I know It might be offensive to you Northern guys where the ice hasn't even thawed yet, but some of us southern fisherman are already slinging topwaters. 

 

I really got into buzzbaits last year, super fun bite and I love slinging them boogers. But I've thrown it on braid. 30lb power pro to be exact. Yes there were times an early hookset caused missed fish. 

 

My question is how many of you guys throw buzzbaits on mono? Does it help with missed fish opportunities? I've thrown braid for so long I've lost confidence in mono and I'm really trying to build that confidence back up.

 

Plus who doesn't like a good buzzbait topic? 

#cavitronsftw

You are right on the offensive part!!!  My day is definitely ruined now!?

I need to try that there Cavitron.

 

I throw my plastic buzzbaits on 15# big game, a little line conditioner and I'm happy.

 

I found a hole on the Polaris last week at work around Hinesville, @NittyGrittyBoy.  I was busting a thin sheet of ice while I pulled winch cable but the water under the ice was Georgia warm and prime for a buzzbait.

Ive been a buzzbait fanatic for 20 yrs and nylon based line is my preference. With braid as a mainline something else has to give- whether its the hole in a fishes mouth becoming a bit larger & making it easier to for a big bass to headshake and throw it, or the wire of the lure getting tweaked and the bait no longer wanting to plane true... Obviously others may like braid but those are my reasons for not using it...With the exception being a spinning rod and little 1/8 ounce buzzers..

I go with 40lb. Braid on a 7ft. Mh/f rod and 6.3 speed reel. And always use a trailer hook.

30# Braid on a MH/F rod and a 7.1 reel.

42 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I need to try that there Cavitron.

 

I throw my plastic buzzbaits on 15# big game, a little line conditioner and I'm happy.

 

I found a hole on the Polaris last week at work around Hinesville, @NittyGrittyBoy.  I was busting a thin sheet of ice while I pulled winch cable but the water under the ice was Georgia warm and prime for a buzzbait.

Oh so you are just going to keep rubbing it in huh??

@Hook2Jaw - Definitely buy some cavitrons you'll be hooked! I was actually gonna use 15lb big game if I did swap! I like that, Ga warm. Should be the name of a worm color

 

@craww - I have tweaked my buzzbaits some, I guess that's another downside to braid? 

17 pound Silver Thread here. I start reeling a buzzbait when the bait is 2 feet above the surface and it hits the water running. 20 doesn't handle as well, and 14 has a bit more stretch than I like at a long distance. 

I've always used mono on buzzbaits, but am slowly switching all topwater to braid because so many strikes come at the end of the cast. Don't see why braid wouldn't be a good choice for buzzbaits. Big single hook bait so you don't need stretch to keep them hooked up. Might have to be more patient on the hookset, but that's just timing. If you're successful with braid I wouldn't switch.

Well after the weather gets above freezing, and after all the snow melts and after the lake temperature hits at least 55, I would ideally use 15lb mono, but I don't have that rigged up on any other reel so I make do with 12lb mono.

I have a phobia with braid. But I’m trying to get over it and using it more. Up here in Yankee Land I use the Trilene XT and Big Game. My line weights are not that heavy 12 - 15 lb. my buzz baits are on the light side also 1/8 oz., 1/4oz., 5/16 oz. & 3/8 oz. Max. I guess my lure weights increase a bit by eliminating skirts and tipping with frogs, toads and 4” grubs. My results have been a lot better since skirt removals. 
 

GREAT POST!

I love braid but it can snarl itself onto a buzzbait something awful.  Gotta go with 15lb Maxima mono.

12 or 14 lb mono depending on where I am throwing it.

I've tried it both ways and assuming you get past the line snarling problem ( by stopping it in the air and letting it jerk to a stop ),  I don't think it makes much difference, mono or braid, with that bait.  I believe I used mono last year.

 

Braid or mono, some days you're going to miss fish, some days every fish and other days you're going to get every hit, stuff happens.

I use braid, 30lb Sufix hi-viz yellow, on a 8:1 reel. I have been good bout training myself with topwater stuff to literally count off "one-one-thousand" before giving a hookset and it has been working great. 

 

It isn't very often I miss, unless I am not paying attention and I jerk the hookset to quickly because I didn't count down. That will normally be when I am getting ready to switch rods, move the boat, see how my co-angler is doing or other stuff like that.

I use 40lb Smackdown. It is just a personal preference - I fished them on 12-15lb mono for many years and would have no concerns about using that line. 

I think there's a trade off here between line stretch and action of the rod.  An Extra Fast rod with braid is a recipe for disaster IMO.  If I'm around fairly heavy cover and/or longer casts, I still love braid (30-40 lb test).  But then I'm using a moderate-fast rod to provide some "give" especially as the fish gets near the boat and takes off again.  

 

I also have a fast action rod that I use, and string it up with 10 lb Sufix Advance mono.  Its about the same diameter as a lot of 12-14 lb monos.  I like it because it has stretch... but less than most IMO.  On long casts, I HATE setting the hook with a rubber band.  Handles well, and can pull through light/moderate weeds... not as good as braid but its a matter of what is best compromise based on the cover present.  

Really good answers, thanks for all the replies. 

 

On the issue of long casts, sure I could see the issue of setting the hook with a rubberband, but in my situation 85% of my fishing is short casts, under limbs trying to get as close to the bank as possible.

 

I rigged up mono to try this weekend, if I'm not sold I'll go back to braid.

I throw them on 15# Big Game mono. Same with spinnerbaits. I don't know how it affects missed fish because I never used braid for that presentation. I use a trailer hook whenever I can though. I have a feeling that would net more missed fish than line type. 

@the reel ess A certain color little 4" swimbait is ??? and it makes it impossible to throw with trailer hook. Let's call the color "Georgia Fire"! 

 

Theres nothing worse than missing fish ?

I've thrown them on 50lb braid for years.  I used to be bad about swinging too soon.  I eventually made myself start stomping my foot when a fish bit it and it drastically increased my hookups. Still do it to this day. Reeling in buzzbait, fish blows up on it, stomp my foot then swing lol. Sounds goofy but it's worked for me.

I like that @Shimano_1, not sure I have the discipline to stomp everytime though 

15# big game , same I throw a spinner bait on.

On braid just set the hook the same way you set a frog hook; for me that's reel the slack until I feel the fish and then set the hook. It's about one-one-thousand count to do that. 

 

Depending on what else is tied on I'll put the buzzbait on the frog rod (tip is a bit too fast but workable) or on the chatterbait rod (most often) which is braid, more like a MH mod than an MH/F.