spinner/buzzbait questions

[crankbait2009]

i was at BPS yesterday and i bought a couple buzzbaits and a spinner bait. i have a question about each.

first, i have an extreme rod/reel, i have #12 yo-zuri hybrid line on it, 6:4:1 gear ratio, with a 60 million extreme rod.

here is the link to the 1st spinner bait that i bought, red/black

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_15394_100006001_100000000_100006000_100-6-1

i was using this last night and im not sure if i was doing anything wrong or not but it seemed to put a lot of strain on my line while reeling it in. its only a 1/2oz lure. when i say strain, i mean its the feeling like your line is twisted at the tip of the rod and it needs to be untangled. but this wasnt the case. are the double colorado blades to much for this?

next, i bought this buzzbait shown in the link below, black

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_74325_100006003_100000000_100006000_100-6-3

i really like the action of this buzzbait but my question is this. does this only attract Largemouth bass? will it attract Smallmouth? i have fished a few buzzbaits over the last few months and i get no response out of it, except the action that i see it put off. a lot of people mention that these baits are excellent bass catchers, but i get no hits at all. any clues?

[Shad_Master]

A couple of interesting questions and I'm sure you will lots of good answers - unfortunately they may not all be the same (LOL) - first of all, on your spinner bait - are you bringing it through a lot of grass?  If so, that may account for the tug on your line that you are feeling - if so, you may want to down-size and go for a 3/8 of 1/4 spinner bait or try fishing it out on the edge of the weedline.

As for the buzz-bait, work this in the same areas in lower light conditions - when the first bite happens for you, you will be sold on this presentation.  My rule of thumb is to throw them first thing in the morning until the sun touches the water and then I put 'em away until the shadows come in as the sun is going down.  This is not to say that you can't catch fish with 'em any time of the day - this is just my style.  Good luck and post pictures of the lunker you catch with these lures

[crankbait2009]

as for the spinner, no there was no grass anywhere.  as it got closer to me i watched it come in just to see if there were any w eeds, tree limbs or anything of that sort weighing it down, nothing though.  i can try a smaller weighted lure next time.

as for the buzzbait, i will continue to use them but as for now, thats my no-confidence bait!!!!

i must say, out of all the things in my tackle box, i have the most success with a little Bomber square A.  i have caught a SM every time out with that bait.  can we say confidence bait!!!!

[Sam]

make sure rod can handle line test and bait weight.

slim down on size of bait if necessary.

10 or 12 lb. flouro carbon line is fine.

medium heavy rod works best.

X2 what shad master said on buzzbaits.  catches both species of bass but user more for largemouths.  

[crankbait2009]

the rod is 6'-6", it can handle a lure weight anywhere from 3/8oz up to 1 oz, it can handle 10-20# test, it is a MH power and Fast action

[Wayne P.]

The "strain" on your equipment comes for the resistance of the Colorado blades in the water. That resistance results in more vibration which is a benefit in off colored water or at night. It also allows for a slower retrieve when the water is cooler. A spinnerbait with willow blades has less resistance and has less "strain" on your equipment. To lessen the affect of the "strain", a lower gear ratio reel will help.

[Catt]

Your tackle is fine

I throw a lot of ½ spinner baits and this strain is normal; with buzz baits the bite is either on or not. I'll throw a buzz bait for about 30 minutes at night and if I don't have something slap at it I put that sucker in the rod box.

[Shad_Master]

Catt's right about the buzz bait bite either being on or off - but just one word of advice - the more you throw this the more agitated the fish get - once they start hitting it, the more hits you will get - don't short change the aggravation factor of having this thing swimming overhead.  The action of the bass blowing up on the buzzer is well worth the time spent provoking that first bite.

[crankbait2009]

well, im not giving up on it.  i'll keep throwing it out and hope for the best  

[Shad_Master]

Another thing I like to do with my buzzers, when I can, it "tune 'em" - my favorite way to do this is to tie one on on a real windy day and just prop the rod up in the back of my truck and let it spin all day.  I stumbled on this by accident when I was planning to go fishing and found the winds at gale force - I was so disgusted I just left everything in the back of the truck and the old buzzer was going crazy - as the day went on that buzzer began to put up a racket that could be heard all over the neighborhood - I probably caught more bass on that "tuned" bait than any I ever had.