A few questions about buzzbaits

[Kjruiz]

32 minutes ago, bagofdonuts said:

I find that i fish it better the faster i go. Rapid fire casting and trolling motor on high, covering lots of water. So with a buzz bait i'm always moving to the next spot. Works for me as i get into a better rhythm that way.

Thanks! Plan to try it out when it stops raining this afternoon.

[Choporoz]

8 minutes ago, Kjruiz said:

Thanks! Plan to try it out when it stops raining this afternoon.

Huh?  

T-storms?

[Kjruiz]

5 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Huh?  

T-storms?

Coincides to when I get out of work.

[J Francho]

On 5/14/2018 at 9:10 PM, EGbassing said:

Just got back. One giant topwater blow-up. I panicked and pulled the hook away...

Just keep reeling until the fish pulls back. 

[Sam]

EG, one of the secrets to successful buzzbait fishing is to have your rod, reel and bait "balanced" so when the buzzbait hits the water you can start your retrieve without any backlash worries.

 

You should be able to start the retrieve when the buzzbait hits the water or right before the buzzbait hits the water.

 

Here is a fast overview on how to "balance your baits" on your baitcasters:

1.  Read line test and bait weight parameters on your rod to make sure you are within the proper limits.

2.  Rig up your reel with your favorite mono or fluorocarbon line of the test strength you want within the rod's parameters.

3.  Add the buzzbait so you are ready to cast.

4.  Tighten your drag and spool tension knob on the baitcaster.

4.  Point rod tip to 11 o'clock and release the spool, allowing the bait to fall to the floor.

5.  Never do this on carpet!!!

6.  Using your drag and spool tension knob, you want to adjust the spool tension as the buzzbait drops to the floor so that the bait will fall to the ground/floor and the spool will stop when the buzzbait hits the ground/floor.

7.  You can loosen the spool some if you wish.

8.  Make a number of casts to make sure the spool does not continue to spin when the buzzbait hits the ground or water causing a backlash.

 

After you  set up the rod, reel and buzzbait you can cast all day without any backlash problems.

 

And you can start your retrieve as soon or a second before the bait hits the water.

 

You will look like the pros when they throw a buzzbait.

 

You can use this balancing method for all baitcaster baits, adjusting your set ups while on the water.

 

Don't thank me.  Thank the pros for this tip as I learned it at an old Bassmasters University seminar. And I forgot the pro who told us about this method. I think it may have been Ike or Jimmy Houston. Not sure.

 

One more pro tip.  If you can find a lawn and tractor shop go to them and tell them you want to buy a foot or two of the plastic yellow fuel line. Take a buzzbait and spinnerbait with you so you can put the end of the plastic line over the tip of the buzzbait/spinerbait where you tie your line.

 

Make sure the fuel line is open enough to fit over the end of your buzzbait/spinnerbait where you tie your line.

 

Take the fuel line home and cut it into small pieces, about a 1/8 inch each.

 

Then, slip the small cut tube over the end of the buzzbait's "nose" where you would tie your line, leaving space between the end of the metal and the tubing.

 

Take the end of your line from the rod and tie on a snap.

 

Then, take the snap, open it, run it through the area between the end of the bait and the plastic fuel line, and snap it into place on the buzzbait in front of the fuel line.

 

This method allows you to change baits fast and easily and it does not interfere with the buzzbait's and spinnerbait's performance.

 

This is a pro's trick I learned at the old Bassmaster University. And once again, I forgot who told us about this.

 

Just watch the size of the fuel line. It comes in a number of sizes so this is why you need to take your buzzbaits and spinnerbaits with you to find the best size line.

 

Makes changing baits fast and easy.

 

I cut a lot of 1/8 inch sections from my yellow plastic fuel lines and have them in a small round "pill type" container so they will be easy to find while fishing. And you can set them up on all of the buzzbaits and spinnerbaits you plan to use before you hit the water so they will be ready for action.

 

Good luck and consider Cavitrons as your next buzzbait purchase. They are excellent buzzbaits.

[EGbassing]

8 hours ago, Sam said:

EG, one of the secrets to successful buzzbait fishing is to have your rod, reel and bait "balanced" so when the buzzbait hits the water you can start your retrieve without any backlash worries.

 

You should be able to start the retrieve when the buzzbait hits the water or right before the buzzbait hits the water.

 

Here is a fast overview on how to "balance your baits" on your baitcasters:

1.  Read line test and bait weight parameters on your rod to make sure you are within the proper limits.

2.  Rig up your reel with your favorite mono or fluorocarbon line of the test strength you want within the rod's parameters.

3.  Add the buzzbait so you are ready to cast.

4.  Tighten your drag and spool tension knob on the baitcaster.

4.  Point rod tip to 11 o'clock and release the spool, allowing the bait to fall to the floor.

5.  Never do this on carpet!!!

6.  Using your drag and spool tension knob, you want to adjust the spool tension as the buzzbait drops to the floor so that the bait will fall to the ground/floor and the spool will stop when the buzzbait hits the ground/floor.

7.  You can loosen the spool some if you wish.

8.  Make a number of casts to make sure the spool does not continue to spin when the buzzbait hits the ground or water causing a backlash.

 

After you  set up the rod, reel and buzzbait you can cast all day without any backlash problems.

 

And you can start your retrieve as soon or a second before the bait hits the water.

 

You will look like the pros when they throw a buzzbait.

 

You can use this balancing method for all baitcaster baits, adjusting your set ups while on the water.

 

Don't thank me.  Thank the pros for this tip as I learned it at an old Bassmasters University seminar. And I forgot the pro who told us about this method. I think it may have been Ike or Jimmy Houston. Not sure.

 

One more pro tip.  If you can find a lawn and tractor shop go to them and tell them you want to buy a foot or two of the plastic yellow fuel line. Take a buzzbait and spinnerbait with you so you can put the end of the plastic line over the tip of the buzzbait/spinerbait where you tie your line.

 

Make sure the fuel line is open enough to fit over the end of your buzzbait/spinnerbait where you tie your line.

 

Take the fuel line home and cut it into small pieces, about a 1/8 inch each.

 

Then, slip the small cut tube over the end of the buzzbait's "nose" where you would tie your line, leaving space between the end of the metal and the tubing.

 

Take the end of your line from the rod and tie on a snap.

 

Then, take the snap, open it, run it through the area between the end of the bait and the plastic fuel line, and snap it into place on the buzzbait in front of the fuel line.

 

This method allows you to change baits fast and easily and it does not interfere with the buzzbait's and spinnerbait's performance.

 

This is a pro's trick I learned at the old Bassmaster University. And once again, I forgot who told us about this.

 

Just watch the size of the fuel line. It comes in a number of sizes so this is why you need to take your buzzbaits and spinnerbaits with you to find the best size line.

 

Makes changing baits fast and easy.

 

I cut a lot of 1/8 inch sections from my yellow plastic fuel lines and have them in a small round "pill type" container so they will be easy to find while fishing. And you can set them up on all of the buzzbaits and spinnerbaits you plan to use before you hit the water so they will be ready for action.

 

Good luck and consider Cavitrons as your next buzzbait purchase. They are excellent buzzbaits.

Thanks Sam. That's really helpful. I went out last night with a fly rod, and a baitcaster. Nothing on the baitcaster/buzzbait, but I managed to get a couple bluegill on the fly rod.  

[Kjruiz]

On ‎5‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 10:44 AM, Kjruiz said:

On ‎5‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 10:11 AM, bagofdonuts said:

I find that i fish it better the faster i go. Rapid fire casting and trolling motor on high, covering lots of water. So with a buzz bait i'm always moving to the next spot. Works for me as i get into a better rhythm that way.

Thanks! Plan to try it out when it stops raining this afternoon.

Well that didn't work out well. There was so much debris from the storm that I was essentially just collecting weeds.

[Mjmj]

On 5/14/2018 at 8:41 PM, NorthwestBasser said:

Straight retrieve, you can vary retrieve speed a little til you find the pace they wanna chase. I almost exclusively use the buddah baits snooze alarm, bluegill color ½oz. Give em just a little pause between strike and hookset, kinda like fishin a frog. Buzzbaits are my absolute favorite bait to thow hands down.

do you use a trailer?

[NorthwestBasser]

On 5/19/2018 at 2:25 PM, Mjmj said:

do you use a trailer?

I don't use a trailer, I've tried putting a toad on. I think it's just too much. Some guys swear by it though.

[Quarry Man]

On 5/14/2018 at 7:25 PM, soflabasser said:

Buzzbaits are a great lure to use at night and a lure that I see few people use. I tend to catch less bass on them compared to other topwaters but the average size bass is bigger. 

^ this

 

I love to use them parallel to vegetation like lily pads and pond weed.

 

I love to use them in the rain during the summer

 

I love to use them at night

[BarefootBassin]

On 5/16/2018 at 1:25 PM, YoTone said:

only thing id like to add is my preference for longer armed buzz baits. they seem to have a much higher hook up ratio. 

Glad that was brought up. War Eagle makes a great buzzbait that has a heavier wire and is very durable, but if they're short striking, I'll switch to a Buckeye lures buzzbait. The Buckeye will have to be bent back into shape after every catch, but they will absolutely get choked. As far as trailer hooks are concerned, consider changing trailers or colors before going to a trailer hook. When bass are short striking, it usually means your presentation needs to be tweaked a little. Most of the time I take the skirt off and change trailers. Don't be afraid to try different trailers. My favorites are zoom toads and z-craws, but any compact creature, swimbait, or even a lizard will work. The only time I fish a trailer hook is if I'm just fishing a plain skirt and I can't get them to bite anything else. Black and white are the only colors you need and you can change trailers to accomplish that easily enough. For what it's worth, I still fish them in the middle of a sunny day in the summer in TX and get bit targeting any type of cover that provides shade or over submerged vegetation. The pic below was from last month at 11 am in sunny, 100 degree weather. You can retrieve them steadily, but I'll pop the rod it pause it for a split second too to coax strikes. Definitely a more versatile bait than they get credit for, so again, don't be afraid to get creative. Probably more info than you wanted, but hopefully that helps.

[the reel ess]

When you fish around docks and stumps, run the bait into them as you retrieve. Fish dig that.

[the reel ess]

On 5/26/2018 at 10:07 PM, NorthwestBasser said:

I don't use a trailer, I've tried putting a toad on. I think it's just too much. Some guys swear by it though.

It's a pretty good way to salvage a trip when the bass are hitting the bait so much they destroy the skirt and you don't have a replacement. But sometimes it just messes up the balance.