What Do You Do When You Snag A Good Piece Of Cover? 2025
richienyc reply :
Was wondering what you guys do when you snag a piece of cover like a brush pile. For me, being a bank fisherman, there are only two real options. I can either cut the line so I don't disturb the cover but this means I lose my lure and leave a long section of line in the water.the other option is to just pull as hard as i can disturbing the cover and (hypothetically)scaring the fish from the cover.I'd say that the second method is a 50 50 split between getting my lures back or snapping the line much closer to the bait, minimizing pollution.
What do you guys do?
ABW reply :
It depends on the lure.... for ex) I'm sure a lot of people would go diving for a Megabass lol
hatrix reply :
For a Megabass? I wonder what people are doing for swimbaits? I would dive for a 250 or a mother no problem at all if I thought i could possibly get it. I am on the shore and they lure is for sure gone I pull till something gives. I don' t ever cut it. I will cut it on the water like if i can get over it and not loose much line rather then pulling it and stretching it out. It is easier and if its not a huge loss of line no worries.
Also if you fished some decent test braid you will just bend hooks out till it comes free. Or that bush is going coming to the shore if the hooks wont give. Something will give and it is probably not 50# braid.
kikstand454 reply :
Bow and arrow trick.
Still stuck?
Send in the hound dog.
Problem (almost always) solved.
WDinarte reply :
If I know for sure that is a potential catch ( fish ) under that cover, cut the line will be best option but not guarantee that I will catch the fish anyway... IF not I will pull hard and very very very important I will cover my face if the line don't give up you have a chance to have " flying lure " looking for landing spot in some part of the body. For me 80% of the time pull hard and " run " is my option. 
BassinLou reply :
If my lure is stuck and I cannot reach it, then I pull on the line, wrapped around a stick or a rag and I snap the line. It is what it is. On a side note, I have learned not use the "the good stuff" when bank fishing because of the situations posted above. I use cheaper lures on leaders so that the $$ is minimal and I preserve my main line. A 4-6ft loss of leader is not a big deal vs 50 - 75 ft of braid.
hatrix reply :
I have a friend who bank fishes all the time and some really snaggy places at that. He fishes braid and gets hung all the time even though he knows its there the same places still get him. Its kinda funny. Well he carries some pretty heavy duty gloves just for being hung up or a fish possibly depending on the situation. It is really just for him snagging stuff all the time though. I just think its funny and we kind of have a laugh about it.
Catch and Grease reply :
Get extra hooks and split ring and fish braid, when you get snagged just bend the hooks out and replace them...
ClackerBuzz reply :
use the bow and arrow release. once you get the hang of it you can get so many lures back.
listen/watch Jason (7:04 & 7:40 forward) and how gentle his technique is. it's not how hard/tight you pull back on ur line. you're trying to send a loop of line back down the line so it kicks the lure back off the object. very similar to cracking a bullwhip when you were a kid. or casting a fly fishing line.
the two things I could recommend to focus on are:
1 pull the line gently
2 throw ur rod tip forward violently
i say it like this b/c most guys have it reversed. ie they pull the line extremely tight but don't put any forward motion into the rod. you want to 'push or ripple a loop back down to ur lure.
a lot of times with crankbaits the best thing to do is nothing. they will often float up by themselves. just set the rod down and come back to it in a few minutes. i've even snagged multiple chatterbaits, disengaged my reel, leaned my rod against a tree, fished 50 ft down shore with my other rod...and came back only to have my chatterbait unhook itself b/c of gravity/current.
from a boat you get to use lure retrievers but i always spend some time with bow and arrow b/c i don't want to ruin a spot. after you get good you don't need to get out the lure retrieve. and after you get really good you can even work crankbaits thru cover w/o loading hooks deep into timber (i can't wait for that day to come
when fishing open shore w/ no cover i'm with catch and grease and if possible use heavier line/braid w/ lighter wire hooks so I can bend them out. it works fine in open water/rock reservoirs w/ no cover b/c the fish is going to run for open water. i just take my time fighting him out there and let the rod and drag do their job.
Edited by roadwarriorSirSnookalot reply :
Whether I'm snapping the bow or pulling hard there is a limit to my aggression, I've had too many lures fly back at me. I use 10 and 15# braid, up to 20# in SW, leader and swivel, either the lure breaks off or the braid knot at the swivel.
When I do pull the line hard by hand I always release my bail, I broke 1 tip by not doing this, that was a great education. If pulling the rod make sure to keep it perfectly straight, it won't break that way.
geo g reply :
If your hung and the lure has treble hooks, don't try to muscle it out. That move has sent me to the emergency room twice. If its a regular hook, I will muscle it back and if I lose the bait, no big deal. I usually let the trolling motor pull me out. Keep you rod down and straight to the snag, it puts no strain on the rod or guides.
ABW reply :
On 9/6/2014 at 10:58 PM, kikstand454 said:Bow and arrow trick.
Still stuck?
Send in the hound dog.
Problem (almost always) solved.
I've never seen anyone do that bow and arrow trick before.... I usually just grab a tree branch, wrap my braid around it, and pull until something gives. Might need to try that out
kikstand454 reply :
^ once you get the hang of it, you will be amazed at the types of things you can get a lure out of. ...
einscodek reply :
On 9/6/2014 at 11:08 PM, BassinLou said:If my lure is stuck and I cannot reach it, then I pull on the line, wrapped around a stick or a rag and I snap the line. It is what it is. On a side note, I have learned not use the "the good stuff" when bank fishing because of the situations posted above. I use cheaper lures on leaders so that the $$ is minimal and I preserve my main line. A 4-6ft loss of leader is not a big deal vs 50 - 75 ft of braid.
This is also what I do.. except after I wrap the line, I use the stick to pull slowly and half the time I actually get my lure back but if its in there good, its just luck of the draw.
This way I am not causing much commotion and can get another lure into that brush and try to nail any fish in there.
If Im in a boat then thats a whole nother story you got better options in retrieving lures there..
ClackerBuzz reply :
On 9/7/2014 at 2:19 AM, alee17 said:I usually just grab a tree branch, wrap my braid around it, and pull until something gives. Might need to try that out
yup i do this too. looks like i'm water skiing on land
not sure what happened to my vid. any input for future reference?
no more youtube vids? copyright infringement?
Edited by Glennhatrix reply :
I haven't done it in ages really but being snagged with like 50# braid or more I would put my hand in my shirt so it goes up my wrist then wrap it around my wrist and grab it with my hand and pull. You can really exert the most force without having try and grab the line cause it is locked up against your hand and it really is not bad at all and super easy to do. You will have a mark for a bit like if you tighten some rubber bands around you or something but it goes away and is no worry. Now if you try to wrap it around your hand and pull that is where you will have some problems and it could be serious. I am sure almost every had originally tried that before.
Once when I was a kid like maybe 8 or 9 I tried to cut mono probably 6 or 8# and i would guess like eagle claw or something with my hands. I wrapped the ends around my index fingers and pulled apart really hard. It just tightened down right through both my index fingers almost to the bones. I also recall my mother being very unhappy when I walked in bleeding all over.
Heron reply :
I typically curse a lot.
Wfo123 reply :
I tried the bow and arrow method tonight and it worked ...
Jtrout reply :
I pull back on my rod and quickly open the bail works good on spinning rods
Bluebasser86 reply :
Bowstring pop, then a heavy pull on the line to see if it pulls free or if it moves with some addition pressure, if that doesn't work I break out the lure retriever if it's a bait I'm going to try to get back. If it's something I'm not worried about then I grab the line and break it.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 9/7/2014 at 2:19 AM, geo g said:If your hung and the lure has treble hooks, don't try to muscle it out. That move has sent me to the emergency room twice. If its a regular hook, I will muscle it back and if I lose the bait, no big deal. I usually let the trolling motor pull me out. Keep you rod down and straight to the snag, it puts no strain on the rod or guides.
Exactly how we do it when hung up on a reef. Tighten the drag, wrap the line around the reel a few times, hold the rod perfectly straight and let the motor do the work. Either breaks free or the lure is lost, usually at the lure or swivel knot.
Driftb reply :
I'll try a bowstring pop or two, moving to the other side if the cover if possible, then I try the hound dawg. its a weight that will slid down the line and hammer out the lure (usually). If none of that works, I back the boat off the snag, point the rod at the snag, and hold the spool. Either the lure pops free or the line breaks. Sometimes the snag comes in with the lure. I never, ever cut the line! Cutting the line is a totally F#*# up thing to do on too many levels. I curse the inconsiderate @$$#*!!$ who do that and leave their line in the water to kill wildlife, snag other lines, get caught in props, etc. I just spent $300 to reapir a trolling motor that was damaged by cut line. People who leave line in the water give fishermen a bad name among non anglers and property owners too. Not to mention, if you cut your line every time you get snagged, how long will it be until you have to respool with $20 worth of braid? Do whatever you have to do to recover your lure and line. If you cant catch a fish there after that, move on! There are going to be more fish on more spots.
If you cant afford to lose that lure, you cant afford to use it!
Sam reply :
Richie, you got some good suggestions above.
Usually, when bank fishing and you snag your lure and can't get it out you just have to "buy the cow" and cut the line.
If you have access to any type of watercraft you can take some line off the spool and tie it to something on the bank; get the canoe or raft and follow the line to the lure a day or two later.
I would not suggest entering the water (as I have done in the past) as it can be extremely dangerous. First, you don't really know what is underwater; second you will probably not wear our PFD as it makes you look like a fool and hampers your diving ability; and third you don't want to get into water where you can't see what is seeing you.
So just chalk it up to experience and throw a Texas rigged plastic with a weedless hook in the future at the area you lost your bait.
Losing baits is a part of fishing. And you will make the Bait Monkey happy when you replace what you lost.
In all cases, your safety is of the upmost importance. PLEASE DO NOT PLACE YOURSELF IN PERIL FOR A FISHING LURE.
CDMeyer reply :
If I am out in a boat I try and circle around the structure and then pull back wards on it. I do try the bow and arrow technique at first
FirstnameLastname reply :
I yank and pray. Or depending on the lure I get wet. If I loose a cheap worm on a hook I don't care that much. If I get $12 diver stuck, you better believe I'm gettin it. The worst part is when you dive in and you look to your left and a snapping turtles diving for your pink wiggling toes.
papajoe222 reply :
If it's a good piece of cover, I keep it. You never know when it will come in handy.
BassAssassin726 reply :
Agree on the bow and arrow trick. Now that I'm off the bank in my yak I haven't lost nearly as many lures but when I do snag the bow and arrow usually gets me free.
Heron reply :
On 9/7/2014 at 10:33 PM, Driftb said:I'll try a bowstring pop or two, moving to the other side if the cover if possible, then I try the hound dawg. its a weight that will slid down the line and hammer out the lure (usually). If none of that works, I back the boat off the snag, point the rod at the snag, and hold the spool. Either the lure pops free or the line breaks. Sometimes the snag comes in with the lure. I never, ever cut the line! Cutting the line is a totally F#*# up thing to do on too many levels. I curse the inconsiderate @$$#*!!$ who do that and leave their line in the water to kill wildlife, snag other lines, get caught in props, etc. I just spent $300 to reapir a trolling motor that was damaged by cut line. People who leave line in the water give fishermen a bad name among non anglers and property owners too. Not to mention, if you cut your line every time you get snagged, how long will it be until you have to respool with $20 worth of braid? Do whatever you have to do to recover your lure and line. If you cant catch a fish there after that, move on! There are going to be more fish on more spots.
If you cant afford to lose that lure, you cant afford to use it!
Agreed...
Where I fish, I am always finding cut line in the water, on the ground, in the trees, etc. Ive certainly gotten snagged on the discarded line of others plenty of times. This practice of cutting line, is disgraceful, and quite frankly, its another form of littering. I get the hunch that this is done by folks who lack experience.
Driftb reply :
Very simple- cut your line and you lose that line! You are not only littering, but you have just cut off however many feet of line you have out. Do it a couple times and you won't be casting as far. If you just pull, 99 times out of 100, if the lure doesn't pull off the snag, the line will break at the knot. You recover the line and you can keep on fishing. If the fish moves off the cover when you snap off your lure, wait a few minutes. A big fish will usually come right back to the same piece of cover. Big bass cant resist watching a dumb @$$ lose two lures on the same snag in two minutes!
Choporoz reply :
On 9/8/2014 at 8:16 PM, Driftb said:Very simple- cut your line and you lose that line! You are not only littering, but you have just cut off however many feet of line you have out. Do it a couple times and you won't be casting as far. If you just pull, 99 times out of 100, if the lure doesn't pull off the snag, the line will break at the knot. You recover the line and you can keep on fishing. If the fish moves off the cover when you snap off your lure, wait a few minutes. A big fish will usually come right back to the same piece of cover. Big bass cant resist watching a dumb @$$ lose two lures on the same snag in two minutes!
spying on me?
From a boat, most typically, I'll bowstring it once or twice, let some slack out. I will then pick up a second rod and usually on the first cast - sometimes the second, I'll promptly stick another lure into the same cover. Maybe just the tree above it. I'll usually cry uncle after two.....but, I'm fairly certain I've had to get three at once. That's when the Big Ugly Plug Knocker starts really paying for itself.
hatrix reply :
I have not tried this but so I hear. You can put a snap on your line and then attach a heavy weight to it and let it slide down and hit the bait. I guess it works really well. If not you only lost a snap and a weight trying. Probably need a good sized weight or just anything heavy I would assume. I am sure it does not have to be a fishing weight like a eqq sinker. Even something like a heavy nut or a bunch of big washers could work I would think.
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