Buzzbaits have a reputation in the bass fishing community. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a bad reputation. It is actually a really good one. They have the reputation of catching big bass.

However, in order to catch big fish you need to know exactly when to fish it.

In this post, we are going talk about when to use a buzzbait to produce the biggest results.

When To Use A Buzzbait

At Night. One of the best times to throw a buzzbait is at night. You might not get as many bites as you would on a different lure, but you will catch bigger fish. Keep in mind that at night many times bass will feel more safe and won’t hold up so tight against cover. It is because of this that they will be more willing to travel longer distances in hopes of a good meal.

So, when fishing with a buzzbait in this situation, don’t be afraid to fish more open water scenarios. In addition, because buzzbaits create a lot of noise, they work great in drawing bass to you for a little nibble.

To get the most of your lure, make sure to use dark colors as they create a better silhouette in the water.

Dirty/Stained Water. One thing that buzzbaits do really well is create a lot of commotion on the surface of the water. Many anglers actually tweak their lure so that it makes even more noise.

That is exactly what you want when fishing dirty water. Because bass can’t see in stained water, they have to rely on their other senses, specifically their lateral line. This helps them feel vibrations in the water. The greater the vibrations the better chances of getting hooked up.

With that being said, when you notice that the water is stained, appeal to their lateral line by throwing a buzzbait more often.

Much like fishing at night, for better results, stick to darker colors and don’t be afraid to upsize your presentation. A bigger profile is easy for bass to locate in dirty water.

Not just a warm weather bait. One mistake I see many anglers make is that they will only fish this lure during the summer months. However, I want to warn you that if you are only fishing this lure during these months, you are missing out on some great opportunities to catch big bass.

Two of these such opportunities are on abnormally warm days in either the fall or spring. Oftentimes it is during these days that bass will move up to shallow waters looking to feed on baitfish.

Take advantage of this perfect opportunity to capitalize with a buzzbait.

For best results, switch to a color that best imitates the fish they are feeding on.

(You may also enjoy this article: My Best Buzzbait For Bass Fishing)

Are you throwing a buzzbait when the water is clear? Buzzbaits will catch bass in stained water, but can they be effective in clear water?

The answer is yes, but you need to change-up the presentation. For example, in this situation I like to downsize my lure. I have found the 1/8 buzzbait to be the most effective in clear water.

By downsizing the lure, it will move quicker through the water. Throw it when the water is choppy, bass won’t have a good opportunity to see what is swimming on the surface of they water and they will just react when it goes by.

This is definitely a great way to generate some heart stopping topwater reaction strikes.

Don’t put it down on windy days. Another mistake I see many anglers make is, they won’t throw it on windy days. The main reason being that skirt catches the wind and doesn’t cast very well.

However, I say ditch the skirt altogether. Instead put on a fat trailer and keep fishing it. When the buzzbait bite is on, windy or not, you need to take advantage of this opportunity.

One of my favorite trailers to put on in this situation is the Zoom Horny Toad. Keep in mind that some trailers will affect the lures ability to stay on the surface of the water.

Hit the same spot twice. When bass are holding up close to cover and a buzzbait goes by, they might come out to see what is going on, but they still might be afraid to commit.

In this situation, I would recommend you make the same exact cast. More times than not, on the second cast they will take the bait.

This might be for a number of different reasons. For one, they might be annoyed by the buzzbait going by and are trying to chase it away, or it is spawning season and they want to protect their nest. Whatever the case, always make the same cast twice.

Fish it around/under docks. But, I always fish a jig around docks. My point exactly. You as well as every other fisherman that have passed the same dock are all thinking that exact same thing, “I am just going to skip a jig up in there and see what I can get”. However, give the fish something they haven’t seen before. Throw a buzzbait up there and see what kind of results you will get.

While you are in there, under the dock, make sure to bump your lure into the dockpost. This is equivalent to a square bill crankbait bumping off structure and drives the bass wild.

Final Thoughts…

Ever since its inception buzzbaits have produced big fish. Hopefully by reading this post, on when to use a buzzbait, has inspired you to throw it more often and catch bigger bass.

Please share with us your thoughts on when to use a buzzbait in the section below.