how often do you lose baits

[JigMe]

I have good days and bad days. Probably average out at 1 lure per trip.

[fishfordollars]

Seldom, use a plug knocker with the chains on it. you can retrieve most if you take the time to try.

[D4u2s0t]

With the exception of jigs or bullet weights/hooks I rarely lose a lure, I have spinner baits, cranks & traps that are several years old.

x2.  I don't have any crazy cover, so for the vast majority of my lake 12# mono is enough to pull a lure free if I hang up.  Light line around the rocks, if i'm fishing from shore, sometimes i'll get hung up but can usually work it out.  Did the slingshot (or bow and arrow) technique today, got my #2 mepps out from a rock.

[The Bassinator]

Just be glad you are not fishing from the shore. If I am not careful I can lose up to 4-5 lures a trip.

I lost a Rat-L trap due to a line breakage.  It seemed like that thing was up in the air for 3 seconds and I didnt know where it was until I saw the splash.  I also snagged a husky jerk in firetiger that I bought the day before.  I think Im still gonna go in after that one 

[hatrix]

Its pretty rare that I loose a bait. I use braid almost all the time just for that reason. Its so strong and I don't have to worry about checking my line and retying. You will save more money in the long run buying the more expensive line. When i do use other line like on a ultra light, i usually retie after every few fish.

[grimlin]

I don't even want to think about it.....

Last year i spend a half an hour on this one spot  every weekend.It was loaded with fish......Let's just say it looks like a Bass fisherman's Christmas tree now.I'd lose 4-5 lures in that spot every time.

[Gangley]

I may have lost 4-5 lures in the past year.  A rattletrap, a spinnerbait, and a few horny toads.  I am very careful with presentation and using what i feel is appropriate lures for the occasion.  However, I still have no clue how i snagged the spinnerbait, that was a first for me.

[Nicky Greece]

I am probably the master of throwing Crankbaits into the trees...

[yamisoez]

Just be glad you are not fishing from the shore. If I am not careful I can lose up to 4-5 lures a trip.

X2

[farmpond1]

Something bad will happen if you don't sacrifice at least one bait per trip to the gods.

[JPost]

How well do the "lure retrievers" work for fishing from the bank?  I wasn't sure if you kind of have to be on top of the lure such as in a boat to get the retriever to go all the way down to the lure or does it work like zip line?  Am I making sense?

Thanks

[BassThumb]

I used to lose a lot of lures when I first started fishing but now I don't seem to lose as many. Maybe it's because I'm more accurate, or maybe it's because I use 50 lb Power Pro on most of my setups.

More accurate...well, not sure that is the case. If you want to catch big fish, it's common sense you need to be fishing in the cover. I usually lose 1 lure a day. However when i fish in Minnesota, i use will lose about 4 a day. They have northern pike and they have no decency. I use Triline 20 lb test but it just doesn't stop all the northern.

If your not losing lures, you probably aren't the type of person that catches a lot of big bass. Am i wrong??? (im not talking about catching just one big bass, anyone can do that by shear luck, i'm talking about many big bass)

Very true, those Northerns can really be a pain.  Other than a few tubes and Senkos that were snagged deep under docks and absolutely could not be reached and had to be broken off(I hate doing this BTW), all the lures I lost were cranks and jigs due to Northerns.  Maybe $50 worth of cranks and 8 jigs, so $80 total.

[zach t]

Thanks for the responses. Looks like this is just going to be something to live with.

I can certainly improve my odds with a little more caution. I respool very often since i fish so much (every two weeks). But, fishing the Big G is hard on the line ,between the cover, the lilly pads, and grass, the line gets nicked and stretched alot.

[hatrix]

You should really try and spool a rod with braid. Ever since i started using it the amount of lure i loose has dropped dramatically. Last night i did loose a little 3" suspending minnow to about a 10lb or more catfish using 20lb braid. I got bold trying to horse him in and didn't let it wear it self out enough. It was cool though cause it jumped when it grabbed the bait since it only run about 1' deep. I never seen a catfish that big break water.

[Raul]

How well do the "lure retrievers" work for fishing from the bank? I wasn't sure if you kind of have to be on top of the lure such as in a boat to get the retriever to go all the way down to the lure or does it work like zip line? Am I making sense?

Thanks

Plug knockers unless you are on a very steep bank and the knocker can fall vertically do not work from shore, they are for boat use. Poles worl well from shore, only problem is that the longest one I can remember is 15 ft in length and since fishing follows Murphy 's laws there you are with your 15 ft long lure retriever pole and your bait hung up 15 + ft from you.