Tips for keeping rocks from stealing your bait?

[lefty]

Anybody got any tips on keeping rocks from stealing bait? And hooks, and weights, and ... ? :-)

All of the nearby lakes are man-made, so I figure they've all got more than their share of stumps on the bottom. (Not to mention other things that like to eat tackle). When I was at Jordan today, I tied my second bottom-rig such that the hook hung about two inches above the weight. That seemed to help, but I guess after losing the first rig on the first cast, ya can't get much worse. I tried keeping my rod tip down when retrieving, and when I thought I was snagged, I'd lift up, but tried to avoid yanking.

Are there any clues to whether it was the hook or the weight that snagged? I'm not sure if a weedless hook would have changed things... if it's the weight that snagged, the hook sure won't fix it.

Not sure if this is a clue -- every time I managed to free my rig, the hook was empty. Every time I completed a retrieve, the bait was still there. That seems to support the idea that it may have been the hook, at first glance...

It also seems that this might be an area where the 'yakkers have an advantage. Or anyone on a boat, I suppose, but especially a paddle-craft in shallow water... ought to be able to paddle to right on top of the snag, or just a little to the far side, and especially if you've got a chunk of PVC or something, you could reach down and pull the snag out backwards from where it came in. Not in all cases, but probably several... just guessing...

Thanx - lefty