Buzz Bait Swim

[mexikanman]

I'm not sure what I'm doing "wrong"?  Im sorry I don't know specifics about the buzz bait; i bought it a long time ago and don't remember make/model.  All I know is it's kinda heavy.  So the problem is, I make a long cast and no matter if I reel fast or slow, the bait doesn't hit the top of the water until XX feet from the boat.  These numbers are fake, just and example: if I cast it 90ft, it'll sink and then pop up about the 60ft mark.  I've tried reeling as soon as it hits the water, and like I said fast and slow, but it always submerges (at least beneath the waterline) and pops up about the same distance from the boat.  I've tried rod tip up, down, at it....etc...   Anyone know why it doesn't swim "on top" right from the start?  

[Deleted account]

Try reeling just before the lure hits the water.

 

[fishballer06]

Where on the wire is your line tied? No buzzbait should do what you're explaining whenever tied on properly. It should be tied on at the R bend like shown below. 

 

[Fishes in trees]

Don't have an answer for this one - maybe not enough information.  If you going to try to throw that buzz bait as far as you can, ( to cover water I guess ) my only advice is - rod tip up, as far as possible - reel as fast as you have to to get the bait up and then experiment with how slow can you go.   Next - gear advice for a new fisherman - decent digital postal scales cost $20 more or less and a plastic case to protect it another $10, max.   I've had mine for around a decade now with no issues.  (Be sure to remove the battery between uses ). If you have knee, you would KNOW how much that buzz bait weighs.    I've used mine at least a dozen times per year, when I want to know the weight of something fishing related.   On a cost per use basis, it is probably the most economical fishing related toy I have.

[Bird]

Sounds like it just may be a reel with a very slow gear ratio or a very flimsy rod. 

Much prefer to throw a buzzbait on a baitcaster.....it's buzzing as soon as it hits the water. 

[Deleted account]

12 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

Where on the wire is your line tied? No buzzbait should do what you're explaining whenever tied on properly. It should be tied on at the R bend like shown below. 

 

[In my best Randy Moss voice]...COM'ON MEIN!

[MN Fisher]

For buzzbaits, I want a high IPT and at least a MH rod.

 

My main buzzbait rig is:

Fuego CT-XS (8.1:1 33.9IPT) on an Aird-X 701HFB

 

Two other rigs I'd possibly toss them on are

Patriarch (7.9:1 32IPT) on a Dobyns Fury 704C

Avocet RZT-3000 (5.4:1 29IPT) on an Okuma Reflexions 701MHA - if I'm tossing a buzzbait on my spinner though, I must be desperate.

 

[gim]

9 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

if I'm tossing a buzzbait on my spinner though, I must be desperate.

 

Lol good one

[Bluebasser86]

A slow reel will make keeping any buzzbait on the surface difficult. The weight of the buzzbait shouldn't matter. I fish a 3/4oz buzzbait pretty often and it has no trouble staying on the surface because of the head design, blade size, and I use the proper gear for it. 

[fishballer06]

I fish buzzbaits quite a bit once the water is warm enough. My favorite buzzbait being the Cavitron, which is known for being one of the slowest fishing buzzbaits out there because of the design of the holes in the blades. One of my favorite reels to throw this bait on is an old Chronarch 201E5. Yes, a 5:1 ratio. Something about that slow ratio and that blade design gets me bites whenever I won't get bites using a 7:1 ratio reel. 

 

So in my personal opinion, having a super fast reel isn't exactly a requirement. Any good buzzbait should have no issues getting on plane and staying there. 

[Deleted account]

11 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

the Cavitron, which is known for being one of the slowest fishing buzzbaits out there...

I've read that somewhere on the InterWeb...  

[Koz]

Spinning gear or baitcaster? Reel gear ratio? Rod power?

 

I use a 7’ MHF baitcaster with a 7:3:1 ratio most of the time. I can get by with a 6:2:1 but it’s not as efficient.

 

I thumb the spool and start reeling just before it hits the water. It takes a little practice to get the timing and rhythm down.

 

But if I were you I would work on that with short to medium casts first. You need perfect timing and the rod tip high if you are making long bomb casts.

[bulldog1935]

I have to take exception with reeling before the lure hits - that's a great way to break off a heavy lure.  The answer and solution is obvious for an inshore fisher who has to keep a 3/8 oz jighead out of the skinny grass at the end of a longer cast than bass fishers need (otherwise it's a giant grassball).  

 

It can  work the same with either bait or spin:    

Instant retrieve is your goal. 

 

Baitcaster gets you there with less effort, because your thumb tightened the line before the lure splashed.  

At splash, lift the rod and crank.  

 

With spinning reel, feather the end of the cast with your fingertips and close the bail manually to get the retrieve jump on the lure sinking.  

If you try doing it with crank auto-bail closure, you're begging for wind knots.  

[LrgmouthShad]

2 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

I fish buzzbaits quite a bit once the water is warm enough. My favorite buzzbait being the Cavitron, which is known for being one of the slowest fishing buzzbaits out there because of the design of the holes in the blades. One of my favorite reels to throw this bait on is an old Chronarch 201E5. Yes, a 5:1 ratio. Something about that slow ratio and that blade design gets me bites whenever I won't get bites using a 7:1 ratio reel. 

 

So in my personal opinion, having a super fast reel isn't exactly a requirement. Any good buzzbait should have no issues getting on plane and staying there. 

Same here. I also learned that a fast gear ratio is not necessary for slower buzzbaits. I throw the Cavitron comfortably on a 5:4:1 reel. Quite convenient because that means I throw it on the same rod as my spinnerbaits.

[Bird]

3 hours ago, Koz said:

I thumb the spool and start reeling just before it hits the water. It takes a little practice to get the timing and rhythm down.

 

 

I do the same as you'll actually gain a fish or 2 by this procedure. 

If a buzzbait is allowed to sink on the cast, it may take as much as 4ft to surface......not likey to entice a bite. 

[Deleted account]

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

I have to take exception with reeling before the lure hits - that's a great way to break off a heavy lure. 

Oh yeah, I forgot about the fluoro...

But yes, not a good idea with a 3 oz or heavier lure, but we're talking about a buzz bait here.

[mexikanman]

Just a little update: Shimano SLX both rod and reel.  7:2:1, 7' MH.  I'm going to try the lure on a couple other set-ups to see if I have the same issue.  TBH I was covering water with long casts so I'll try on short/medium throws to see if I have the same issue.  Thanks for all the feedback.  

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, mexikanman said:

Just a little update: Shimano SLX both rod and reel.  7:2:1, 7' MH

Ya - the SLX 7.2 maxes out at 28IPT...not a speed I'd use for buzzbaits.

[Log Catcher]

I don't have any buzzbaits that weigh more than 3/8 ounce. I have thrown them on a 5.1:1 reel many times with no problems. If you are using a 7.2:1 reel it should get your buzzbait up on top pretty quickly.

[WRB]

Hold the rod at 2 o’clock , slow down the cast and lift the tip up as the lure lands to pull it forward and reel.

What trailer are you using?

Tom

[mexikanman]

17 hours ago, WRB said:

Hold the rod at 2 o’clock , slow down the cast and lift the tip up as the lure lands to pull it forward and reel.

What trailer are you using?

Tom

It's a large white grub-type trailer with twin tails.  Again, I've had it for a long time and don't remember what make/model.  I think it's a 1/2oz Strike King buzz bait.  Trailer, not sure, Iooked through my bags and can't find another.  I'll definitely use a smaller trailer in the future.  

[galyonj]

7 minutes ago, mexikanman said:

I'll definitely use a smaller trailer in the future.  

 

That can work against your goal here. Trailers with more surface area and/or large flappy appendages can slow the fall of a lure (which, as you'd imagine, can be advantageous).

 

Can't help you with your larger buzzbait issue, though. I'm buzzbait-challenged myself.

[Kenny Yi]

the farther the cast, the higher the tip must point, if I'm bombing a buzzbait, then an 11 o clock position is best when it lands.  i lower the rod tip as the buzzbait gets closer to me, but that is irrelevant to your issue. 

 

the faster you reel, the more the buzzbait should rise to the surface, since the blade/trailer on a buzzbait imparts drag.  burn the line back if you have to. 

[Bird]

I can't sit here and tell you a buzzbait needs a trailer, mine do fine without. Idk