this time of the year, i'll spend at least half of my  time trying to "crank up" a biggun.  only trouble is, Big ol Hang-ups live down there where those Big ol Hawgs live.

i've been using a David Fritts knocker & it actually works pretty well.  i wanted something, however, a little quicker, so, i got a "go get it" lure retriever ...http://www.mygogetit.com/pages/seeit.htm.

i'm keeping grandkids this weekend, but, i'm anxious to get out on the water & Hook Up a Big Un (Hawg, that is!)  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

What kind of retriever do YOU use?

ronnie

I use two different ones.  First, a heavy bell sinker with a duolock snap that will attach to your line.  Snap it on, get over the snagged plug, jig, etc., and bounce it.  Very high success rate.  Second, I use a telescoping pole with a wire corkscrew on the end (from BPS).  Use this one more for the times when getting over the snag is not an option (like UP in a tree, on a shallow bank).  The first thing I do tho' is to snap my line --bow/arrow style--several times.  This usually works w/o having to employ anything else.

I use this one.  It works well.

Dan

IMO the lure retriever is one of those things that not many people have that they should.  I finally got one this year (late spring) and it's simply amazing how effective it is.  I can only recall one time it didn't work, but I blame that on the conditions.  It was real windy out and I was in my two man boat.  That thing gets blown all over the place.  I just didn't have the paitence to mess with it in the wind for that long.  I am 100% though if I would have messed with it longer I could have got it back.

BTW - I have the one that is a ring with a couple hooks on it.  Saved me well over $100 this year.  Pretty good return on a $10 purchase.

To each his own.  I don't think they are necassary.  I very rarely loose lures anymore.  I try everything under the sun before I give up, which I can honestly say I don't remember the last time I snagged a lure and lost it.  I always get them back.  Now when I get the boat I'm getting, I may get one.  At the moment I don't fish alot of deep cover where I'd snag on a tree.  

I do 2 things 1 is th bass pro shop lure retreiver along with many othe rmethods i use to retreive a lure wich i will explain 3. I also throw all my baits on ultra light braided line example 2 Lb diameter 10 Lb test it doesnt ruin the action of my lures and will withstand me pullign on it till a tree comes to the surface from 20 Ft of water so i can pull my crank off it. I also use larger braids but not many people like doing this due to the fact all the pros say it takes alot of actions away from lures lol, but thats becuase they have sponsers to protect, if you think im full of it buy a underwate rcamera and experiment im not full off it!

Okay other than braid and lure retreivers i have 3 techniques i use to retreive my lures!

#1 go dirrectly over spot you are hung at lower rod into water see if you can feel the lure or structure than snap rod tipp upward.

#2 Go directly above the lure and snap the rod in a oppiste direction from the directionj you were retreiveign the lure....Example if you were retreiveing it toward you , go to where the lure is hung and pull in the opposite direction as from where your boat was previously located. Hard to understand i know sorry for that.....

#3 the snap really doesnt work with braided line due to no strech, only flaw braid has, but place the slack line in your left hand and hold your rod int the right, the slack line im refering to is the line just off the spool, snap it back like a rubber band and pull upwards with your rod tip, If the lure doesnt come up in the first 5 trys, then you can always just try fishign a dirreent lure in that spot hopeign to snag your previouse line to return both lures back to you.

Hope that helps?

I use this one. It works well.

Dan

Me too. Get one it will pay for itself in no time. I saved me well over 100 bucks this year.