I threw the buzz bait more this year than previous and had some nice success. A couple of things. The buzz you are using seemed to have a pretty small hook. For trailers I use a toad or a paddle tail swim bait anywhere from 3-41/2 inches. I see a lot of comments to use mono. Their reasoning makes sense but I use 50lb braid, mostly because I’m fishing it over and around grass. But all that said it’s all about the hook set. On all topwater lures you have to let the fish take it and then set. I think because we see it we react faster and often pull the bait away. If I get a blow up, I stop reeling. Let the fish have it and then whatever the normal hook set is. As you stated, a buzz has a single hook so your set is different than a walking bait for instance or a plopper. I also use at least a 7’3” MHF rod to help drive that hook. Good luck. The best way to get better is to keep trying
I think I’m gonna stick with the 30 pound braid just because I do fish around some grass. The looking away method is something I will be doing as well so the fish has a moment to eat.
I’ve learned a ton from your videos, so I’m glad here’s an area I might be able to help with! Once you get it down, you’ll love ‘em! My hook up ratios are so much higher than on a plopper! I run a 7’ MH fast action with 40lb braid on a 7:1 ratio reel. I like that so I can slow roll it just enough to keep the blade humming. But the key is to give a good “1 Mississippi” before you set the hook. That’s probly why a lot of guys like mono, cause you’ve got to give just a little to get a good hook set with these, but once you do, then reel em in pretty quick! Hope that helps, and keep slinging em!
See that was my initial thoughts switching from a plopper to a buzzbait. A solid single hook, in theory be better. I appreciate your advice! I used the buzzbait this past weekend and had much better success taking tips from everyone.
If you’re just starting out throw 20lb mono, 6’10”-7’ MH and a 7 gear reel. The mono reacts so much slower allowing more hookups and the 7.1:1 helps with not reeling the bait away from fish on a missed blowup but still plenty fast. Just keep slinging man. My 2 cents.
Buzz baits are excellent on the the local rivers and creeks in southwestern Ohio. Been catching them on the buzz bait for years. Typically a 3/8 ounce. And the biggest thing is trailer hooks are a must. You get a lot of short strikes. And it also is a back up hook that they have a tough time throwing.
My only advice is to slow your retrieve down and also wait just one second longer before you set that hook and I know it's the hardest thing to do but it really does make a difference.
I use 10 or 12 lb mono on whatever rod/reel you’re more comfy with. Slow roll just reel it fast enough to make it buzz. Once you get a strike wait 1 second then set the hook. My personal experience buzz baits can be great if you take the skirt off and run a fluke or frog on the back. Also trailer hooks work well for those short strikes. I also fish the little miami & ceasers creek, I Hope these tips help.
Solid video brother and very transparent. I'm not much help with the baitcaster and buzzbaits since I haven't thrown on it for a while. However I am having luck fishing them on spinning gear medium and light buzzbaits. The key is rod power, drag setting and patience. When you treat them more like a moving topwater then a surface spinnerbait. They work together with your mindset. Mechanics were fine BTW. Blessings
I lose fish on buzzbaits too. For me the blow up is the best part. the ones I lose are always the big ones! I use mono and a medium power fast action spinning rod.
Who am I to give you advice with your experience but since you asked. Medium power fast action rod and I'm not afraid to use braid with or without a mono leader. I have a slower reaction time so pulling the bait away isn't an issue. Braid floats, as you know, and gives a better hookset. I don't use a plastic trailer that much anymore. If I do it's something like a Rage Baby Menace and I'll even bite some of it of to make it shorter. It gives casting weight and helps get the buzzbait up quickly. The one thing I will always put on the Cavitron Buzzbait, which I prefer, is a Hayabusa 3/0 WRM929 trailer hook. They do tend to run small, in my opinion, that's why I go with the 3/0. A trailer hook might help solve your issue with missing or losing fish. Something that can be added to the retrieve is occasionally popping the rod tip slightly. It will cause the bait to quickly speed up just enough to generate a little extra spray to mimic something fleeing. It isn't always necessary and doesn't always work.
I’m definitely not a buzzbait master! Just don’t get to tinker with it enough. That being said, I’ve kept fish (largemouth) buttoned up on mono, braid, and fluorocarbon over the years-with MHMF composite rods up to HF graphite rods. 😂 I’m clearly dialed! I think I heard Tyler Berger say once-“If they’re missing the buzzbait, throw the Plopper.”
I love buzzbaits because they hold fish. My main thing is it has to be on mono. That little bit of stretch is important for solid hookups. Outside of that the second most important thing is that the bait is running true with the skirt.
So I’ve been trying to get a rod that pairs well with braid for this technique. The mono feels so loose to me. If I have braid I can maybe go down in power to account for the stiffness of the braided line?
7 foot MH/fast action, if you can afford it run two identical rigs but on one stick to your 30 lb braid and the other swap to a 20 lb fluorocarbon. If you feel you are losing fish try the fluoro instead, it has some stretch in it and will assist on the hook set. Lets go!
@@thecreekcrawler Nice good to hear, I like to bring a fluoro rig for when I am too jacked up. Some days I am just too pumped to fish to control myself. Tight lines brother
For that jackal or any 1/4 ounce buzz bait I’d use a slower medium rod. Something like a Jerkbait/topwater rod. If I go up to 1/2 ounce it’s going to be medium heavy that’s mod fast to fast. The P5 madbull is a good example. I’d keep the reel at a 6 or 7 speed. Line doesn’t matter to me, all my set ups are braid to flouro. Just gotta pause a second.
@@thecreekcrawler No not at all. But I use an FG knot, mostly because it’s on baitcaster. It’s also a really strong knot. I did have constant break offs using blood and Albright knots. Uni to uni is strong but on a baitcaster it’s like throwing a brick down a glass hallway. Honestly I fish alot and mostly rivers from a kayak so my line gets put through the wringer. I can I tie an FG knot leader of 10-20 yards and I’ll go throw the whole leader in re ties and pulling snagged lures and never break off. I haven’t had one on an FG. You do have to watch the pound test your connecting together. Meaning my standard set up for smallie river fishing is 20lb J braid grand to 12 pound samurai flouro. You don’t want the braid to be too thin or it will cut through the flouro. 10lb braid will cut through 8lb flouro using an Fg.
@@thecreekcrawler I’ll add that I think a correctly done FG is as strong as the larger pound test that you use. And that I like it for other reasons. Most people think flouro is a negative with top water, but I like the action that it gives. On moving top water baits it’s the same as any other line, but for small walking baits it makes the lure dive just a bit and sometimes that’s the key. Where I’m at in northeast Ohio we have pike, most are snot rockets but I’ve caught a couple that almost dumbfounded me. Like this thing just got dropped off from Canada. And the flouro helps with bite offs. The simplest way I’ve found to tie an Fg is to have a pole spooled with braid and run it through the guides. Then I wrap the braid around my left pinky finger (I’m right handed) with tension on the pole. Then take a spool of flouro pull out line and tuck the spool under my left leg for tension. I’ll take 4 inches of flouro tag end and put that under the braid. Then I just wrap over under from side to side. I’ll do that around 12 times. That number depends on the eye ball factor and what pound test I’m using. Then I’ll half hitch 2-4 four times with the braid around and the flouro and braid main line. Tighten down (you want to see the braid change color) and cut flouro tag. Half hitch with the braid 4 more times and finish with a rizzuto knot and put the smallest drop of super glue on the rizzuto. Seems like a lot but it becomes second nature after 50 or so knots and it’s worth it.
A little stouter rod and the hardest thing in topwater is “pause before you pull”, giving the fish an opportunity to get the hook deeper in their mouth.
CC! You might laugh at me but I use a St.Croix Triumph Medium/Fast with 5:2-1 ratio spinning reel 10 Lbs. Fluorocarbon. It sounds wrong but in 2 years I haven’t lost a fish up here in Youngstown
For a 1/4 Oz buzz you can certainly sling it on a Medium action rod. For me, I use the same 2 set ups whether I'm in my Triton on a lake or my Pursuit on the river. And I live in OHIO also. 8:1 Lews Tournament Pro on 7ft MH ST Croix Tournament Legend. One with 14# mono and one with 30to 50# braid. I live on Mosquito Lake and you know how much grass is on that lake. I don't like braid on my yak in case I gotta snap the line quickly 😂😂
I would say a tip would be since the hook diameter is fairly thicker than other hooks. I would push down the barb on that hook and keep a tight line like usual when reeling fish in
You might consider holding the rod tip higher, at around 11 o’clock…and here’s the hard part, when you get a strike, reeling down to about 10 o’clock before setting the hook. I had to learn this technique when buzzing a frog, and it works for me…
never thrown this bait, i just always get more on other topwater baits. i started using the old school poppers, and creepers/crawlers lately and theyve been super good to me
I’ve barely ever thrown a buzz bait and never caught a fish on one and matter-of-fact I don’t even have one right now. So I’m in the same boat as you I tend to stick with poppers and walk the dog style baits on top with a few propeller type lures thrown probably need to learn how to fish a buzz bait
My landing with buzz bait is probably better than 50%, but I don't buzz bait much anymore. So I am no expert. Do tell me, are you left-handed or just use left hand baitcasting reels. I see a lot of pros are using left-handed reels. I have a lefty and probably 20 RH ones. Cannot tell much difference as I also fish spinning reels. I mean they are reeled left-handed
Let's go in Jesus name sincerely "The Dayton Metro Smallmouth Slayer". By the grace of God in Christ Jesus and truthful effort from the heart I have caught 9 total State of Ohio Smallmouth Bass on the GMR this year. The fall transition is on the rise much Love in Jesus name CreekCrawler🙏🙌🗣🕊🔥🦅🎣🐟.
I threw the buzz bait more this year than previous and had some nice success. A couple of things. The buzz you are using seemed to have a pretty small hook. For trailers I use a toad or a paddle tail swim bait anywhere from 3-41/2 inches. I see a lot of comments to use mono. Their reasoning makes sense but I use 50lb braid, mostly because I’m fishing it over and around grass. But all that said it’s all about the hook set. On all topwater lures you have to let the fish take it and then set. I think because we see it we react faster and often pull the bait away. If I get a blow up, I stop reeling. Let the fish have it and then whatever the normal hook set is. As you stated, a buzz has a single hook so your set is different than a walking bait for instance or a plopper. I also use at least a 7’3” MHF rod to help drive that hook. Good luck. The best way to get better is to keep trying
I think I’m gonna stick with the 30 pound braid just because I do fish around some grass. The looking away method is something I will be doing as well so the fish has a moment to eat.
I run a 7ft MH ModFast with straight braid. The ModFast tip lets him eat it and the straight braid with MH rod gives him the beans!
Gotta give em the beans!!!
I’ve learned a ton from your videos, so I’m glad here’s an area I might be able to help with! Once you get it down, you’ll love ‘em! My hook up ratios are so much higher than on a plopper! I run a 7’ MH fast action with 40lb braid on a 7:1 ratio reel. I like that so I can slow roll it just enough to keep the blade humming. But the key is to give a good “1 Mississippi” before you set the hook. That’s probly why a lot of guys like mono, cause you’ve got to give just a little to get a good hook set with these, but once you do, then reel em in pretty quick! Hope that helps, and keep slinging em!
See that was my initial thoughts switching from a plopper to a buzzbait. A solid single hook, in theory be better. I appreciate your advice! I used the buzzbait this past weekend and had much better success taking tips from everyone.
If you’re just starting out throw 20lb mono, 6’10”-7’ MH and a 7 gear reel. The mono reacts so much slower allowing more hookups and the 7.1:1 helps with not reeling the bait away from fish on a missed blowup but still plenty fast. Just keep slinging man. My 2 cents.
This is your answer
Thanks guys! I appreciate you sharing!
Buzz bait, haven’t used it a ton, will do so now. Thx.
They are incredible baits!! Super fun to get some blow ups.
Buzz baits are excellent on the the local rivers and creeks in southwestern Ohio. Been catching them on the buzz bait for years. Typically a 3/8 ounce. And the biggest thing is trailer hooks are a must. You get a lot of short strikes. And it also is a back up hook that they have a tough time throwing.
I do need to get some trailer hooks!!
My only advice is to slow your retrieve down and also wait just one second longer before you set that hook and I know it's the hardest thing to do but it really does make a difference.
So I’ve been told to not watch the buzzbait. This gives the fish more time to eat while also delaying my hookset.
I use 10 or 12 lb mono on whatever rod/reel you’re more comfy with. Slow roll just reel it fast enough to make it buzz. Once you get a strike wait 1 second then set the hook. My personal experience buzz baits can be great if you take the skirt off and run a fluke or frog on the back. Also trailer hooks work well for those short strikes. I also fish the little miami & ceasers creek, I Hope these tips help.
I also just use a medium fast action rod I’ve never used a medium heavy so I can’t say which is better
Solid video brother and very transparent. I'm not much help with the baitcaster and buzzbaits since I haven't thrown on it for a while. However I am having luck fishing them on spinning gear medium and light buzzbaits. The key is rod power, drag setting and patience. When you treat them more like a moving topwater then a surface spinnerbait. They work together with your mindset. Mechanics were fine BTW. Blessings
This little buzzbait is perfect for spinning gear. I’ve been using the look away technique so I can give the fish a second to eat it lol
Never caught a bass on a buzzbait or Jitterbug. FTW. LET'S GO!
I need to throw one of those dudes!
Solid video. Absolutely love fishing this river and I'm terrible with a buzzbait as well. But you live and learn especially through fellow anglers.
thanks for watching man!
I will go with 14lb or 17lb mono depending on your spool size, also try adding another single hook like the spinnerbait would be a good choice as well
You know what I totally forgot to try using a trailer hook!!!! Thanks
I lose fish on buzzbaits too. For me the blow up is the best part. the ones I lose are always the big ones! I use mono and a medium power fast action spinning rod.
I think I’m gonna stick with braid and just keep my reaction time in check lol
Who am I to give you advice with your experience but since you asked. Medium power fast action rod and I'm not afraid to use braid with or without a mono leader. I have a slower reaction time so pulling the bait away isn't an issue. Braid floats, as you know, and gives a better hookset. I don't use a plastic trailer that much anymore. If I do it's something like a Rage Baby Menace and I'll even bite some of it of to make it shorter. It gives casting weight and helps get the buzzbait up quickly. The one thing I will always put on the Cavitron Buzzbait, which I prefer, is a Hayabusa 3/0 WRM929 trailer hook. They do tend to run small, in my opinion, that's why I go with the 3/0. A trailer hook might help solve your issue with missing or losing fish. Something that can be added to the retrieve is occasionally popping the rod tip slightly. It will cause the bait to quickly speed up just enough to generate a little extra spray to mimic something fleeing. It isn't always necessary and doesn't always work.
I’m a student of the game man!! I’m always ready to take notes and learn! I appreciate the knowledge!
I’m definitely not a buzzbait master! Just don’t get to tinker with it enough. That being said, I’ve kept fish (largemouth) buttoned up on mono, braid, and fluorocarbon over the years-with MHMF composite rods up to HF graphite rods. 😂 I’m clearly dialed! I think I heard Tyler Berger say once-“If they’re missing the buzzbait, throw the Plopper.”
I almost refuse to throw a plopper because of line twist lol… but they are simply great at catching fish.
I love buzzbaits because they hold fish. My main thing is it has to be on mono. That little bit of stretch is important for solid hookups. Outside of that the second most important thing is that the bait is running true with the skirt.
So I’ve been trying to get a rod that pairs well with braid for this technique. The mono feels so loose to me. If I have braid I can maybe go down in power to account for the stiffness of the braided line?
7 foot MH/fast action, if you can afford it run two identical rigs but on one stick to your 30 lb braid and the other swap to a 20 lb fluorocarbon. If you feel you are losing fish try the fluoro instead, it has some stretch in it and will assist on the hook set. Lets go!
I like this 7'1 MH fast kage and it has been doing good as of late! The pause and let the fish load up is working for me!
@@thecreekcrawler Nice good to hear, I like to bring a fluoro rig for when I am too jacked up. Some days I am just too pumped to fish to control myself. Tight lines brother
For that jackal or any 1/4 ounce buzz bait I’d use a slower medium rod. Something like a Jerkbait/topwater rod. If I go up to 1/2 ounce it’s going to be medium heavy that’s mod fast to fast. The P5 madbull is a good example. I’d keep the reel at a 6 or 7 speed. Line doesn’t matter to me, all my set ups are braid to flouro. Just gotta pause a second.
So you like using a fluoro leader! Interesting. Any issues with break offs?
@@thecreekcrawler No not at all. But I use an FG knot, mostly because it’s on baitcaster. It’s also a really strong knot. I did have constant break offs using blood and Albright knots. Uni to uni is strong but on a baitcaster it’s like throwing a brick down a glass hallway. Honestly I fish alot and mostly rivers from a kayak so my line gets put through the wringer. I can I tie an FG knot leader of 10-20 yards and I’ll go throw the whole leader in re ties and pulling snagged lures and never break off. I haven’t had one on an FG. You do have to watch the pound test your connecting together. Meaning my standard set up for smallie river fishing is 20lb J braid grand to 12 pound samurai flouro. You don’t want the braid to be too thin or it will cut through the flouro. 10lb braid will cut through 8lb flouro using an Fg.
@@thecreekcrawler I’ll add that I think a correctly done FG is as strong as the larger pound test that you use. And that I like it for other reasons. Most people think flouro is a negative with top water, but I like the action that it gives. On moving top water baits it’s the same as any other line, but for small walking baits it makes the lure dive just a bit and sometimes that’s the key. Where I’m at in northeast Ohio we have pike, most are snot rockets but I’ve caught a couple that almost dumbfounded me. Like this thing just got dropped off from Canada. And the flouro helps with bite offs. The simplest way I’ve found to tie an Fg is to have a pole spooled with braid and run it through the guides. Then I wrap the braid around my left pinky finger (I’m right handed) with tension on the pole. Then take a spool of flouro pull out line and tuck the spool under my left leg for tension. I’ll take 4 inches of flouro tag end and put that under the braid. Then I just wrap over under from side to side. I’ll do that around 12 times. That number depends on the eye ball factor and what pound test I’m using. Then I’ll half hitch 2-4 four times with the braid around and the flouro and braid main line. Tighten down (you want to see the braid change color) and cut flouro tag. Half hitch with the braid 4 more times and finish with a rizzuto knot and put the smallest drop of super glue on the rizzuto. Seems like a lot but it becomes second nature after 50 or so knots and it’s worth it.
A little stouter rod and the hardest thing in topwater is “pause before you pull”, giving the fish an opportunity to get the hook deeper in their mouth.
the pause is my achilles heel lol
CC! You might laugh at me but I use a St.Croix Triumph Medium/Fast with 5:2-1 ratio spinning reel 10 Lbs. Fluorocarbon. It sounds wrong but in 2 years I haven’t lost a fish up here in Youngstown
No laughing here!! If it works for ya then get it done!!! I don’t fish topwater too much so when I do I get anxious lol
For a 1/4 Oz buzz you can certainly sling it on a Medium action rod. For me, I use the same 2 set ups whether I'm in my Triton on a lake or my Pursuit on the river. And I live in OHIO also. 8:1 Lews Tournament Pro on 7ft MH ST Croix Tournament Legend. One with 14# mono and one with 30to 50# braid. I live on Mosquito Lake and you know how much grass is on that lake. I don't like braid on my yak in case I gotta snap the line quickly 😂😂
Mosquito is an amazing fishery man!! I have a video of that lake coming soon!
@thecreekcrawler you ever need to cruise around let me know. Boat saves time obviously. I hit the Allegheny in PA for smallies too. A lot.
Thanks buddy for the content im a river dog myself
rivers and creeks are where its at man! Thanks for watching!
I would say a tip would be since the hook diameter is fairly thicker than other hooks. I would push down the barb on that hook and keep a tight line like usual when reeling fish in
copy that!!
Another tip once the barb is smashed it’s just don’t set the hook just Reel
Medium heavy rod will drive that hook through the mouth better. Longer cast too
Those bigger fish have thicker jaws, the medium heavy will drive that thick wire hook through better I think.
I think the rod I have is good I just need to work on some technical hooksets!
You might consider holding the rod tip higher, at around 11 o’clock…and here’s the hard part, when you get a strike, reeling down to about 10 o’clock before setting the hook. I had to learn this technique when buzzing a frog, and it works for me…
I’ll keep that in mind!! Thanks man
never thrown this bait, i just always get more on other topwater baits. i started using the old school poppers, and creepers/crawlers lately and theyve been super good to me
this little buzz gets absolutely crushed I just need to work on some technical things.
👍😎
😎
I like mono . I think it’s easier for the fish to get the bait.
Seems like the comments are about the same for mono vs braid!
I use mono or fluro. When I used braided line, I would jerk too fast. Make sure you wait on em🤘
The waiting part is the hardest 😂
Dude I'm just learning too and my friends see me as THE fisherman
everyone should strive to be a student of the game!
I’ve barely ever thrown a buzz bait and never caught a fish on one and matter-of-fact I don’t even have one right now. So I’m in the same boat as you I tend to stick with poppers and walk the dog style baits on top with a few propeller type lures thrown probably need to learn how to fish a buzz bait
I’ve just had horrendous hook up ratios with plopper. I think the buzz gets the same kinda bites I just need to learn the technical hook setting.
My landing with buzz bait is probably better than 50%, but I don't buzz bait much anymore. So I am no expert. Do tell me, are you left-handed or just use left hand baitcasting reels. I see a lot of pros are using left-handed reels. I have a lefty and probably 20 RH ones. Cannot tell much difference as I also fish spinning reels. I mean they are reeled left-handed
I just use left handed reels and honestly I don’t know why. It just felt natural when I started using casting gear just a couple years ago.
There are better topwater baits to use in the river. That’s why I don’t throw buzz baits much on the river.
I like walking styles, plopper and buzzers!! Which one is your go to?
@@thecreekcrawler evergreen shower blows! Thing is so much fun.
Let's go in Jesus name sincerely "The Dayton Metro Smallmouth Slayer". By the grace of God in Christ Jesus and truthful effort from the heart I have caught 9 total State of Ohio Smallmouth Bass on the GMR this year. The fall transition is on the rise much Love in Jesus name CreekCrawler🙏🙌🗣🕊🔥🦅🎣🐟.
Amen man!!
I am taking my boy Izaiah out tomorrow on the GMR thank you Lord Jesus Christ🙏🙌🗣🕊🔥🦅🎣🐟.
@@JbairdIG go get em!!