Buzzbait strikes ?

[cwb60]

Most people say the strike you get on a buzzbait is a reaction strike, and I also think this.

If a buzzbait is a reaction strike, what is a chug bug, popper, spook and other topwate bites?

I am thinking that a reaction strike should be a color they can't see very good.  Good enough to locate it, but not get a good look at it.

[Shad_Master]

An interesting question - actually, I think of a buzz bait bite as being more of an aggravation bite - this thing keeps comming into his territory until he get's mad enough to attack it.

The same may be said for pop-r and chug-bug bites, but usually these tend to represent more of an easy meal and therefore, I think of them as feeding bites (same with spooks).

A "reaction" bite to me is anytype of moving bait that suddenly appears in the fish's bite range and causes the fish to instintively strike out.  This could be a crank bait, spinner bait, even a T-rigged worm or jig falling into the fish's bite range.

It will be interesting to see what others have to say.

[Gangley]

its just my opinion, but if the fish has time to sit and think abnout it, or follow it for any distance, then it is not a reaction strike.  A reaction strike to me is when the fish first sees it, then immediately hits it.  There is no thought process other than "get it" that goes through the fish's pea sized brain.  When you see a fish trail a buzz bait for a second or two before hitting it, that to me is not a reaction strike.  The bass is following it contemplating whether or not to strike it, and then decides to.  If he came out of nowhere and smacked it , thats a reaction strike to me.  But again, just my opinion.

[Bobby Uhrig]

I dont use them

[cBooms@SML]

the strikes i get on buzz baits are subtle ones when the bass barely breaks the surface and takes the lure under.

[Shad_Master]

Unlike Bobby - I throw buzz baits a lot and have had two experiences recently that relate to this topic:

1) I was fishing a new "lake" (really a large pond) and throwing a buzzer - I had several strikes from what I believe were smaller fish that didn't get hooked up - but then I had another strike that literally knocked the buzz bait out of the water - I believe this was an "anger" strike.

2) I was fishing in another small lake with very clear water and was able to watch a bass (another dink) track the buzz bait and follow it for about 12 feet before breaking off the strike - this, to me, was a feeding response and he somehow figured out that this wasn't food.

[Team9nine]

its just my opinion, but if the fish has time to sit and think abnout it, or follow it for any distance, then it is not a reaction strike. A reaction strike to me is when the fish first sees it, then immediately hits it. There is no thought process other than "get it" that goes through the fish's pea sized brain. When you see a fish trail a buzz bait for a second or two before hitting it, that to me is not a reaction strike. The bass is following it contemplating whether or not to strike it, and then decides to. If he came out of nowhere and smacked it , thats a reaction strike to me. But again, just my opinion.

X2 - They can be either, depending. You cast short and drop a Popper on a basses head and you can get a reaction strike. He's sitting down there watching as you walk a Spook over his head before blasting it and you have a feeding strike. Same with buzzbaits. In more open water, often at night or where they have a "heads up", you get a feeding strike. In very heavy cover where they might hear it but can't necessarily see it and it suddenly "appears" in their strike window, you get a reaction strike.

-T9

[Bobby Uhrig]

One day I am going to write my theories on buzzbait strikes-. There is so much involved and "THE STRIKE" will tell you what kind of mood the fish was in. I have to admit I throw a buzzbait more than any other fisherman I have ever been with fishing. Sometimes they look at me and say "what the heck are you doing" and I say "JUST WATCH AND LEARN"-Didnt matter what time of day it was .When they want it -they want it.

[cwb60]

Re: Buzzbait strikes ?

"Reply #7 - Today at 1:13pm  (Quote  " One day I am going to write my theories on buzzbait strikes-. There is so much involved and "THE STRIKE" will tell you what kind of mood the fish was in. I have to admit I throw a buzzbait more than any other fisherman I have ever been with fishing. Sometimes they look at me and say "what the heck are you doing" and I say "JUST WATCH AND LEARN"-Didnt matter what time of day it was .When they want it -they want it.  "

Lately, that has been my experience also.  I have been throwing it in bright sunlight, and getting strikes, and then when the sun goes down they just turn off.  In poor light conditions, which is what I thought was ideal, they won't touch it.

I still beleive that you can get bite any time of day with top water, if you throw it into a shadey area.

[Bobby Uhrig]

I have fished tournaments and never put it down-sunny-not sunny-weeds wood-open water.When they want it -they want it. Usually the fish i catch are tournament worthy-15 lbs with 5 fish usually seals the deal.Can usually get lunker on it also- think about it 8hour tournament you are looking for 5 quality bites and fish- The odds are in your favor.

[Shad_Master]

One day I am going to write my theories on buzzbait strikes-. There is so much involved and "THE STRIKE" will tell you what kind of mood the fish was in. I have to admit I throw a buzzbait more than any other fisherman I have ever been with fishing. Sometimes they look at me and say "what the heck are you doing" and I say "JUST WATCH AND LEARN"-Didnt matter what time of day it was .When they want it -they want it.

Are these theories unique to buzz baits or would they apply equally to other top water lures or even spinner baits burned across the surface?

[cwb60]

I do believe it is more unique to a buzzbait than it is to a chug bug.

I was fishing with a friend that throws a jig most of the time.  He throws it out, lets it fall, shakes it a couple of times and then reels it in fast to make another cast.  While reeling it in fast I noticed he got a good strike, just under the surface of the water.  I picked up a buzzbait and threw it.  Like Bobby said, they wanted it and it was a clear blue sky with the sun shining

[Shad_Master]

Swimming a jig is a technique that is overlooked by a lot of fisermen, but can be a very effective tool in certain circumstances (I only wish I knew what they were - LOL).  But it is usually an alternative to a spinner bait or a buzz bait.  Now one of the things I have learned in fishing top water lures is you need a follow-up lure to throw if you get a strike and the fish doesn't hook up (a Senko makes a good follow-up lure for instance).  The fact that a fish strikes a top water lure is a sign that he is fired up and ready to go.  You just gotta put something out there that he will respond to.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Each fishing lure made has a specific trait /characteristic or application. The secret is to learn how to utilize each to provoke or entice a strike.Just like shad said the jig is not  designed to be a swimming lure but a drop /vertical presentation- BUT someone along the way changed the presentation and it caught fish-hey it works-try different presentations and think outside the box.That's why I have for years gone fishing with just one lure  and tried to master many different presentations/techniques  under many different conditions.Let the fish tell you how they want it.The buzz bait can be manipulated so many way to entice strikes.

[Chaz Hickcox]

I have to agree with pretty much everyone, but one thing to add is the number of blades.  There have been some days where I have been throwing a double bladed Cavitron and the bass wouldn't touch it, then I switched to a tri-bladed strike king and they nailed it like it was candy.  The same has been vice versa too.  I keep both in the tackle box because of the fact they both make different sounds on the water.  I have found in smooth water the Cavitron is much more productive with its loud squealing sounds, and on windy days the constant bubbling of the strike king is the ticket.  I know kind of contradictive if you think about it, shouldn't the noisier one work better with chop?  Unfortunately the bass haven't read the fishing rule books so they forget that sometimes.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Bass are Dum basses- they dont know what they want until its too late.Set the hook