Spinnerbaits...buzzbait...0 fish. 2024
Fishingintheweeds reply :
Well, I went out for a bit today and started off with a buzzbait. Then, after making it around all of the "spots" with access to the water, I threw the spinner. It started off cloudy, and I didn't have a ton of time, so I figured I would try each.
I have had fish on and seen fish at these spots, so I know that they're there. But the bits before were on a 4" craw, on a jig head, 3" craw jika rig, and shaky head worm. So, the 0 on the spinner/buzz, AGAIN, has led me to this post.
I've caught more fish on chatterbaits than I have, anything else, general "plastics" maybe obviously more...maybe. But the spinner and buzz baits...I am still at 0. Bill Dance had me convinced that the spinnerbait is what you use to catch bass...because, of COURSE! But fast forward to adulthood, and look at all of the times and places I've tried them...and zeroed, it's almost to where I have ZERO interest in tying one on.
Am I the last guy fishing who hasn't caught at least one fish on either of these? What's the secret?
p.s. I lied. I did have a pike short me on a buzzbait one time. Ha, cool story!
Fishingintheweeds reply :
Well, I went out for a bit today and started off with a buzzbait. Then, after making it around all of the "spots" with access to the water, I threw the spinner. It started off cloudy, and I didn't have a ton of time, so I figured I would try each.
I have had fish on and seen fish at these spots, so I know that they're there. But the bits before were on a 4" craw, on a jig head, 3" craw jika rig, and shaky head worm. So, the 0 on the spinner/buzz, AGAIN, has led me to this post.
I've caught more fish on chatterbaits than I have, anything else, general "plastics" maybe obviously more...maybe. But the spinner and buzz baits...I am still at 0. Bill Dance had me convinced that the spinnerbait is what you use to catch bass...because, of COURSE! But fast forward to adulthood, and look at all of the times and places I've tried them...and zeroed, it's almost to where I have ZERO interest in tying one on.
Am I the last guy fishing who hasn't caught at least one fish on either of these? What's the secret?
p.s. I lied. I did have a pike short me on a buzzbait one time. Ha, cool story!
The Bassman reply :
Spinnerbait's a good lure to cover a lot of water. Doesn't seem as popular as it once was but the fish don't know what year it is. When I give it a chance it usually produces. A lot of guys have gone to chatterbaits. Buzzbaits seem to get more use about now and going into fall season.
the reel ess reply :
BD caught his PB on a spinnerbait. So did I a couple years ago. It's a big bass bait. But it seems to me that I just don't get a lot of bites on one. I read they're better when there's a little wind so that might be your guideline. But I caught that PB on a day with no wind. Keep trying it through the fall. It should produce when fish are a little less lethargic.
PAbasser927 reply :
Other than top water, I have a hard time catching bass on any moving bait. I started bass fishing last spring and all I have caught on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and various crankbaits are pickerel (they eat anything). I have had a ton of success with soft plastics and jigs. I much prefer bottom contact presentations anyway, but I do feel that I struggle finding fish considering most people suggest using a lure that covers water to find them. I have relied on my proven spots as well as using my electronics to find them. I also fish in HEAVILY pressured water where the fish basically have a conveyer belt of lures being thrown at them so it could just be my area.
Koz reply :
Like most baits, spinnerbaits were hit and miss for me. Some days they produced, some days they didn't.
But this spring I added a white Keitech Swing Impact trailer to my white/silver spnnerbait and that combo has been a great producer most of the year. My young son even caught 2 five pounders with that combo this spring and summer.
Gundog reply :
On 9/21/2018 at 4:05 AM, Fishingintheweeds said:Well, I went out for a bit today and started off with a buzzbait. Then, after making it around all of the "spots" with access to the water, I threw the spinner. It started off cloudy, and I didn't have a ton of time, so I figured I would try each.
I have had fish on and seen fish at these spots, so I know that they're there. But the bits before were on a 4" craw, on a jig head, 3" craw jika rig, and shaky head worm. So, the 0 on the spinner/buzz, AGAIN, has led me to this post.
Some lakes are like that. A lot has to do with forage in the lake. If there are more craws, fish will target on those imitations. Do think about what you are not catching them on, put a lure on that works and catch the heck out of them.
GReb reply :
That’s shocking. Spinnerbaits are king down here in our shallow stained water. I’d love to know what percentage of fish in my life have come on a spinnerbait. Has to be over 50%.
What size are you using?
BigAngus752 reply :
I'm with @GReb. Spinners are a go-to here. Wind is the real indicator. Any kind of breeze that ripples the water (ours is two-foot clarity at best) and spinners will catch consistently. In fact, I find that with some breeze and rip-rap or a weed line then spinners or lipless cranks are almost interchangeable. You can throw either here and catch fish under those circumstances.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
I definitely have fished them in all conditions on multiple bodies of water...ha, ha, over many years! Normally, most of the times In able to get out to fish, my time is limited now. The trips are short. Usually if I've decided ahead of time to sacrifice the time to work on new techniques, I don't care as much about numbers as long as I feel that I'm figuring something out or learning.
I went out today though, on a cloudy, windy day at a place I've seen fish and had bites. I guess my patience is short now! Ha, I was really just wondering if I am the only one...seems like maybe so!
I've used any weight from 1/4 to 1/2 ounce, black, chartruese, white and chartruese, grey with white and kinda BG sparkles...all kinds of water. Maybe all I need to do is keep plugging away and get that one, first bite...
I agree about using what works...funny thing today, I intentionally only took the buzz/spinnerbaits. Ha, I wasn't very impressed when I decided to just use what works and then realized I hadn't brought the jig after all!
Usually, I'm just trying to figure out the right questions but I've got nothing on this one. Ha, ha...at this point, I'm just venting but still very open to suggestions. This is really just kinda comical to me, at this point.
Ratherbfishing reply :
I don't follow you around so I cannot know BUT I'll wager you use your chatterbait a lot more than either a buzzbait or spinnerbaits. One can only catch fish with what they use a fair amount. Spinners and buzz baits have proven to be worthy tools for me and I wouldn't think about not carrying a few. I break out in a cold sweat just contemplating not having any.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
You're 100% correct. Over the total amount of time fishing, I would say it evens out, because I didn't start throwing chatterbaits until a few years ago. I think overall, I've lost confidence in it because any more, it just feels like casting practice. I've lost the faith and lost the mojo! I can't visualize what it's doing that would be attractive to fish or where I could possibly throw it.
My conclusions are that I will never use them again, or have to really just go out again with nothing but spinners and figure it out or throw them until I catch something. I KNOW they work but my battle is with myself at this point. I try to tell myself what everyone else would about giving them a chance and finding the right times, etc.
However, I am genuinely curious if anyone else ever had this struggle. Maybe all that time, as a little kid, watching Bill Dance catch tons of fish on spinnerbaits every Saturday morning just has had my expectations to high for the last 30+ years and when it didn't happen for me right away, it was too demoralizing????????????
the experience hasn't been totally negative though...yesterday, I started throwing them right into all the mess and cover I could find. That's usually been the first step to good learning for me...so, maybe it WILL happen one day!
FishDewd reply :
I caught my first bass on a spinnerbait a few months back in clear condition water on a blue bird sky with no wind. I was really just messing around, tossing a 3/16 booyah pond magic craw imitator out from the bank at a a 45* on a light action spinning rod and twitching the tip with reeling it in to imitate that choppy water motion. On cast 3-4, whatever, when I was bringing it back to me from the right side, I felt a solid hit a few feet off the bank as I was about to lift it out of the water and set it- got a decent little squeaker and it was one of the best bass I've ever caught. Now at least I know they work, but that's been the only one so far I've gotten on it.
Fishingmickey reply :
Fishingintheweeds,
You have to commit to throwing the spinnerbait! Short accurate casts to pocket targets, long casts over the top of the weeds. Make the thing dance! Work you rod and make that skirt flare out like Marilyn Monroe over the grate. Bounce it off of every piece of wood you can! Deflections rule, after the deflect let it sink/kill it/die for a one or two second count then start those blades a turning. Burn it back till the blades blurble the surface! Use either a Chartreuse, White or Chartreuse and white in 3/8 or 1/2 oz double bladed willow leaf. I like silver blades and white for clear water, chartreuse and gold blades for dirty or stained water
Then after you done that a few trips come back and tell me/us the results. Good luck!
Fishingmickey
Big Rick reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 12:03 AM, Fishingmickey said:Fishingintheweeds,
You have to commit to throwing the spinnerbait! Short accurate casts to pocket targets, long casts over the top of the weeds. Make the thing dance! Work you rod and make that skirt flare out like Marilyn Monroe over the grate. Bounce it off of every piece of wood you can! Deflections rule, after the deflect let it sink/kill it/die for a one or two second count then start those blades a turning. Burn it back till the blades blurble the surface! Use either a Chartreuse, White or Chartreuse and white in 3/8 or 1/2 oz double bladed willow leaf. I like silver blades and white for clear water, chartreuse and gold blades for dirty or stained water
Then after you done that a few trips come back and tell me/us the results. Good luck!
Fishingmickey
^^THIS^^
And, add a paddle tail swimbait trailer. Not too big to overwhelm the bait but big enough that you can see the tail waving side to side on the retrieve. Also, remember a spinnerbait is not a one trick pony. Varying your retrieve can produce many actions. I have often switched from a bladed jig to a spinnerbait because the bladed jig was too much vibration and water movement. I was spooking fish. Switched to a spinnerbait and start catching.
GReb reply :
Try focusing on your speed and cast angle. If you around the bank fish it parallel or at a 45 degree angle. Try working it as close to cover as you can. Some days they like it burned on top. Others slow rolled. Just keep experimenting with colors, blades, size, etc
If you are fishing smaller bodies of water try downsizing to a 3/16. The Stanley Wedge is a pond killer for me. And the mini strike king single Colorado blade spinner is great.
jbmaine reply :
I've caught many,many bass on spinnerbaits. This year up in Maine I've found if you have a submerged weedy bottom and an overcast day the spinnerbait bite is on. I just use a steady retrieve, fast enough to keep it over the weeds, and don't use a trailer.
Here's a couple of my spinnerbait bass.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 3:08 AM, jbmaine said:I've caught many,many bass on spinnerbaits. This year up in Maine I've found if you have a submerged weedy bottom and an overcast day the spinnerbait bite is on. I just use a steady retrieve, fast enough to keep it over the weeds, and don't use a trailer.
Here's a couple of my spinnerbait bass.
Nice!
Yeah, have a lot of very weedy lakes here. I ran out at lunch to a different spot, a smaller pond, lots of very thick weeds, like you're describing. It was very windy and cloudy, sprinkling off and on...so, I kept it tied on. It came through everything great. I had a couple of short strikes as soon as it hit the water, once on the outer edge of the weeds and another off the end if a large tree that had fallen in...but still no fish!
Today let me get a better feel for what I would want to do with one though. And the fact that in the right conditions, on the right spots, something hit it, was encouraging. Still came believe I'm the only non-new guy who hasn't caught anything on either though!
jbmaine reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 3:17 AM, Fishingintheweeds said:Still came believe I'm the only non-new guy who hasn't caught anything on either though!
Believe me you're not. Friend of mine saw that last fish ( caught it yesterday) and complained he never caught anything on a spinnerbait. Matter of fact he's stopping by after work today to borrow a couple of spinnerbaits and heading out tomorrow. SHORT STRIKES-- add a trailer hook
looking45 reply :
I haven't thrown a buzz bait or spinnerbait since I started throwing underspins. This little cousin to the spinnerbait has caught lots of fish for me in almost every weather condition. Maybe the smaller profile isn't as intimidating, who knows?
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 6:30 AM, looking45 said:I haven't thrown a buzz bait or spinnerbait since I started throwing underspins. This little cousin to the spinnerbait has caught lots of fish for me in almost every weather condition. Maybe the smaller profile isn't as intimidating, who knows?
I've looked pretty hard at these. How weedless are they?
We have no shortage of places that are thick with vegetation. So, I DO like to throw in the nasty stuff. That's one thing that I've come to like about the spinnerbaits since I've left the house with only that as my option twice now.
BrackishBassin reply :
If you want a guaranteed catch on a ‘spinnerbait’, then go grab a few beetle spins from Wal-Mart. If you don’t catch something on them, I’ll buy them from you. I’ve caught everything from a red drum to a blue gill on beetle spins. They work.
looking45 reply :
There are no weeds on Shasta so I don't have any problem but I'm not sure how weedless they are. I know they pick up slime. I would guess they aren't going to be that weedless as the blade is under the body of the swim bait and not over the hook like a spinnerbait.
burrows reply :
Try throwing some pond Magic’s in 3/16 or war eagle fineness spinner baits you’ll gain confidence in them with those smaller baits I remember when I first started throwing spinner baits I was thinking why the heck would a fish bite on this awkward looking thing? But I started throwing pond Magic’s in farm ponds and I got like 30 fish in two hours they were dinks but I became hooked on them after that.
Bankbeater reply :
Around here I use spinnerbaits mostly in the fall and spring. Last few years it has been hit or miss using them. Buzzbaits seem to work the best in the fall when it is raining, or we have a heavy overcast sky. Any other time it's spooks, jitterbugs, and poppers.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
Well, I I had to run into work for a few hours today to basically push some buttons and let some programs run. Temps were probably 15 degrees cooler than yesterday, overnight and in the morning. Again, still cloudy and very windy. Went out to the pit lake that I'd posted about before. Sure enough, casted around to a few spots and broke the streak. Like with the chatterbaits, and what everyone else had described, when they hit it, they hit it. These fish at this place are strange. Strong and seem kinda wild when you get them on, most of them spit the baits and are hard to catch.
He wasn't real big but he sure made a run that I wasn't expecting and put up a good fight.
Ha, all I needed to do, I guess was make a post, call myself out for not committing and have everyone agree. The suggestions in the comments are good though and the reinforcement of what I'd started to suspect is appreciated!
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 3:08 AM, jbmaine said:I've caught many,many bass on spinnerbaits. This year up in Maine I've found if you have a submerged weedy bottom and an overcast day the spinnerbait bite is on. I just use a steady retrieve, fast enough to keep it over the weeds, and don't use a trailer.
Here's a couple of my spinnerbait bass.
By the way, how big is the fish in the second picture? You caught that thing in Maine?
jbmaine reply :
On 9/23/2018 at 3:17 AM, Fishingintheweeds said:By the way, how big is the fish in the second picture? You caught that thing in Maine?
Congratulations on your first spinnerbait bass!!!!!
That one went 5.3 and yes it came from southern Maine. I really pleased with it because it came from a lake that has had real problems the last few years. I know the bass were starting to come back, but never thought any big ones were in it at this point. I wrote more about it in the fishing report section " Think my wife is psychic"
Jim
looking45 reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 8:28 AM, Fishingintheweeds said:I've looked pretty hard at these. How weedless are they?
We have no shortage of places that are thick with vegetation. So, I DO like to throw in the nasty stuff. That's one thing that I've come to like about the spinnerbaits since I've left the house with only that as my option twice now.
Send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you a couple to try. Pick from
1/8oz, 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 9/22/2018 at 12:03 AM, Fishingmickey said:Fishingintheweeds,
You have to commit to throwing the spinnerbait! Short accurate casts to pocket targets, long casts over the top of the weeds. Make the thing dance! Work you rod and make that skirt flare out like Marilyn Monroe over the grate. Bounce it off of every piece of wood you can! Deflections rule, after the deflect let it sink/kill it/die for a one or two second count then start those blades a turning. Burn it back till the blades blurble the surface! Use either a Chartreuse, White or Chartreuse and white in 3/8 or 1/2 oz double bladed willow leaf. I like silver blades and white for clear water, chartreuse and gold blades for dirty or stained water
Then after you done that a few trips come back and tell me/us the results. Good luck!
Fishingmickey
Marilyn Monroe...someone is giving away his age.
Big Rick reply :
On 9/23/2018 at 6:33 AM, Harold Scoggins said:Marilyn Monroe...someone is giving away his age.
Every male, regardless of age, has seen THAT picture at least once.....
Bluebasser86 reply :
Spinnerbaits can be tricky because of all the different blade/skirt configurations. I've seen things like smooth vs hammered blades, nickel vs copper blades make a huge difference. I prefer a bladed jig, but really like fishing spinnerbaits too.
Buzzbaits are one of my favorite topwaters. They are hard to snag and seem to attract big fish, plus there's no treble hooks. Not much more to ask for from a bait.
jbmaine reply :
On 9/23/2018 at 7:16 AM, Big Rick said:Every male, regardless of age, has seen THAT picture at least once.....
The stories that grate could tell!????
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/23/2018 at 1:54 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Spinnerbaits can be tricky because of all the different blade/skirt configurations. I've seen things like smooth vs hammered blades, nickel vs copper blades make a huge difference. I prefer a bladed jig, but really like fishing spinnerbaits too.
Buzzbaits are one of my favorite topwaters. They are hard to snag and seem to attract big fish, plus there's no treble hooks. Not much more to ask for from a bait.
Is there anything you can add to this, situations/conditions, etc. or, do toy just find these things out about colors, blades and that through trial and error, kinda the way you would for color with plastics?
TnRiver46 reply :
I’m not good with a spinnerbait but I have caught some. What helped me is think about the fish and their reaction strike when you are working the bait. It looks like you are in clear water so the bass are probably seeing the flash and reacting (unless you are fishing deep) so willow blades will be better. If it were muddy or night time they are feeling the water displacement and reacting so big round blades work better.
Now buzzbaits??? Those things are awesome. I will throw one all day. Nothing at all complicated about this lure, if it’s warm outside just throw it and keep it on top! And keep it on top from the very moment that it touches the water , don’t let it sink on the splashdown
Glenn reply :
Here are all my secrets:
flyfisher reply :
I have some spinnerbaits and i have caught some fish on them but for some reason I hate throwing them. I don't know why but it just doesn't do it for me lol I throw chatter baits and crankbaits though and don't get the same feeling.
Buzzbaits i like to throw and have a lot of success on them.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 9/23/2018 at 9:23 PM, Fishingintheweeds said:Is there anything you can add to this, situations/conditions, etc. or, do toy just find these things out about colors, blades and that through trial and error, kinda the way you would for color with plastics?
A very basic rundown of how I begin my selection;
Painted blades-cloudy or dirty water
copper blades-muddy, tannic, or lowlight conditions
gold blades- sunny and stained to dirty water
silver- sunny and clear to moderate stained water
Colorado blades-dirty water or cold water
Indiana blades-stained water
Willowleaf-clear water, fast retrieves, or for fishing deeper
Tons of variables that will make me adjust these accordingly, but this is how I begin the process.
Derek1 reply :
I’m glad this thread came up, I’ve caught a few here and there on them. Ive since been throwing them a bit more, giving them more of a chance. I picked out a few new ones yesterday in popular colors for my pond with a few different blade choices. It really made a big difference thanks for all the info guys. Green frog with the wider silver blade got me back to back 2.5#’s and a three in a short period of time. It was a great hour of fishing.
HeyCoach reply :
@Fishingintheweeds
That appears to be a spotted bass. They fight harder than a largemouth in my experience.
They don't take kindly to being caught and will continue to thrash and fight until they’re released.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/28/2018 at 8:32 AM, HeyCoach said:@Fishingintheweeds
That appears to be a spotted bass. They fight harder than a largemouth in my experience.
They don't take kindly to being caught and will continue to thrash and fight until they’re released.
Huh...I never even considered that there would be ant spots up here. I'm in Michigan but if that's possible, that would make a ton of sense, given what I've experienced with the fish in this quarry. This is the only one that I've had on and touched but all the ones that got off seemed pretty wild in their reactions to being hooked!
Now, I don't know 100% how those fish got there and there is no other water that connects to it. Since I'm in Michigan, I feel like I'd need another look at one. But that would be an interesting explanation.
HeyCoach reply :
Check out this Article about a quarter of the way down there is a graphic of the areas they inhabit.
They appear to live as far north as Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. It seems plausible that they could work up towards Michigan.
Boomstick reply :
There are some lakes where I absolutely kill it with a spinnerbait, and some lakes where you pretty much can't get a fish with a spinnerbait. If it's not working, try a paddletail swimbait or a crankbait as a searcher bait.
scaleface reply :
There are popular lures that I havent caught fish on . Most of us dont have the time to use every lure manufactured . I have most success on spinnerbaits during spring ,and in the wind . Buzzbaits , I try a lot even if the conditions are not idea . They are kind of un-predictable .
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