Backroads and Backlashes
BUZZIN' YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS
By Jim Binns

There are few baits on the market these days that are as exciting to fish as a buzzbait. The bait is up there in your face as it is retrieved and the explosive strikes have been liken to a concrete block being dropped on the lure, or the bait just suddenly disappearing in a huge "flush".

Lunker Lure was one of the first baits to make a big slash back in 1976 and anglers across the country soon became proficient at skimming the lure along the surface of the water. The bait was popped; gurgled and teased back to the boat and it is a bait that still puts lots of bass on the stringer.

I am not sure what a buzzbait looks like to a bass but most strikes are violent. A good buzzbait angler once told me that looking up at the bait it created a silvery, sparkling image that resembles a school of shad. Sound good to me.

There are many other manufacturers of buzzbaits such as Strike King's "Tri-Wing" or Double Take", Lil' Hustler's "Viper" and "Okie Twister", Booyah's "Pond Magic Buzz" and Bass Pro Shops "Laser Eye" Pro Series. Primary colors are white, white/chartreuse and black. The most commonly used blade colors are chrome, aluminum, chartreuse and black.

Most anglers already know that the bait can catch fish when fished over the top of vegetation, but it can even be used to draw up big bass over open water. So for this article let's get into the meat of the issue and see what the "pros" do when they use a buzzbait.

When To Fish The Bait - Many pros think of the buzzbait as a good choice when the water temperature is above say 55-degrees. The buzzbait does not seem to work well in extremely choppy water, but other than that it can be basically fished year-round. A buzzbait can provoke a strike in clear or murky water, open water, heavy cover, and during the day or night. A big bass blowing up on a buzzbait out there in the dark will really get the hair on the back of your neck standing up.

Slow Down - "Buzzing" is a term most anglers associate with a fast retrieve. However, a medium to slow retrieve will usually be more productive. The real key is varying the speed of the retrieve and bumping the bait into any obstacle such as partially submerged brush, stumps, or dock pilings as it gargles its way back to the boat. That is really what gets the bass excited and provokes the stike. As in anything there are exceptions. On occasions when a bass misses the bait, try quickly speeding up the retrieve of the lure and the bass will usually crush it.

Does Lure Size and Blade Color Matter - This really depends on water clarity. If the water is really clear drop down to the 1/8-ounce or 3/8-ounce size lures. For stained water use the bigger baits such as the ½-ounce model. As a general rule, use the smaller blades when the water is calm or quiet, and when the water gets choppy go to larger blades, double blades or even a triple wing blade.

Rod and Line Selection - There is an old fisherman's saying, "Don't set the hook with a buzzbait until you feel the pull of the fish". If you are using a stiff rod and braided line, you can miss a lot of fish because of the fast reaction of the rod and line. A better combination is to use a softer action such as composite or fiberglass. Another suggestion is to not look at the bait as it is being retrieved, which will delay your reaction time when you have a strike. Chunking a buzzbait can provoke some violent strikes and in many cases the bass will be either in or near cover. You will need line in the 17-pount-plus range to horse the fish out of the thick stuff and get it headed your way.

Make It Squeak or Clack - A few years back it was not uncommon to see an angler driving down the highway holding a buzzbait out the window. He was letting the wind "wear" or open the clevis hole that the wire rides in. After about ten minutes the bait would squeal like a mouse. This can also be accomplished by removing the rear clevis and drilling out the hole a bit larger. Does the "squeaking" really help? You bet it does! Having a "clacker" on the bait opens up another dimension of sound. The purpose of the clacker is to bang against another part of the lure when it is retrieved. The clacker is very effective in the springtime, around grass, near heavy cover, choppy water or in an area holding lots of smaller aggressive bass.

Stinger Hooks - I recommend using a stinger hook to get those "short-strikers". Cut the rubber skirt of the bait back to the bend of the main hook, slide the eye of the stinger hook (I recommend a short-shank O'Shughnessy style hook) into a small piece of surgical tubing and then stick the main hook point through the eye of the stinger and the tubing. The tubing will make sure that the stinger stays in position and doesn't flop around and get hung-up on brush and such. Make sure the stinger is pointed "up" when it is placed on the main hook. I knew an angler that placed his pointed down and he hung up on just about every cast. I have also had good success using a small piece of red plastic worm instead of tubing. The red provides another visual attraction for the bass.

Well there you are, a few tips that I hope will help you on your next fishing trip. When you have a big bass jump all over your buzzbait you will be a "Buzzer" for life. Good Fishing -- JB