Why buzzbaits work

[Glenn]

Thoughts?

 

[Captain Phil]

Bass are very territorial, especially large fish. Many times an otherwise inactive bass can be made to strike a lure just because it's moving fast. Some anglers call this a reaction strike.  This is one reason fast cranking a Rattle Trap works so well.  When you throw a buzz bait, you are doing the same thing only on the surface.  Buzz baits are normally thrown in cover where the fish are, so that is an additional benefit.  Buzz bait bass are normally larger than worm caught fish.  Buzz baits make great search lures because they cover water.  Personally, my hookup ratio with a buzz bait is much better than when frog fishing.

[TnRiver46]

Anybody ever ask one? 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Anybody ever ask one? 

Mine told me they work so well to make up for the shame spinnerbaits have cast on the Wired Bait family name ?

[Tennessee Boy]

I’ve reached a point in my personal development where I can say that I don’t know why bass hit buzzbaits and I’m okay with that.   It’s enough for me to just catch fish on them and appreciate the mystery of it all.  
 

I’m still working with my therapist on plastic worms.  ?

[Bird]

Noise.

Buzzbaits, whopper plopper and Devils horse are all noisy surface baits and catch fish.

[Mike L]

13 minutes ago, Bird said:

Noise.

Buzzbaits, whopper plopper and Devils horse are all noisy surface baits and catch fish.

Combine that with the rapid displacement of water and you have injured bait running for its life. 
 

Which is what every predator covets 

 

 

Mike

[FishTank]

40 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Anybody ever ask one? 

Sort of.. . .it went something like this.

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

43 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Anybody ever ask one? 

 

The question is "did one ever answer".

[gim]

I do believe that the fish can become conditioned to buzz baits (and topwater lures in general).  I've experienced this in recent years.  I used to catch a lot of fish on buzzers.  Now, its like pulling teeth to get one on ANY type of topwater.  The combination of pressure and clear water has taken its toll in the topwater fishing realm.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Anybody ever ask one? 

I asked a few but they didn’t say anything. I’m assuming it was too traumatic for them to talk about

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Mine told me they work so well to make up for the shame spinnerbaits have cast on the Wired Bait family name ?

I will not stand for the spinner hate! 
 

I consider a spinnerbait the #1 bass lure of all time

 

[Pat Brown]

I reckon they work cuz we throw em.  ?

 

Bass probably bite most lures out of something other than hunger.

 

Fish on.

 

Hope I catch a giant on the buzzbait this summer!

[JediAmoeba]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

I do believe that the fish can become conditioned to buzz baits (and topwater lures in general).  I've experienced this in recent years.  I used to catch a lot of fish on buzzers.  Now, its like pulling teeth to get one on ANY type of topwater.  The combination of pressure and clear water has taken its toll in the topwater fishing realm.

I agree and will add most moving baits have taken a big hit in success rates the last few years. Fishing pressure is at an all-time high and bass see the same lures day in, day out. 

 

I haven't caught a fish on a buzzbait in years.

[DitchPanda]

All ill say is buzzbaits are my favorite top water followed closely by a popper. I've caught hundreds of bass on a buzz bait over the years.

[islandbass]

They work because they need to eat just like us, lol. 
 

I am on the same page as @Captain Phil  

[king fisher]

I don't know why they work, but I sure am glad they do because they are one of the few lures that Megabass doesn't have a $20.00 plus version that the Bait Monkey claims catches ten times the number of fish compared to the cheaper versions I own.  At least I am assuming they don't.  I haven't seen an AJ tackle porn picture post of a tacklebox crammed full of ultra expensive Buzz Baits.  

[CountryboyinDC]

I think it's probably because they're the hardest baits to find a way to store, and the bass don't want to make things easy on us.

[casts_by_fly]

23 hours ago, Mike L said:

Combine that with the rapid displacement of water and you have injured bait running for its life. 
 

Which is what every predator covets 

 

 

Mike

 

this is my answer. That whop-whop of the blade and the squeal of the rivet are putting so much noise into the water and drawing attention. Then the splash and wake is enough to drive a bass nuts.  
 

aside from this spring’s spinnerbait bass, all of my big fish the past two years have been on a buzz bait. 

[Bankbeater]

It probably looks like a small animal or fish swimming on the surface.  Buzzbaits are very quickly turning into my top topwater bait this year, and I'm not going to jinx it by overthinking why.

[txchaser]

On 6/30/2023 at 6:33 PM, king fisher said:

I don't know why they work, but I sure am glad they do because they are one of the few lures that Megabass doesn't have a $20.00 plus version that the Bait Monkey claims catches ten times the number of fish compared to the cheaper versions I own.  At least I am assuming they don't.  I haven't seen an AJ tackle porn picture post of a tacklebox crammed full of ultra expensive Buzz Baits.  

 

You mean like... this?

[Susky River Rat]

On 6/30/2023 at 1:10 PM, gimruis said:

I do believe that the fish can become conditioned to buzz baits (and topwater lures in general).  I've experienced this in recent years.  I used to catch a lot of fish on buzzers.  Now, its like pulling teeth to get one on ANY type of topwater.  The combination of pressure and clear water has taken its toll in the topwater fishing realm.

Everyone around here and I am sure most places throw whopper ploppers. I throw berkley choppos. They are probably just different enough for the bass to care. Low water most people start throwing them. I have been trying to grind spinner baits into the rocks lately. I have been having some success with that. They generally are the bigger fish I’d the day. 
 

I am going to have to invest in a few buzz baits just to try. 

[Woody B]

At least 1/2 of the people I see fishing are throwing buzz baits.   The other 1/2 are throwing senkos.   I think at least on the lake I normally fish the bass have seen enough of them.  I routinely catch bass right behind the buzz bait/senko people using other baits and methods.  

[LrgmouthShad]

2 hours ago, Woody B said:

At least 1/2 of the people I see fishing are throwing buzz baits.   The other 1/2 are throwing senkos.   I think at least on the lake I normally fish the bass have seen enough of them.  I routinely catch bass right behind the buzz bait/senko people using other baits and methods.  

Guys here seem to throw every bait made. I’ve seen all forms of  topwater, beavers, huge swimbaits, worms, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits… you name it

[Junk Fisherman]

Why do buzzbaits work?  Bass think they're baby waverunners!  

[LrgmouthShad]

Okay yeah why do buzzbaits work? I think Glenn makes a great point for topwater in general that something on the surface of the water has less to escape to. A bait in the middle of the water column can go up or down but a bait on top can only go down. It is trapped in a sense