I've tried spark plugs and lost those.
Saturday I crimped a wash cloth to a marker buoy lead and used that. I think just the weight is what worked...even though when I tried it with just the lead, I lost the lure. (thought the wash cloth would grab the trebles, but...I think it was the weight.
Had a big weight with little chain on it once. A real lure retriever. Lost it using it for something other than lures.
Have a 20ft extendable pole somewhere in the barn. It's there because "for me", that 20ft of pole seldom reaches a crank bait in 10ft of water...UGH.
Tried tire weights, lost a bunch of those.
Whatcha got?