Snagging

Take the line above or below the lowest eye and wrap it a couple of times around the rod then loop over the eyelet.  Actually very little stress is put on the eyelet and it's never frayed the 50# braid.  Remember, for the most part we are doing this with rather robust bottom fishing gear.  My salmon gear rarely snags.  I do this only as a last resort.  When I have to break off I wrap the line around my pliers, point the rod at the line's point of entry into the water.

I don't use any part of my rod or reel to break off snags. I either wrap it around a club or my forearm or gloves hand. I only do that with 50 pound and never on bare skin! You will cut yourself!

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go weedless if you can, don't know if this is even an option! A couple of my favorites that I throw into heavy structure like kelp and rocks fearlessly.

Owner Sled Heads



War Baits



If hung up, the first thing I do is try to pull it up from the opposite direction that I have drifted. I like to let the weight of the lure or sinker aid in freeing it, so lifting and allowing some slack to work it out. I cringe when ever I see somebody with their rod bent double trying to unstick a snag. I put the rod tip straight down thumb the spool and work wit the swell. If all else fails I pedal with the rod pointed down and back  with thumb on the spool.

go weedless if you can, don't know if this is even an option! A couple of my favorites that I throw into heavy structure like kelp and rocks fearlessly.

Owner Sled Heads



War Baits



If hung up, the first thing I do is try to pull it up from the opposite direction that I have drifted. I like to let the weight of the lure or sinker aid in freeing it, so lifting and allowing some slack to work it out. I cringe when ever I see somebody with their rod bent double trying to unstick a snag. I put the rod tip straight down thumb the spool and work wit the swell. If all else fails I pedal with the rod pointed down and back  with thumb on the spool.

Iceman,
Weedless is a great idea! I need to give that a try. A lot of the snags we end up with here in the PNW are a lot of times from getting our lead wedged into some of the cracky basalt flow reefs along the coast. These underwater cracks provide a ton of protection for big fish. Just beware of breaking off a few rigs in the rocks.
Iceman, I spent most of my young years in Seal Beach. Maybe you know my local kayak fisherman father, Carl?
I think he frequents your shop.
cheers

Awesome subject!  No one likes to lose a favorite lure, a 5$ lure, or a set up that took 5 minutes to rig.  My favorite strategy is as soon as you confirm your snagged, don't bury your shank into the structure by yanking.  Use the current (if you have one) to your advantage.  Let your line free spool at least 15 feet beyond your best guess of where your snagged, then quick whip back toward you! You just might free your snag using the reverse pressure created by your line in the water.  The next option is to use your rod as a bow.  Gather your line taught, not too tight further burying the shank, and hold the line in your hand-draw your rod back like a bow and then let it snap back as you let the line in your hand free.  These techniques usually work with a few good tries and are well worth the time if they work.  Hope you guys get the same results I do.
-Scott

Oh- totally second the weedless jigs.  Texas style or a jig with a fixed guard, especially when fishing jetties...they rock!