Minnesota's Bass Fishing Hotspot

Bass 101  The Basics   © 2006  Bass411.com
Section 1 – Bass Fishing Lures
	1.2           Buzz baits
		1.2.1       Introduction
			The buzz bait is a very similar bait to the spinner bait; however, instead of a flat blade that trails the top arm of the bait, it instead has a propeller shaped blade attached to the top arm. The design of the buzz bait is to create a greater disturbance on the surface of the water which is expected to attract fish that may think it is a frog or other food source skittering across the surface of the water.
		1.2.2       Physical Description and Rigging
			The “V” wire of a buzz bait differs from a spinner bait in that the top arm has an additional bend in it which turns it flat or nearly parallel with the bottom arm. This is where the propeller is mounted to the wire.  See figure 3.
			Figure 3
			Variations include tandem side by side propellers, tandem in line propellers, and versions where the propeller is designed to hit either the bottom arm or an additional piece of metal in order to create a louder clacking sound. There are also inline versions, but are more difficult to fish because the whole lure tends to spin.
			Versions featuring larger blades, or tandem models, generally allow for a slower presentation while still keeping the bait on top of the surface.
			Like a spinner bait, the buzz bait is usually tied directly to the line without any other extraneous clips or rings. Again, a medium to heavy bait casting rod and reel is most suitable for buzz baits.
		1.2.3       Fishing Techniques
			Again like the spinner bait, the basic fishing method for a buzz bait is a simple cast and retrieve. The rod tip should be held high and the retrieve should be just fast enough to keep the bait on the surface of the water and keep the propeller spinning. Try to keep the bait in relatively open water, at least on the very surface, as weeds around the propeller will stop them cold.
			Fish will often blow up on the bait, and may even knock it to the side. Other strikes will consist of a subtle swirl beneath the surface as the fish quietly sucks the bait down. In either case, the hook set is critical. Upon visual observance of the strike, pause for half a second, drop the rod tip and reel up all slack, and then set the hook hard. While it seems like the fish would have it instantly, human reactions can actually take effect before the fish has the bait positioned in its mouth. Trailer hooks are often used in cases where numerous fish are short striking just behind the lure.
		1.2.4      Applications
			Fish the buzz bait over submerged vegetation, around brush and stumps, and through lily pads and pencil reeds. The buzz bait is most effective in shallower water, but will also work on deeper weed flats and edges. Cloud cover seems to be an asset to the buzz bait, as does calm water. There are times when they can still be quite effective with a light chop on the water as well. Rain seems to greatly reduce the effectiveness, probably due to camouflaging its surface disturbance.
			Buzz baits can be effective throughout the year but seem to be most effective in the heat of summer, and again in fall as the water cools. They are excellent for attracting bigger fish, as well.
		1.2.5       Summary
			While not as versatile as its brother, the spinner bait, buzz baits are still a very effective lure for bass. The thrill of seeing bass strike the lure or blow up on a buzz bait skittering across the surface can really get even the most relaxed fisherman’s heart pounding. Buzz baits are fun and effective tools for catching bass, but are more limited as to when and where they can be fished.
			Author's Ratings:
				Versatility - 4.0 Ease of use - 7.0 Effectiveness - 3.5 Big Fish Factor - 6.0
	1.3           Jigs

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