Paddle tail or Zako style for buzz baits

[Luke Barnes]

Plan on doing some night fishing and thought about tying on a black and blue buzz bait. Then I got to thinking I wonder if it would be better with a Zako on it or just stick with a paddle tail. For chatterbaits I prefer the Zako and Swimon but everything else I will use a paddle tail. 

 

What's everyones thoughts?

[Kenny Yi]

black and blue Rage Menace Grub or Z-craw

 

paddletail is great also, I want a lot of action when night fishing

[Bluebasser86]

Neither. Only time I put a plastic on a buzzbait is if I'm using a toad instead of a skirt. 

[Hammer 4]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Neither. Only time I put a plastic on a buzzbait is if I'm using a toad instead of a skirt. 

Ditto.

[ChrisD46]

I've watched Gerald Swindle do well with a buzz bait with a Zoom Z Craw Jr. on the back as a trailer (Pearl of Black & Blue flake) . The G Man elaborated that he misses too many bass using a toad as a trailer but does favor a smaller soft plastic trailer of some sort to give a bass more to hold on to versus a skirt ... The only time he uses a skirt on a buzz bait is winter thru  pre-spawn - but once the spawn is on then he trades the skirt in for the Z Craw Jr.  *I'm experimenting with cutting the skirt length down to equal the bend in the hook - then add a Zoom 4" Pearl color Fluke (not the Super Fluke) for a white buss bait and then use either a Z Craw , Mondo Bug , Christie Craw , Rage Bug , etc. in that 3.5" ~ 4" range in Black & Blue flake for my black buzz bait . 

[Luke Barnes]

So for all that said a Z craw Jr, do you rig it verticle or horizontal? I happen to have them in black and blue so very interested in this!

[roadwarrior]

No trailer...ever.

 

[Jigfishn10]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Neither. Only time I put a plastic on a buzzbait is if I'm using a toad instead of a skirt. 

 

11 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Ditto.

x3

[TriStateBassin106]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Neither. Only time I put a plastic on a buzzbait is if I'm using a toad instead of a skirt. 

Second this, I love throwing a zoom horny toad on a buzzbait! 

[scaleface]

I use paddletails on buzzbaits almost 100 per cent of the time . Hook up percentage is high bass seem to hit it more aggressively , it weighs more than a skirt so instead of using a 1/2 ounce buzzer I went down to a 3/8 ounce . It retrieves slower . The only disadvantage is my buzzbaits were not designed for them , so I have to super glue them on , otherwise I feel it makes for a better bait . 

[BassNJake]

I like adding a used plastic on the back to give it more weight

This seems to make my casting control a 100 times better

 

I'm in the camp that whatever commotion is caused by the plastic is so minimal compared to the loud chunk of metal chopping the water it does not matter

I've got a dozen paddle tails that lost their tail and I think they work great on both buzzbaits and chatterbaits

[Luke Barnes]

I'm really suprised at how many people don't use a trailer on a buzz bait. I think the trailer is more about profile and a target that actually looks like a fish or frog than just a skirt, but to each their own! 

 

I'm going to experiment with the Z craw as a trailer and maybe even a rage bug.

[CountryboyinDC]

20 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

I'm really suprised at how many people don't use a trailer on a buzz bait.

I use a trailer - a trailer hook.  I mean you have what looks like a prop wash behind the bait, squealing...what else could you need to make a snakehead or bass angry enough to take a swipe at it?

[snake95]

I am 100% with @scaleface on this one.

 

I fish buzzbaits in Ga a lot and have my best success with a paddle tail like a Keitech swing impact fat.  
 

I have had times when bass have hammered the paddle tail as I was about to lift out of the water and I am convinced the paddle tail was seen, identified, and hit.

[Luke Barnes]

18 hours ago, snake95 said:

I am 100% with @scaleface on this one.

 

I fish buzzbaits in Ga a lot and have my best success with a paddle tail like a Keitech swing impact fat.  
 

I have had times when bass have hammered the paddle tail as I was about to lift out of the water and I am convinced the paddle tail was seen, identified, and hit.

I agree. The last time I used a buzz bait I had two hit it right as it hit the water and I stadted cranking on it. I dont think they saw a blade and decided to hit that, but rather the swimbait that hit and started swimming away. 

[ChrisD46]

On 7/14/2021 at 12:32 PM, Luke Barnes said:

So for all that said a Z craw Jr, do you rig it verticle or horizontal? I happen to have them in black and blue so very interested in this!

Horizontal rigged - you want the Z Craw Jr. flat so it helps the Buzz Bait get up on plane faster and stay there . Gerald Swindle was very adamant that he stopped using a toad as a buzz bait soft plastic because required him to take too much "Zanax" due to excessive worry & anxiety with the toad trailer (i.e. lose too many bass on the buzz bait toad strike vs. the Z Craw Jr.) . Of course , this is one man's opinion falling out of love with a toad trailer on a buzz bait . I will caution - finding Z Craw Jr. soft plastics is a challenge currently as Zoom continues to struggle at being  able to supply the market an adequate supply . Don't hesitate to select another similar size soft plastic creature / craw  in that 3.5" ~ 4" range (such as a Strike King Rage Bug - also works great !)

[TOXIC]

On 7/13/2021 at 4:04 PM, Luke Barnes said:

Plan on doing some night fishing and thought about tying on a black and blue buzz bait. Then I got to thinking I wonder if it would be better with a Zako on it or just stick with a paddle tail. For chatterbaits I prefer the Zako and Swimon but everything else I will use a paddle tail. 

 

What's everyones thoughts?

Zako is now available in a paddle tail if you like the colors and size of that trailer.  Gives you another option.  

[FishTank]

No trailer for me.  I don't see how this adds anything to a bait that already has a ton of action and noise going on.  Bass seem to inhale it or try to destroy it and not taste it. 

[Luke Barnes]

6 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

Horizontal rigged - you want the Z Craw Jr. flat so it helps the Buzz Bait get up on plane faster and stay there . Gerald Swindle was very adamant that he stopped using a toad as a buzz bait soft plastic because required him to take too much "Zanax" due to excessive worry & anxiety with the toad trailer (i.e. lose too many bass on the buzz bait toad strike vs. the Z Craw Jr.) . Of course , this is one man's opinion falling out of love with a toad trailer on a buzz bait . I will caution - finding Z Craw Jr. soft plastics is a challenge currently as Zoom continues to struggle at being  able to supply the market an adequate supply . Don't hesitate to select another similar size soft plastic creature / craw  in that 3.5" ~ 4" range (such as a Strike King Rage Bug - also works great !)

I happen to have a fresh pack of Z Craw Jr's in black blue flake, so it will work perfect on a black and blue buzz bait. 

 

Went last night snd it would have been a good night to throw the buzz bait but just didnt feel like retying and kept throwing what I had on.

[huZZah]

I like paddle tail zoom super fluke on my buzz baits. Bulky but durable. I use it on spinners and swim it t rigged weighted and unweighted as well. Just a great all around plastic at an affordable price. I only use white (pearl I think.) 

 

I have a friend that always uses trailer hooks on buzz/spinner baits. Never throws without. The trailer he can do with or without.