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BUZZBAIT
Buzzbaits are not versatile
lures. Most of the time, buzzbaits are not even the most logical lure to have on
the end of one’s line. They can be fished at only two speeds: fast and faster.
Those uninitiated in the delights of buzzin’ might wonder how a lure that is
this one-dimensional cracked the top three of GRF’s Top Ten River Lures
list. My only response is this: catch a couple bass on a buzzbait and you’ll
understand!
Buzzbaits simply draw the most
ferocious strikes of any bass lure, and for some reason, buzzbaits seem to
attract larger fish. GRF has flung buzzbaits all over the state and found
them most effective in the largemouth-dominated waters of the Piedmont and
Coastal Plain. Rivers in these parts of the state tend to be slow, meandering
and woody- a perfect recipe for buzzin’!
The buzzbait is a topwater lure
shaped similarly to a safety-pin style spinnerbait. Most buzzbaits sink rather
than float, and must be worked rapidly to keep them on the surface. Buzzbaits
make a distinctive chopping clatter when retrieved, and bass seem to strike them
out of pure anger. When bass are active, there is no lure that is as much fun as
a buzzbait!
BEST SEASONS AND SITUATIONS
Buzzbaits are more effective
for largemouths than any other type of bass. Largemouths are less reluctant than
any other type of black bass to rise all the way to the surface and smack a big,
noisy lure. For this reason GRF prefers using buzzbaits in central and
southern Georgia rivers rather than the spot and redeye-dominated northern
streams, although smaller buzzbaits can be pretty effective up north, too. Shoal
bass love topwater baits, and buzzbaits are amazingly effective lures in swift
shoal water.
Buzzbaits shine during the
coolest parts of the hottest days. Early mornings and late evenings
from June to September are the best times for buzzin’ river bass. During these
months, temperatures in central and south Georgia rivers are normally above 80
degrees. Being cold-blooded, bass are at their most active these months, feeding
often to satisfy their souped-up metabolisms. As most fishermen know, early and
late are the best times to get ‘em.
Though buzzbaits are great
early and late during the dog days, there is one other situations in which
buzzbaits deserve special mention. Largemouth bass spawn when the water
temperature is around 70 degrees, and prespawn and spawning bass will often
smack a buzzbait or any other lure if they view it as a threat. If you spot a
bass guarding a nest, repeated casts with a buzzbait will often irritate it into
striking. If you catch one of these bass, however, do us all a favor and release
it quickly so we can catch it’s chillun’.
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
One reason the buzzbait is such
a wonderful lure is that it is idiot-proof. There’s not a lot you can do with
one other than throw it out and reel it back in across the surface. One way to
improve your chances, however, is with accurate casting. Largemouth bass will
normally not chase lures too far from their lair, so anglers need to stick
buzzbaits as close to cover as possible. I like to cast the lure onto the bank
or onto a log and maximize the time the lure is in the strike zone and minimize
the splash. Buzzbait strikes almost always occur within three revolutions of the
reel handle.
Another key to buzzbait fishing
is to get the lure on top immediately. I normally start reeling right before the
lure hits the water. The fact that the hook rides up and the lure stays above
underwater obstacles keeps hangups to a minimum. Buzzbaits, by their nature,
have to be fished fairly quickly, but most anglers fish them too fast. A good
rule of thumb is to keep the lure moving just fast enough to keep it on the
surface.
My biggest shoalie ever captured on film. This big boy
nailed a chartreuse buzzbait and nearly tore my arm off.
A common complaint about
buzzbaits is the number of missed strikes. Part of this is unavoidable-
buzzbaits move pretty fast and sometimes bass just miss them. I’d never miss a
duck if I shot them on the water! Still, many missed strikes can be avoided if
you wait until you actually feel the bass rather than setting the hook when you
see the water explode. Some anglers use trailer hooks, but these often lead to
more hang-ups, and I would rather miss a few fish than waste fishing time
getting unsnagged.
I also like to use buzzbaits as
a "wild-card" lure. During a steamy summer day when bass are hitting
nothing, I like to put on a buzzbait and just cruise down the river casting to
likely spots. The logic here is that if the fish won’t eat what they are
supposed to be eating, maybe they will get riled up and eat something they aren’t.
Besides, buzzbaits allow an angler cover a heck of a lot more water than slower
presentations. The more casts you make, the more likely you are to find that one
bass in the river that feels like eating. Chances are good that that one bass
won’t be a small one!
Buzzbaits come in a wide
variety of colors, styles, and sizes. For largemouths, 1/4 to 1/2 ounce baits
are best. A few manufacturers make 1/8 ounce models, and these work well for
spots, shoalies, and redeyes. Since buzzbaits draw reaction strikes, color
really doesn’t matter, but I normally use chartreuse because it stands out in
dingy water. Some manufacturers make buzzbaits with clackers for added noise or
with holes in the blade for extra water disturbance. Some buzzbaits are made to
float or have "triple-wings" that allow them to be fished slower. All
of these lures catch fish- ANGRY fish!
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