Lost another F*<#|n Swimbait!!!

You ever said that?
I think I said too many times last year, so
If there any kind souls out there who can pass on some tips to keep from snaggin up, That would be great.
I think I'm not the only one in this spot. When ur spending $4-8 per rig,
it can be a Grrr.
I've had days when I loose 1 and days when I loose 5,
big swell says I seem to loose more.
Any help  on this I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks,

Scotty




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I'm pretty good at popping them off. If I see you at GSX I'll show you my technique.

BTDT! How deep do you like to fish? The deeper you fish, combined with the speed of the drift, you tend to start dragging the bottom. That's a great way to snag up. I'm a paddler, so when the scope of my line gets too great I reel up and drop again. I can't stay in place like some of the cheaters out there. Sometimes I cast into the drift so as to keep my lure directly below me. Simply put, if you're touching bottom with lots of angle to your line, you are asking to get snagged. If your line is straight up and down, the odds of snagging up are less, and if you do snag up you can jiggle it free, most of the time.
You'll get it with experience.

Buy a drift sock for your yak...
I don't know how many guys have been impressed with how much it slows your drift down on a breezy day.

Also when I'm jigging a swimbait I haven't really noticed a difference in numbers if I let it hit the bottom each pump or keep it off the bottom a few feet...in really grabby water I'm sure its saved me a few bucks.

Its all part of the game.  I'm the same as you, some days I lose 1, some days I'll lose a bunch!   

My method is to try and backtrack my drift direction and pop it out.  I'll do about 3 circles around my snag spot and then if it doesn't come loose, I'll break it off.   mako1 gave you good advice...try to keep your presentation as vertical as possible and that should minimize a lot of snags. 

If you're fishing, you're bound to lose tackle and gear so we just gotta suck it up...especially if you're bottom fishing around rocky structure.   

There are days when one seldom snags and days when every other drop catches bottom. This is especially true for offshore areas with mixed underwater structure. One might be happily bouncing over rounded boulders then hit a jagged pinnacle and presto. Snag. Vertical line angle is best to avoid snags but vertical isn't always possible given current and wind. If you are prone to losing lures see if you can find cheaper ones to use. Rock fish, especially lings, are not picky eaters. Get it in front of their face and if they are feeding they will bite.

 I average 2 or 3 a trip..but then again my biggest lings have been caught damn near dead sticking on the bottom.. fast drift days 1 maybe 2 more from not paying attention while running my mouth.. 

Look at it as donation to Neptune for the moster fish your going to catch.... Eventually...... Hopefully........... Ok if you're lucky. Also figure how much your savings not being in a power boat
I have cut my day short due to loosing the last rig on my boat a time or two.

If you're fishing in a snaggy area:

1) Use enough weight that you're fishing almost vertically.

2) If you're drifting too fast, deploy a drift anchor (or buy a Hobie).

3) If you lift the rod and feel a light tension that isn't fishy, DO NOT yank on it. DO NOT PULL HARD AT THE SAME ANGLE YOU WERE PULLING WHEN YOU SNAGGED. Instead, give a little slack then jiggle/shake the rod tip to work it free. If this doesn't work, paddle back up current following the same path you took before. Once you're upstream if the snag, try loosely jiggling it again.

4) If the jiggling fails, you can try the "bow and arrow" method (Google it).

5) If all of the above fails, break off...

With enough patience, you can free just about any snag. Most important part is NOT to yank hard until you've tried all the other tricks. Once you pull hard and bury the hook (or wedge the leadhead securely into a crack), you're toast...


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  1 maybe 2 more from not paying attention while running my mouth.. 

 

Ditto . That's usually when I get hung up. Not to much when I am paying attention,

  1 maybe 2 more from not paying attention while running my mouth.. 

 

Ditto . That's usually when I get hung up. Not to much when I am paying attention,

 

My old man told me if you can't afford the sport you shouldn't be doing it.

Also figure how much your savings not being in a power boat

Its all part of the game.
My method is to try and backtrack my drift direction and pop it out. 

I agree

All good advise. I just figure it is that cost of having fun. If I get hung up I don't spend too much time on it. 1 minute tops. If not free by then i just break off and keep going. I once lost about 25 set ups at a tourney in Trinidad. I did not care since my partner and I both won kayaks for the effort. I grossed $900 after that trip.If I did not win I still had fun and would have done it again.

 If the drift gets fast go to heavier set ups.

All good advise. I just figure it is that cost of having fun. If I get hung up I don't spend too much time on it. 1 minute tops. If not free by then i just break off and keep going. I once lost about 25 set ups at a tourney in Trinidad. I did not care since my partner and I both won kayaks for the effort. I grossed $900 after that trip.If I did not win I still had fun and would have done it again.

 If the drift gets fast go to heavier set ups.

Right on about the one minute time limit to decouple from a snag. One is out there to fish not attempt every way possible to get a hung up lure back. I will circle once going opposite of the drift where I snagged. Light quick yanks often frees it but if not I try a couple major yanks followed by forward full force pedaling till something breaks and I get slack line. Reel up, attach another agent and send back down. Repeat as necessary the rest of the day.