How to free a Snagged Lure

[bobrfishes]

How to free a snagged lure

1. DO NOT TRY TO PULL IT LOOSE FIRST. A light tug is OK, anything else makes it worse.

2. Jiggle it on a slack line. Often you'll get lucky.

3. Remember #1. Move boat to opposite side of where it is snagged. then do # 2 again.

4. In shallow water get over the bait and reel down to it. Then push it down off the snag. Don't push so hard you break the rod. Sometimes you have to jiggle it a little but unless you really set the hook it will work.

4. Remember #1. Use a Lure Retriever. For less than 12' a pole type will pay for itself quickly.
For deeper water some form of lure knocker that slides down the line and can be pulled up and
dropped repeatedly will often work.

5.When all else fails - PULL IT LOOSE. Occasionally you'll get lucky. If it floats wait around and often it will float up.

Remember - The time you spend trying to retrieve a lure is time you are not fishing.

[Lee Smith]

From a guy that repairs rods, , , , , Don't do the reel down thing.  A $5-$20 bait is not worth a $100-$300 rod.

But us repair guys like it     

[Dark3]

Just a caveat to #1 and #2.
Rod tip high will more often then not help release it especially in rock. Rod tip low will more than likely jam it worse

[Anglerman2000]

What is a lure retriever exactly?

[Donald Garner]

What is a lure retriever exactly?

Its a device that you can attached to your line and it slides down into the water and unsnags you lure.  There are many different types to read about one of them just click on the link below.

Lure Retriever

[inNOTof]

But us repair guys like it     

Repair guys? Broke my Kistler Zbone about 6 inches from top. Can you help?

[Lee Smith]

But us repair guys like it     

Repair guys? Broke my Kistler Zbone about 6 inches from top. Can you help?

Can't put the length back on it, but can re-spine it and made a spinnerbug rod out of it for you.  Have to move all the eyes to do it.

[Wizard]

I free single hook lures with the bow and arrow technique. Make sure no line can come off the reel, grab the line in the middle of the rod and pull the line back until the rod bends some. Let the line go and the rod will shoot the lure off the object. It won't work with treble hooks or 100% of the time. It does allow you to stay away from the object you are fishing and not waste time with a lure retriever. Also, instead of an expensive lure retriever, I use an old sparkplug. Bend the electode over the line and let it slide down and knock off the lure. Cheap to use and lose.

[robeng]

try an old spark plug as a lure knocker or retriever if you will.  Attach old spark plug to a clip and slide down your line.  Sometimes it knocks the lure free.

[BankBassBait]

I free single hook lures with the bow and arrow technique. Make sure no line can come off the reel, grab the line in the middle of the rod and pull the line back until the rod bends some. Let the line go and the rod will shoot the lure off the object. It won't work with treble hooks or 100% of the time. It does allow you to stay away from the object you are fishing and not waste time with a lure retriever. Also, instead of an expensive lure retriever, I use an old sparkplug. Bend the electode over the line and let it slide down and knock off the lure. Cheap to use and lose.

That's what I do since I bank fish! Works great, just have to be careful not to put too much tension or my line will snap. I also walk along the bank to the other side from my retrieve. Lastly I  wiggle it.

[tooboocoo]

Or.....

[Lipripper]

I free single hook lures with the bow and arrow technique. Make sure no line can come off the reel, grab the line in the middle of the rod and pull the line back until the rod bends some. Let the line go and the rod will shoot the lure off the object. It won't work with treble hooks or 100% of the time. It does allow you to stay away from the object you are fishing and not waste time with a lure retriever. Also, instead of an expensive lure retriever, I use an old sparkplug. Bend the electode over the line and let it slide down and knock off the lure. Cheap to use and lose.

I know it works great for Jigs I have even get them out of brush piles sometimes.

[big g]

One think I do know about freeing baits from snags, if the lure had treble hooks don't try to rip it out just because you have heavy line.  I have gone to the hospital room with big baits hanging from my belly and groin area.  Sometime it takes repeating an event before it sinks in to my thick skull.  I now do all of the above and never use just brute force.  Emergency rooms are just too expensive.

[topwaterfanatic]

Thank you @ bobrfishes for posting this information!