Do you find buzzbaits "fussy"? And what's your Love-Hate bait?

[RRocket]

First, I like buzzbaits. But it is been an on-again, off-again relationship. And I don't think it's all the buzz baits fault. In my area, once the weeds get here, THEY ARE HERE. And anything not completely weedless is miserable to fish.

 

So my personal window is pretty small due to that and climate. It's going to be spring and very late fall for most of my practical use. Basically, before and after the weeds arrive.

 

But even in those conditions where it should (allegedly) shine, I find the rigging of baits and getting the buzzbait to run properly are fussy and irritating to me. Getting it to run properly, that is to say with the bait under the prop rather than flopping over to one side (listing? ) seems to be a black art.

 

I'll slide a bait on (currently using Scott Canterbury Pro buzz, 1/4oz paired with a Pit Boss for example) and that baby will fish perfect all day. I'll put another bait on and it will "list" to one side..that is to say the spinner is more beside the bait than over. No rhyme or reason.

 

And it's not me, either. I measured one of my hook jobs on a multi hundred thousand dollar precision measuring machine and it was a mere .005" off center. And yet, it would list. 

 

This is surely my love-hate relationship bait. I love it, because it works and is fun to fish. Hate it because (for me) it's finicky to get it to run correctly. Love using it..but ultimately end up irritated.

 

What's your Love-Hate bait? 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Those are my favorite Buzzbaits...the Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury models but in the 3/8-1/2oz sizes.

 

Got about 4 of them and I've never really cared how the bait runs as long as it's buzzing right.   I use 5.5" Spunk Shads in the spring, and then use Stanley Frogs and a few others that I'm trying to eat up post spawn until winter.  I honestly don't think the fish are that much interested in whatever is dangling or the orientation of it.   It's such an un-natural presentation to me that I don't sweat the realism nuances.   Just my opinion.   

 

I have a hate/love relationship with every single lure I've ever fished outside of the Z-Man Flashback Mini with an Armor Shad and spot of super glue.   If I had to survive based on what I catch, that's the only lure I'd throw.      

 

 

 

 

[RRocket]

50 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Those are my favorite Buzzbaits...the Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury models but in the 3/8-1/2oz sizes.

 

Got about 4 of them and I've never really cared how the bait runs as long as it's buzzing right.   I use 5.5" Spunk Shads in the spring, and then use Stanley Frogs and a few others that I'm trying to eat up post spawn until winter.  I honestly don't think the fish are that much interested in whatever is dangling or the orientation of it.   It's such an un-natural presentation to me that I don't sweat the realism nuances.   Just my opinion.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't disagree with you. Clearly some of this is "Me" inside my head.

 

But another part I see is the potential for poorer hooksets. I mean, if the hook is off to the side (or laying on its side) rather than straight up and down..I have to imagine compromised hooksets or missed fish perhaps? 

[Catt]

Speed: some buzzbaits track better at slower speeds while other like faster speeds. This is true even with in the same manufacturer.

 

Rod tip height: this effect how high the buzzbait runs on the surface or below. 

 

Both could contribute to what you're describing.

[scaleface]

Buzzbaits are my favorite lure and I donrt think I caught a single fish on them this year. Timing just wasnt right.

 

   My love/hate baits are frogs. I suck big time at frog fishing.

[casts_by_fly]

15 hours ago, Catt said:

Speed: some buzzbaits track better at slower speeds while other like faster speeds. This is true even with in the same manufacturer.

 

Rod tip height: this effect how high the buzzbait runs on the surface or below. 

 

Both could contribute to what you're describing.

what this guys says. I prefer a buzz bait as slow as I can fish it.  I also fish them in the dark and low light. For me, that means a bigger blade and black. 
 

I also want it to run true. I throw it into the dirty stuff. Pads, weed beds, wood.  I cast when I see a retrieve line and want it to track out the line I see. I tune mine incessantly until they track how I like and then I just start casting. If a fish bends it out I fix it. 
 

The noise a buzz bait makes depends on the rod tip height. Higher and it splashes the water. Lower and it plops more. I do better with a slow plop but YMMV. 

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

The noise a buzz bait makes

 

I bend the lip of the rivet upwards with a pair of needle nose pliers. Creates a squeal 

[casts_by_fly]

7 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I bend the lip of the rivet upwards with a pair of needle nose pliers. Creates a squeal 

Not sure what you mean “up” but I pinch mine hard on the wire side of the rivet so it can’t move to make the squeal. 
 

I also use a sugar buzz and bend the blade side of the wire down until the tip of the blade clacks against the head enough to click but not stop the blade. The blade plops, the rivet squeals, and the head clicks. It’s a lot of noise fished fast but the sugar buzz blades seem oversized and you can really crawl them along. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

If you got a pool, run your buzzbaits and glide baits in them.  

 

Something I learned from Kevin Brightwell of KGB Swimbaits.  He tunes the baits in a pool and found the chlorine in the water makes the baits extra squeaky....and all my KGB baits are very squeaky.   

[Catt]

9 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Not sure what you mean “up”

 

Take the lip of the rivet in the end of the pliers & bend it up towards the blade. 

[RRocket]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

what this guys says. I prefer a buzz bait as slow as I can fish it.  I also fish them in the dark and low light. For me, that means a bigger blade and black. 
 

 

I have, of course, tried all that. Literally the SAME buzzbait with the SAME trailer but different color. Same day. One runs perfect...the other less so.  Everything identical.

 

Like I said...for me, these baits are a bit fussy.

[RRocket]

On 11/3/2023 at 9:05 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Those are my favorite Buzzbaits...the Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury models but in the 3/8-1/2oz sizes.

 

Got about 4 of them and I've never really cared how the bait runs as long as it's buzzing right.   I use 5.5" Spunk Shads in the spring, and then use Stanley Frogs

 

 

 

Which Stanley frog and length? 

 

Would love to see photos with the 5.5 Spunk Shad! 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

3 minutes ago, RRocket said:

Which Stanley frog and length? 

 

Would love to see photos with the 5.5 Spunk Shad! 

 

Here it is in action

6.3lb on a Dirty Jigs Buzzbait - YouTube

 

I like the 3.5" Ribbits in Blue Gill if I had to pick one.   

[RRocket]

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 

 

That Spunk Shad set up is very compact and sleek!!  I bet the tail moves around a bunch? 

 

I use the smaller versions on my Chatterbait Minimax.

 

Strongly considering adding to my buzzbait.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Yeah I got them in all sizes for Jackhammers and MiniMaxs so last Spring I tried it out and it worked out really well.   Any other time of the year and I'm generally trying to go with a more compact profile however like those standard size frogs from Stanley or Big Bite Baits even though I don't prefer those.   

 

You really got to use the big Spunk Shads to clear the hook and internal weight I found.

[RRocket]

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

 

 

You really got to use the big Spunk Shads to clear the hook and internal weight I found.

Yea, the Berkley Pit Boss, which works very well, is a bit tight. You have to get it perfect or the nose rips.

 

I also use this logger toad which works well too.

 

https://bassassassin.com/product/logger-toad-4/

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I should say the Ribbits are like that, you got to be pretty perfect with the spacing or the fat weight come out on top or bottom, the Big Bait Bite Tourney Toads?  have a great body that doesn't require the perfection, however the stupid legs get caught in the hook so often.  

 

eta:  Really it's just a confidence thing, if you like the setup you are using or feel it's getting bite well, stick with it.    Going back to my original point, I think the great options for a Buzzer trailer are huge as the fish don't really key that heavily on that aspect imho.   

[RRocket]

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Looks great to me, I fish 2-3ft of Viz this time of year so I need a bit darker color, but I bet that works great.  

 

eta;  for the days when they key in on that small bait, you could even cut the side arms off and it looks like a Shad profile with a spunk shad style kick.  

[RRocket]

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Looks great to me, I fish 2-3ft of Viz this time of year so I need a bit darker color, but I bet that works great.  

I generally use that color for Pike.

 

My water is dirty here, so I typically use blacks, dark blue, purple, junebug, etc

[RRocket]

20 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

    Going back to my original point, I think the great options for a Buzzer trailer are huge as the fish don't really key that heavily on that aspect imho.   

I'll defer to what you say since its clear you fish these far more than I do.

 

So I agree with that statement. But won't the fish "care" a bit more about the trailer with the Canterbury Pro buzz since there's no skirt, painted lead, eyes, etc to target during the strike?That is to say, won't they be keying in more on the trailer as their target in this case? 

[Mobasser]

One of the best buzzbaits I've ever used was the Bill Norman Triple Wing Buzzbait. Never fussy, always ran true, and good lay on the surface.                                I've had others I've had to tweak and bend a little, but overall I haven't found buzzbaits to be much trouble.

[Pat Brown]

The Nichols Impulse and the Accent Wheeler OG and Finesse are my best producers consistently.  I really like the way the blade relates to the hook and all that stuff.  Seems like when fish gets it with these ones they get it good.  Not as big a fan of the Buzzbaits where the blade is very close to the hook but those catch the very committed fish just fine.

 

I have one requirement for a buzzbait trailer.  It needs to be flattish and have flappers on both sides.  I find this is more critical than tuning or anything else for getting it to run vertically in line.  You have the bend the arm to get it to run straight.  If it's straight it will run to one side.

 

In general I'm finding white or shad pattern work best most of the time but when I'm in super heavy cover I like a more bluegill/darker color.  I usually go skirt and trailer and only put a trailer hook on if a fish explodes on my bait and doesn't get it.  It seems like this just happens sometimes and it's probably an indication that there's a different presentation that would work better, but I find that the trailer hook is a good idea if you're going to be covering water with a buzzbait and they're short striking.

[casts_by_fly]

23 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Take the lip of the rivet in the end of the pliers & bend it up towards the blade. 

gotcha. Just so the outer tip of the rim scrapes the blade. 

[Zcoker]

I just make my own and add various blade configurations to tune them. The blades have much to do with how the bait acts on top of the water. Just like spinnerbaits do underwater, the blades on a buzzbait dictate motion, speed, sound, etc. The spinnerbait below moves very slowly and the blades make a unique gargling sound by counteracting each other. The difference in the hits are amazing! Little changes make a major difference on how the fish react!