So, you’ve been fishin’ a buzzbait? Good stuff! You might have heard it said that “buzzbait fishing is pretty simple…just cast and crank!” And while this isn’t entirely false, there’s a lot to be said for progression. Over time, we have learned a few things about the buzzbaits which work for me, so we thought I’d pass them on in case they help anyone else out.
1) Line choice
When choosing line when buzzbaiting, it’s important to consider not only your intended target species but also the conditions of the day. There are essentially two different types of lines — braid (superfinee) and monofilament (nylon). In my opinion, braid is superior for buzzbait fishing in most applications.
Why? Braid has three main advantages over mono:
(1) it’s sensitive
(2) it’s tough
(3) it’s strong.
First, let’s talk about sensitivity. When the fish are aggressive and on top of your bait instantly, sometimes you can detect strikes subconsciously by feeling the line tighten slightly before getting smashed like a freight train. If you’re not feeling this or seeing any visual indication that something may be eating your lure, We would suggest using 6-8lb fluorocarbon leader material to connect your mainline with your mainline leader. This will give you added sensitivity when detecting bites – if they get on top of it at all.
2) Protective cover
It’s very important to keep cover down to a minimum when buzz baiting, as it can impede the ability of your lures to slither across the surface of the water with that killer, sexy wiggle. In certain situations, we have been known to remove all cover from my lines and leader material if necessary. This is especially true when using braid as you have essentially removed two “layers” of protection for your mainline. Make sure you’re familiar with knots before attempting this! If not, do yourself a favor and find out how to tie them now ASAP so you don’t lose any expensive equipment or fish because of human error.
3) Strength
Braid has incredible strength-to-diameter ratios, which means that it can handle much heavier pound tests for the same diameter as other lines. We usually use 30lb braid on my buzzbaits depending on the size of the lures and how heavy a cover I’m fishing through. Even if you’re not thinking about stick baiting or using heavier lines with your buzz bait, this is still something to consider when choosing line because you never know what’s going to happen during your next fishing adventure.
4) Longevity
Most anglers are familiar with the concept of “going green” with braided line. This is especially true when fishing buzz baits because they are so tightly wound that eventually, the thin filament that makes up most monofilament lines is going to fray or nick, resulting in lost fish. Braid doesn’t really have that problem since the line itself is composed of several braided strands and not just a single strand that can be cut or broken.
Boom! Learning curve: completed. Yeah, it probably would’ve been shorter if we hadn’t rambled on so long about braid vs. mono, but hopefully this article has cleared up some questions you may have had about buzzbait fishing and how to choose your line accordingly for optimum results. Let me know in the comments section what you think!
How to Tune your Buzzbait
Buzz Baits are a great way to catch fish straight out of the box, however, should you desire to succeed your lure might require some tuning. On the market Buzz baits have been tuned so that they be straight and straight, however, there are instances that this might not be the most efficient choice.
Your boat is in the water and you cast close to structure along the shoreline. When you release you’re moving your bait out of the zone where it struck. You want the bait to remain in the zone the longest possible time. The best way to accomplish it is to bend the lower part of the wire towards the direction you would like the lure to travel. When you pull it out the buzz bait, it will fight against you and then move across the shoreline until the end of the moment.
The majority of buzz baits feature an elongated rivet that is attached to the upper arm in order to secure the blade. It’s free-floating and also provides lots of clacking the sound of the lure. Clacking is fine, however, it is possible to improve. Start by taking a plier with a needle-nose and press it as far to the top of your arm you can. In order to stop it from moving. is moving. The blades have become the primary thing producing noise. However, we could create more awesome sounds for this buzz-bait. If your blades are coated using a knife, scrape away the paint on the back of the blades, where they might come in contact with the rivet. After that, you can take some sandpaper and rub the entire surface of the rivet, making as many gouges that you are able to. When you pull the lure it will emit an attractive whir.
They it will also have an attractive ( to the fish) sound that squeaks like a distressed animal. This will increase your lure’s strike rate up to 50 percent.
In the spring and summer using a body made of chartreuse with the skirt left on is an excellent combination However, in fall and Winter, Fishers have not used anything more than a buzz bait of black that is skirt-on with a black Frog added to the hook. It swam through shallow flats and weed beds it has caused bass and pike to get into the midst of rage, for no apparent reason. Try it out and you’ll be amazed …it is effective.
If you’re receiving fewer strikes, you can include a stinger hook on any buzz bait. You could also tip them with pork rinds or even a real minnow at any time in the day.
Buzz-baits can be used in situations in which other lures might be unable to perform.
Adelaide Gentry, a seasoned kayaking enthusiast and expert, is the driving force behind KayakPaddling.net. With over a decade of experience navigating the world’s most challenging waterways, Adelaide combines her passion for adventure with a deep knowledge of kayaking to provide insightful and practical guidance for paddlers of all levels.
