Seeing the responses in the what lures did you lose most thread, I am wanting to get a plug nocker. I am looking at the $12 one at cabelas. I fish in a kayak some and cast from the shore. Will this cheap style of plug nocker work for a casting from the bank fisherman? 

Like you, I thought I needed one......

 

it’s still in the package

2 minutes ago, NHBull said:

Like you, I thought I needed one......

 

it’s still in the package

I hope I can keep mine in the pack lol last week I had a deep diving crankbait and a swim bait hang on rock edges for a while and I'm sure I turned pale and was sweating even though I was freezing out there 

This summer I lost a deep diving crankbait.  I tried my plug knocker for the first time.   It's down there with the crank bait.  

I have had no luck at all using plug knockers. I started using a telescopic lure retriever about 4 years ago with much better results. 

I think many of the DIY ones on YouTube work better than the ones you get in stores

Mine has paid for itself several times over . Its the one David Fritts endorses .

 

 

Lews Getrback lure retriever .

I use the BPS retriever and it works fine. I added a couple more lengths of chain, changed out the line to 200 lb Muzzy bowfishing line, and spooled (70') on a old BPS rounds reel for quick retrieval. For small spoons and drop type lures a disk/flat river weight round 1.5 or 2 oz with a larger snap is quick and simple. 

I use a telescopic retreiver.

Last time I used a plug knocker, I nearly put a hole in my boat, while trying to retreive a squarebill.

it was in heavy brush and i could not get to it with the boat.

when it broke free from the snag the squarebill and knocker hit my boat at a high rate of speed.

after that I started using the telescopic retreiver.

I just bought the Big Bite Baits knocker, it is like $3.  Figure if it doesn't work didn't lose much!

Im surprised by the response, I've used one like this for years and only a few times couldn't get a crank back. I throw a lot of Poe's 300 and this thing has saved me a small fortune. You have to get directly over lure usually for it to work properly. 

I've never used a plug knocker, but I've always thought a metal stringer run down the line would make a good one.

3 hours ago, stratoliner92 said:

Im surprised by the response, I've used one like this for years and only a few times couldn't get a crank back. I throw a lot of Poe's 300 and this thing has saved me a small fortune. You have to get directly over lure usually for it to work properly. 

My son has the same one and it works great. I have another style but this is my favorite. The weight makes a big difference.

I use a 4 oz saltwater weight with a big strong snap swivel. I tie the weight to an old marker buoy so I can wrap it up for storage. 95% of the time the heavy weight knocks it loose on the first drop.  If not, I just pull it up a foot or so & drop it again until the bait is free.

I use my plug knocker almost every time out.

I have tried many types of retrievers and for kayak use, there is one that is far and away better than anything else I've used ....and cheaper than most:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-UGLY-Plug-Knocker-Fishing-Lure-Retriever-Quick-Easy-To-Use-NEW-IMPROVED-/333140284499

 

Takes up little space; very fast and easy to use; effective; cheap.

11 hours ago, stratoliner92 said:

Im surprised by the response, I've used one like this for years and only a few times couldn't get a crank back. I throw a lot of Poe's 300 and this thing has saved me a small fortune. You have to get directly over lure usually for it to work properly. 

Yup...have use this one for years with much success....also do what "G" does.  Two ounce weight with a clip for other retrieves....not fool proof but amazing.

15 hours ago, scaleface said:

Mine has paid for itself several times over . Its the one David Fritts endorses .

 

 

Lews Getrback lure retriever .

Saved a lot of money with this one.

 

 

I wouldn't think that the plug knocker style of lure retriever would work very well from the bank.  As one post mentioned earlier, you kinda got to get on top of the bait for it to have a chance to work.  In my boat, I carry both kinds, the plug knocker and the extendable pole - both have their place and uses.

 

Either one though, I get a lure stuck, I have the 5 minute rule.   I feel like I have a good working knowledge of how these bait retrievers work.   If I mess with it for 5 minutes without positive results, I wrap the line around the boat cleat and back off with the trolling motor.  This usually solves the issue.

 

Should I get a Lucky Craft or any of my "beloved" baits stuck, I'll work at it as long as it takes.

All of them work unless you are being blown around in the wind and have circled around the snag and wrapped your line around it. Once that happens your only hope is that you can snag the stick up and bring it up. You can bang a plug knocker against the side of a stump all day and it won’t do any good if your lure is on the other side.

 

Hundreds of dollars would be hanging here if it wasn't for that BPS plug knocker I purchased decades ago ..... better have and not need than need and not have, specially when you love to fish with those friggin' 25 bux a piece Japanese cranks.

Never needed a plug knocker.  I just do this...

 

 

41 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Never needed a plug knocker.  I just do this...

 

 

 

You said these techniques are about 70% effective: it wouldn’t take very many lost lures to offset the cost of a plug knocker. I put close to $30 worth of lures in Eufaula alone over the last couple of years. But I’m guessing you don’t have to deal with treetops nearly as much as I do

And you don't have to deal with as many rocks and stumps and I do. 

 

3 hours ago, Glenn said:

And you don't have to deal with as many rocks and stumps and I do. 

 

I don’t really have to worry about rocks and stumps when my lure is 20 feet up into a willow tree. One of these days I expect to catch a squirrel.

On 1/3/2020 at 7:51 PM, stratoliner92 said:

Im surprised by the response, I've used one like this for years and only a few times couldn't get a crank back. I throw a lot of Poe's 300 and this thing has saved me a small fortune. You have to get directly over lure usually for it to work properly. 

I've used one of these for years and years. Attached it to an old reel and a junk rod I cut off above the first guide. I've literally saved myself and other 100's of dollars in baits.