Avoiding snags while bottom fishing?

[OldTimer]

Hey,

Complete avoidance is not possible. (unless you stay home....smile).

When "bottom fishing":

As already mentioned - On waters you frequent - learning where the snags are is a smart move.......... then work around the hazards.

On unknown waters - I really don't have a magic method of avoidance - but I do try to cut my hardware and time losses during the learning process.

It not too tough to realize that blindly dragging a real heavy weight with hooks on it - along the bottom - will lead to the sinker or terminal end getting jammed on, in, or under a unmovable object.

Always use the lightest weight necessary to achieve the drift or "hold" you want. Gross overkill = instant hang-up.

Bell sinkers jam worse than eggs which jam worse than walking......

Use of three way swivels with low strength dropper lines (or snoods, or loop lines) to attach heavy sinkers will lower rig losses.

Use of multiple small split shot rather than one wow size one helps too......

Cheers,

OldTimer