (not ultralight) fishing a try, you'll like it.  

[Catt]

Not a clear picture but this is what I fish in during the spawn  

[Bankbeater]

Usually when I hang up in a brush pile with a t-rig its the weight getting stuck in a V. I found that by using the smallest weight I have or by going weightless I don't hang up nearly as much.

[hitormiss]

Glad I'm not the only one!  Thanks for all the replies and advice. I'm already using a 1/8 once bullet on worms, and yes it is t-rigged correctly. My problem with worms in brush is often I'll feel something that feels like a bite, then WHAM, I've caught a nice limb. Since bass can spit out the worm so quickly, I'd hate to wait and loose one. I've starting using light wire worm hooks and 20lb PP so sometimes I can at least straighten the hook and get it back. Haven't had the same luck with my Bitsy Bugs. I've donated several of those. Glomis7, I'll give that tip a try.

[Shad_Master]

Another technique that works, although I am still working at it, is what some people call the bow & arrow technique.  When you are hung, engage the reel and grab the line between the reel and the first guide, pull on the line and then let it go with a snap while pushing the rod toward the snag.  This works a lot of the time, but you don't want to try to straighten the hook first before trying this.

[boondocks]

What do you want bass in your live well or baits in your tackle box?

You can't have both

That may be one of the best quotes of all time!  

[Catt]

While dropping down in lure weight will lessen hang ups it also eliminates the reason you are flipping/pitching into cover to start with. Contact with the bottom is key when flipping/pitching and some times especially during pre-spawn/early spawn a fast fall rate will trigger a strike.

I use heavier weights and deal with snags along with catching hawgs  

Boondocks I have a buddy who can not stand to even lose a plastic worm, hook, and sinker. He would ask me to troll over and let him get his set up back; I'd answer, What do you want bass in the live well or baits in your tackle box?

[flippinout]

Don't forget to peg your t-rigs... I know...that's a no brainer but it took me a long time to figure that out.  As for pegging...most people use tooth picks or rubber bands.  I use the little rubber bobber stops that crappie fishermen use.  I use the ones that are meant to be used on 8lb line.  It is really snug on 20lb and keeps the weight on the nose of the plastic but when you set the hook, it slides up away from the fish's mouth.  Another good thing is I don't get tooth picks stuck in a tungsten weight that costs $1.50 a piece.

[bigdog]

So many times I read on hear about dropping jigs and T rigs into underwater brush, limbs, etc. Is there a secret to not getting hung up and losing lures and hooks? You guys talk about bouncing a jig through or off of lay downs, if it's there I hook it! Help.

Are you talking about bank fishing or fishing from a boat.Since I do alot of bank fishing I noticed alot of laydowns are laying with the branches away from the bank{pointed twards the middle of the lake}witch makes alot v's and it's easy to lose a rig.But agian that's fishing..

[MakhuluBass]

Invest in a good lure retriever - I seem to hang up less when the fear of loosing an expensive crank is not hanging over my head.