Loosing a lot of fish on Buzzbaits 2025
SV1000 reply :
I have hooked a bunch of fish in the last few weeks including at least 8 this morning, set the hook more than once, fought the fish for a bit and then had the buzzbait fly past my head.
The hooks feel sharp but it's almost like they latch onto the bait and then open their mouth and let it go. I am stopping by BassPro today and will look at hook sharpeners.
Any recommendations?
MaxDal reply :
You may want to use a trailer hook !
Jig Man reply :
My recommendation is to not set the hook until you feel the fish. If you can't feel it then it didn't take the bait.
When you feel it set the hook one time and one time only. That way you minimize the chance of giving it slack line. Any slack is disasterous. A bass's reaction time is 25 X faster than a person's.
Grey Wolf reply :
QuoteMy recommendation is to not set the hook until you feel the fish. If you can't feel it then it didn't take the bait.When you feel it set the hook one time and one time only. That way you minimize the chance of giving it slack line. Any slack is disasterous. A bass's reaction time is 25 X faster than a person's.
X2
burleytog reply :
A loost fish is a bad thing.
jdw174 reply :
QuoteYou may want to use a trailer hook !
Absolutamundo!!!!!! 8-)
Perfect Hook Set reply :
Use a trailer hook 1/0-3/0 depending on the size of your buzzbait
Try using 1 size smaller buzzbait
If you think that they are spitting it out, add a trailer, I suggest about 2in or 3in piece of the end of a 5in senko
Other trailers work, I have just had great suggest with this meathod
mattm reply :
I don't know if a trailer hook will solve your problem. You are hooking the fish so it sounds like a hook problem to me. Make sure your hook is razor sharp, wait a second or so to set it and then do it only once.
Tin reply :
QuoteQuoteYou may want to use a trailer hook !Absolutamundo!!!!!! 8-)
You could also put another trailer hook on the trailer hook. So you have two of them on the bait. I used to do it on my buzzbaits and spinnerbaits for smallies, now I do it all the time.
There is also no need for 2 hooksets imo. It could be one of the reasons you are loosing fish, just a ripping a big hole and the hook is falling out. As mentioned above only drill them when you feel the fish. Also, keep the rod tip DOWN.
MaxDal reply :
QuoteI don't know if a trailer hook will solve your problem. You are hooking the fish so it sounds like a hook problem to me. Make sure your hook is razor sharp, wait a second or so to set it and then do it only once.
I think a trailer hook would add flexibility to the whole set up... that might prevent fish from spitting the buzz out all the time.
Sometimes when I am fishing a buzz in total open water I put a trebble hook as trailer..... but you have to find models with shafts that are long enough.
mattm reply :
You might be right. To me though it sounds like the hook is dull or he's ripping a big hole on the second hookset. I would lean towards hook b/c I assume he wasn't setting twice b4 he started losing them.
A trailer hook couldn't hurt anything, probably, but its effectiveness will be limited if the hookset is bad or the hook is dull. Just my .02.
HogHooker reply :
position of the hook on the bait, thickness of the hook, hook design, and hook placement on the buzzbait.
Hook position- if u hold your buzzbait so the frame is horizontal and straight across if the hook is at all arced up or angled toward the sky then thats probably why. See when the hook lays flat and a bass engulfs the bait he get pricked before u set the hook, but if its angles because the hook point is pointing downward the bass has the hook in its mouth and doesn't get hooked, this also means u need to set the hook alot harder.
Hook thickness- I pour my own buzbaits and i only use gamikatsu hooks, reason being they are razor sharp out of the bag, strong as u can get, but the not super thick, that being said they aren't soft wire hooks that would bend out, other companies that are used of buzzbaits that i've seen are mustads, eagleclaws, and owners. Mustads and EagleClaws are super strong, and relatively sharp, but their downfall is they are as thick as my thumb. Owners on the other hand rival the gamikastu's, they are also awsome hooks. If a hook is to thick or the barb WAY TO BIG for the size of the hook, it takes so much more foce to get it in the fish, and they are a hassle to get out of a fish, it doesn't matter to a fish 6lbs+ but when u get a 2lber and ur ripping at its jaw to get the big hook out its not that great for the fish.
Hook design- The different hook designs that are usually on buzzbaits are o'shaunessy bends and round bends, the shaunessies are alright, i dont like them because the notch or sharp bend is up near the hook point so the fish holds there when being played and only has that little bit of hook to toss around and throw, where if u look at the round bend the fish sits right in the middle of it, thats alot more hook for the fish to fling, or push out of its mouth, and to acomplish that it needs to basically turn the bait 180 degrees, which cant be acomplished if the angler keeps a tight line. One more thing on design, offset hooks, best invention since the begining of time. Most hooks if look at from the back are straight all the way nothing is out of line, and they work ok, and i use them, but if i can i'll use a offset hook anyday. they way they are designed is the point is angles in one direction or the other away from the shank on a slight angle, so when u set the hook the hoook goes in on and angle and cant be pulled straight out, u need to twist and pull, add a bard to that design and its the ultimate, the offset only works with single hooks, so dont wreck your trebles. If u dont have offset hooks here's how u do now, take your hook and place it in one hand, take a pair of pliers and grab the hook down near the bend of the hook, so you're grabbing both the main shank and the hook point, not the point itself but the little bit of shank after the bend before the point, then give the main shank a little bend to the left or the right, and boom their is your new offset hook. They slide in easy aswell so a normal hookset will do you just fine.
Example: 
Hook placement- The key to a solid hit and hookset and just a nipped fish, bite area. The area from the hook point to the end of the the wire shaft where the prop is spinning. That is the bite gap, if that is to small or in one way or another not sitting right u have a bad bait. My favourite bait that i have replicated are the new longshank buzzbait and spinnerbaits, they are awsome, the designers and producers deserve an award they are the best baits i've seen, snagproof and hold on to fish in crazy ways, they acheived the good things about a trailer hook, and eliminated its downfalls, love their baits. They have big bite areas, AWSOME quality hooks, they dont snag up EVER, and they hook fish in big ways.
Photo's of great, good/average, bad buzzbaits
Great buzzbait
Average/good
Bad
My opinions on the baits in the photos are not to make the company anybetter or any worse, they are based on opinion on quality and design of the bait.
zbigbadaaron reply :
use a trailer hook
Shadcranker reply :
Trailer hook for sure.
Set the hook hard.
Wayne P. reply :
Definately a trailer hook and a better designed bait also.
SV1000 reply :
Hey thanks for the tips, I did not think about tearing a big hole on the second hookset but this may be very likely after switching to braided line.
Twisting the hook a bit makes some sense if the fish has latched on to the bait without being hooked. I may try this on one or two of my 1.99 baits from Academy.
My favorite buzzbait so far is the Booyah clicker model. Have ya'll had issues with the hooks from this company?
I looked for a hook sharpener at BassPro but only found one that looked like a small mill file so I passed on it.
HogHooker reply :
just get a fine toothed file, doesn't need to be made for the purpose of sharpening hooks.
Crestliner2008 reply :
How about that Bill Dance model with the hook 18" away from the prop! Looks like just the ticket for a buzzbait. Never tried them though. Has anyone?
roadwarrior reply :
Simple solution:
Cavitron Buzzbait
http://www.megastrike.com/
8-)
Grey Wolf reply :
QuoteHow about that Bill Dance model with the hook 18" away from the prop! Looks like just the ticket for a buzzbait. Never tried them though. Has anyone?
That design makes no sense to me. Wouldn't the bass take a swipe at the blades instead of the hook which is 18 " behind the blade ?
ILfisherman reply :
QuoteA loost fish is a bad thing.
Yet another excellent recommendation on your part. Rack one up on to the post count!
OP: Definitely use a trailer hook. You can get a good 1/0 gamakatsu put it onto something like a 3inch leader of mono and tie that rig onto the bait.
burleytog reply :
QuoteQuoteA loost fish is a bad thing.Yet another excellent recommendation on your part. Rack one up on to the post count!
Right over your head I see...
Big-O reply :
# 1 trailer hooks #2 Slow down on your hook set just long enough to let'em load up and then give'em the steel. Cures most of it.
SV1000 reply :
OK, I caught two on a buzzbait and missed two hits last night. I only set the hook once but had to resist the urge to set the hook when I saw and heard the hit and wait unil I felt the fish.
The hole was about 1/4" in diameter on both fish after the fight, so I think ya'll nailed it...setting the hook more than once is probably causing the lost fish. It makes more sense if I lowered the rod too.
roadwarrior reply :
Quote...setting the hook more than once is probably causing the lost fish.
That would be the case with all lures and techniques.
8-)
ba7ss3in reply :
Length of cast and length of rod also could cost you some fish on the set.
Ryan_Johnson reply :
Try to not setting the hook at all. Bass don't give buzzbaits little taps, they're trying to kill it. By the time you set the hook, it's had it for a second or two. It will set the hook on itself, especially if you're using braid.
Try to use a side sweep and just start reeling. I've found that method works well with other topwaters too.
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