homemade lure remover that works when your hungup.

[daymere]

If you like to scratch around on the bottom of the lake like I do. It doesn’t take long to start digging into the ole wallet, with the price of lures the way they are these days. It doesn’t take but a couple break offs to turn an average fishing trip into an expensive hobby. Not to mention how frustrating it can be to leave you favorite lure hung on a rock or tree limb somewhere in the murky depths. These two reasons are why I use a plug-knocker. Wouldn’t leave home without it.

Knockers come in different shapes and sizes and range from nine dollars to twenty dollars. I make my own for around two dollars fifty cents. All that is required is about thirty minutes of time. One clothespin and a #6 to #10 flune sinker. Number 10 is best but a number 6 will work fine. A small drill bit, pair of wire cutters and some J-B Weld. If you can solder, this is even better. This knocker looks and feels small compared to some you buy, but I have had good luck with it on spinner baits, jigs and plugs from 1/8oz. to 1/2oz.



Remove the spring from the clothespin.



Cut one end and straighten the other leaving it long. It will be cut later. You should leave all three turns of the spring.



Drill a hole about 1/2” to 3/4” from the from the end of the sinker and approximately 2/3 way through the sinker. Make the hole slightly larger than the diameter of the wire.



Insert the spring with the coils pointing towards the eye of the sinker.



Check the distance between the top of the sinker and the bottom of the spring. Snip the shaft end to adjust for 1/8” +or-. Mix your J-B Weld and fill the hole. Reinstall the coil nice and straight with the top of the sinker let it set for 4 to 6 hours or put the solder to it and you have no wait.



Attach 75 to 100 feet of heavy nylon string and your knocker is ready to use. I like to use fly rod line and wind it on an old level wind. This makes it much easier to keep neat and the fly line doesn’t tangle or separate.



When using a knocker, position yourself directly above your lure. Hold slight pressure on your line with your left hand and use your knocker with your right hand. Let the knocker slide until it hits your plug. Then lift the knocker up about a foot. Work the knocker and your line down and up at the same time making sure you lower far enough for the knocker to make contact with your lure. Once you get the rhythm down pat, it won't take you but a few seconds to free a snagged lure in most cases. Remember wrap clockwise to put on the line, counter-clockwise to take off.

I try to restrain myself from jerking or pulling on a hang-up until I get to the location. , Usually I try flipping the line first before I reach for the knocker. If you will hold your line in one hand and the rod tip low, pull up quickly and let the line snap back to the water the majority of the time it will flip loose
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