Buzzbait Question

[Pikesnogle]

Hello all,

I have been throwing buzzbaits a little more frequently than normal here of late. And for the most part they have been working well. However I am having a little trouble. 

I have been running them along the edges of the weeds at a local pond, which is working well I am getting a lot of bites. However I am getting a ton of BITES, no where near as many fish landed. On retrieve I will get a bite the water will explode, but no fish. I am wondering if these are reaction or territorial bites where the fish is more or less missing on purpose trying to get the 'intruder' to go away. Or is it possible that they just miss, perhaps because it is moving too fast? Maybe just bad aim?

I've tried slowing down a bit, but if I go any slower the lure will be underwater. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Snogle.

[wackyworm66]

Make sure you don't set the hook on the visual explosion, but wait until you feel the weight of the fish.  If this does not help, try using a trailer hook.

[tbird]

Or even 2 or 3 trailer hooks

  T

[Pikesnogle]

Make sure you don't set the hook on the visual explosion, but wait until you feel the weight of the fish. If this does not help, try using a trailer hook.

I'm an idiot. I left out two crucial pieces of info. 1. I am not setting the hook at the time of the explosion, and 2. I am using a trailer hook.

Also, is it possible that they are dinks? When I say the water 'explodes' that's not an over statement. It's a good splash.

[BassThumb]

Fish will bump it with a closed mouth from time to time, but not that often to be a consistent problem.

Are you maybe using too stiff of a rod and/or braided line? I've had much better hook-up ratios with rods with softer tips and mono line. Holding the rod high at the 11 or 12 o' clock position to slow the retrieve will result in lower ratios as well. I like to hold the rod at the 8 o' clock position and slightly to the side, almost pointing at the lure, ready for a quick sweep set.

[Sam]

A bass missing a buzzbait is nothing new. Happens all the time for what ever reason.

Do as stated above.

Use a trailer hook.

Wait a second after the strike to set the hook, which is almost impossible to do but give it a try.

And remember that some bass are hitting the bait to hurt it and then return to eat it so have a spinning rig set up with a Senko to throw to where the bass missed the buzzbait.

You will be surprised that the bass will stay in the area and hit the Senko. 

[Shad_Master]

I had been thinking recently that all the bass in my local lake were near sighted because they tend to miss the buzz bait by anywhere from 1' to 3'.

Anyway, another option is to have a set-up rigged with a Senko or other soft plastic and throw back after getting "bumped" - that fish is ready to bite and probably hasn't tasted the steel yet.

[Jig Man]

Many times a spinnerbait thrown back where the blow up happened with get you a fish.  We normally fish both when I have another guy in the boat, blow up on buzz, toss spinner a couple of feet past blow up and lots of times you get a fish.

[RandySBreth]

Actually any fast moving topwater lure (buzzbait, bulging spinnerbait, fast worked popper or walk-the-dog topwater) can get "swiped" at, and either the fish are just trying to kill it (not as likely outside of spawning) or it's just not quite the perfect lure for that day. Either the color, size, retrieve, or something is off.

A "pitch back" lure is a good idea, but I find that most of the time when Bass are just swiping at your lures like buzzbaits, something is just a little off.

[Pikesnogle]

Great advice gentlemen. A 'throwback lure' is a fantastic idea. I always have a few poles with me, and one always has a senko or something similar to it. I will definitely be using this advice.

Thanks again,

Snogle

[Jigfishn10]

Actually any fast moving topwater lure (buzzbait, bulging spinnerbait, fast worked popper or walk-the-dog topwater) can get "swiped" at, and either the fish are just trying to kill it (not as likely outside of spawning) or it's just not quite the perfect lure for that day. Either the color, size, retrieve, or something is off.

A "pitch back" lure is a good idea, but I find that most of the time when Bass are just swiping at your lures like buzzbaits, something is just a little off.

Agreed. A pitch back lure works great.

Another thing I like to do with a buzzbait and spinnnerbait after it gets nailed by a fish with no hook-up is to kill the retrieve and let the bait flutter down a bit. I can't tell you how many times a fish came back and got buttoned up the second time around.

Hope this helps.

[DBatey]

I like to use a 1/4 oz buzzbait when they are missing a larger one.

Another thing is that there is not a lot of bait for the bass to "suck" in so adding a plastic trailer like a grub (even if you break off the tail) can give them something more substantial to pull into their mouths on the strike.

[Bobby Uhrig]

I dont use them

[roadwarrior]

I dont use them

I only use one kind: http://www.megastrikefishingproducts.com/shop/Cavitron-Lure-BuzzBaits/

3/8 oz., black on black

8-)

[moby bass]

My biggest Northern Pike, to date, swiped at, and missed, a buzzbait 3times, within 1/2 hour, before I finally got him on the 4th.  I don't know if he continued to be annoyed with the thing and finally had had enough, or if he just kept missing it.

But keep after them.