How To Fish A Buzzbait

[AJMichigan]

What's the best way to fish a buzzbait for largemouth/smallmouth?

 

I accidentally bought one this weekend thinking it was a normal spinner, however it's a buzzbait. Not a fan of topwaters, so was curious how you guys fish them.

[flyfisher]

Cast out reel in fast enough to keep it on top and hold on.  You may need to figure out what speed they want but it is an extremely effective bait in the right situations.

[AJMichigan]

Cast out reel in fast enough to keep it on top and hold on.  You may need to figure out what speed they want but it is an extremely effective bait in the right situations.

 

what would those situations be?

[moguy1973]

Early morning, late evening, during the day, during spawn...Can't really go wrong with a buzzbait and its one of the easiest lures to fish since you just cast, reel it in, and you know you have a fish on because they knock the crap out of it usually...The only time it really doesn't have a chance to work is in deep water, of course...

[AJMichigan]

Early morning, late evening, during the day, during spawn...Can't really go wrong with a buzzbait and its one of the easiest lures to fish since you just cast, reel it in, and you know you have a fish on because they knock the crap out of it usually...The only time it really doesn't have a chance to work is in deep water, of course...

 

How about water color? Windy day? ect.

[moguy1973]

How about water color? Windy day? ect.

 

They typically work better on flatter water but they work in a little chop.  They can be tricky to cast into the wind with a bait caster as they catch a lot of air with the blade and size of the lure.  Color of the water usually doesn't matter much since they make so much noise.  Black ones do work better in muddier water though as most black baits do though.

[AJMichigan]

They typically work better on flatter water but they work in a little chop.  They can be tricky to cast into the wind with a bait caster as they catch a lot of air with the blade and size of the lure.  Color of the water usually doesn't matter much since they make so much noise.  Black ones do work better in muddier water though as most black baits do though.

 

Thanks for the help! I have a white one so we'll see how it goes when I go back out this weekend. Like I said I didnt meant to buy it lol!

[flyfisher]

Early morning, late evening, during the day, during spawn...Can't really go wrong with a buzzbait and its one of the easiest lures to fish since you just cast, reel it in, and you know you have a fish on because they knock the crap out of it usually...The only time it really doesn't have a chance to work is in deep water, of course...

unless it is deep clear water

[Catt]

Slow retrieve - slight breeze - moon light

[Preytorien]

I fish them pretty much every time I fish. Up until last year I was skeptical of them, then bought one and took it out during a miserable drizzling afternoon......caught my personal best 5 straight fish on it. It was a super cheap one and they tore the thing to pieces. I can usually catch SOMETHING on them when nothing else seems to work.

 

After that I became a lifetime member of the "Cavitron Club"

 

By far the best I've used, and easy to pull at whatever speed you want.

 

Another good one to trigger a bite when most won't is the Booyah Clackin' Buzzbait. Not quite as good of a track record for me as the Cavitron, but pretty darn close.

 

AJMichigan......do yourself a favor and get ahold of a Cavitron.....consensus from us all would probably suggest a black skirt/black blade combo. They're killer. I've found them at Dick's Sporting Goods.

[lmbfisherman]

unless it is deep clear water

x2!

 

I've caught smallies on a clear lake at around 15-20+ feet of water. 

 

Just something to add to the others.

 

Change it up -

 

1. I have caught fish doing a stop and go with a buzzbait, just like a spinnerbait.  I will reel it in, stop 1-3 seconds and reel in again a few cranks and again stop.

2. Change up the retrieve speed on one cast, fast then go slow for a few crank and then fast again.

3. Even throw it along laydowns and other cover and steer the buzzbait as close to the edge where you won't snag on anything.  One of my favorite places to fish a buzzbait is right against a down tree.

4. When a fish strikes, don't set the hook until you feel resistance or you are sure.  Usually when a strike occurs I stop and get ready to set the hook, stopping also gives the fish time to come back, sometimes they strike it to stun, so stopping will imitate that.  It is hard to resist as seeing a topwater strike usually triggers your instincts to set the hook. 

 

Also, I use a 7' MH/F rod with a high speed reel, but a 6 to 1 reel will work too.  On a standard size, if it's a small buzzbait obviously use a spinning setup. 

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Try fishing it over riffles and through eddies the last few hours of the day when you're fishing the river. I've caught more smallies in heavy current on a buzzbait than any other topwater lure. Don't be afraid to throw that thing in fast moving water.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Take up golf

 

[MarkH024]

 Not a fan of topwaters.

That will change once you start getting blow up's on them.

 

Throw them in lower light conditions nice steady retrieve or sometimes you really have to burn them. Weed edges or inbetween weed mats are great places to start. Run them past stumps/dead wood in the water. Once you hook up on topwater, you're going to want more. 

[Bluebasser86]

I like to fish them very slowly with slight pops of the rod tip to make it look like a baitfish or something flipping on the surface as it buzzes by.