Hello everyone, I need help with keeping my buzzbaits on top of the water.. I’m throwing a 1/2oz buzz on a 7’1 heavy with40lbs braid & a 7.3.1 reel. I switch hands mid cast so I can start my retrieval as soon as the lure hits the water sometimes even a little bit before it hits. I’ve tried to speed up my retrieval & keep my rod tip high to no luck.. The buzzbait will stay about a foot under the surface until it’s maybe 5 ft from the bank that’s when it wants to surface & act like a buzzbait should act. Any help is greatly appreciated & I thank you all in advance. Tight lines everyone!!

Your probably not reeling as fast as you think or not keeping your rod tip up as high as you think.  If that’s not it you might have your line wrapped around the lure upon entry

I cant help . It sounds like you are doing everything correct . I keep a 1/2 oz buzzbait on the surface at a slow speed during the entire retrieve, 

Maybe try a different buzz bait. Yours sounds defective. 

Engage the reel a 1/2 second before the buzz bait hits the water. Also have the rod tip pointed at the landing spot and just as the lure hits the water and raise the tip and pull the lure slightly towards you as you start to reel... it gets it "out of the hole" gradually but keeps it from sinking.  And an 8:1 ratio helps too.

I engage the reel before the bait hits the water and take up any slack so when it hits I'm already half a turn or more when it hits the water. Also, before I engage the reel I'm loosely thumbing the line for a split second to slow it down.

 

Lastly, yo didn't say if you're using a trailer. If you are, that will impact the speed of the bait and how quickly it starts to sink. You'll need to engage your technique a split second sooner to compensate.

 

Personally, I never use a trailer on a buzzbait, and I use them as much as I can. I would have to say that over the years the buzzbait and chatterbait are my two top producing, moving baits.

I usually use a zoom horny toad as a trailer. That was on my 3/8oz buzz with zero issues. But with the 1/2oz buzz I stopped using a trailer thinking the weight was causing the issue but even without a trailer I’m having trouble.. I’m chalking it up to a defective lure or I need a faster gear ratio…

47 minutes ago, I_hallucination said:

issues. But with the 1/2oz buzz I stopped using a trailer thinking the weight was causing the issue but even without a trailer I’m having trouble

Trailer adds buoyancy to the buzzbait, allows you to keep it on the surface easier and allows you to reel it slower as a result. And a zoom horny toad has a lot of drag and lift so will help with that. 
 

Hate to say, but could be the buzzbait. Don’t think you’ll be overly impressed with a faster reel. 
 

I throw 3/8 oz buzzers with grub trailers usually and reel them on my spinnerbait setup 5:4:1. I get it up and rising as fast as possible using techniques others mentioned

2 hours ago, I_hallucination said:

I usually use a zoom horny toad as a trailer. That was on my 3/8oz buzz with zero issues. But with the 1/2oz buzz I stopped using a trailer thinking the weight was causing the issue but even without a trailer I’m having trouble.. I’m chalking it up to a defective lure or I need a faster gear ratio…

It's not the gear ratio - it's the technique. I fish buzzbaits with 6:x, 7:x, and 8:x reels with no issues.

how far are you casting?

As far as I can 

2 hours ago, Koz said:

It's not the gear ratio - it's the technique. I fish buzzbaits with 6:x, 7:x, and 8:x reels with no issues.

I’m gonna go out in the morning & give it another try with & without different trailers. 

Before you give up.. Try a Megastrike Cavitron buzzer, these stay on the surface probably better than any other brand.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megastrike_Cavitron_Buzzbaits/descpage-CAV.html?from=basres

Try sidearm casting so there is not as much line in the air when the lure touches down .

I always sidearm cast lol

So I went out this morning with the buzzbait & I have to keep my rod tip straight up & hold my rod up & out a bit to get the buzzbait to work properly.. the trailers just weighed it down & would not run on top of the water no matter what I did when a trailer was on. Thank you all for the suggestion & help! 

Reel faster.

Reel with your rod tip UP.  Might want to go to a 1/4-3/8 ounce buzzbait.

I throw a trailer on mine, helps me keep it up on the surface.

I use 15 pound fluoro, it sinks but when you've got your rod tip up and most of the line off the water it doesn't matter.  With fluoro, you won't rip the bait away.  If i'm fishing such thick cover that I would need braid, I'm throwing a frog.

As soon as the bait hits the water and even before it hits, I'm reeling.

I agree with everything you said except the floro for top water lol but if it works for you keep going lol but yes I’m gonna go back to throwing a 3/8 buzzbait from now on.

The reason for fluoro:

Braid has NO stretch.  Throwing fluoro allows you to let the fish eat the bait, and not rip it away from them.  

Start the video at 2:20, Gman explains it better than me.  He is one of the best buzzbait fisherman IMO.

I hear you trust me I’m not knocking you. & I’ve seen that exact video a few times. I love all the another siteing videos super informative!

I know it, just want to help other people get as many fish in the boat as possible!?

I respect that, tight lines! 

The problem, I think, is you likely put a high arc to your cast as you attempt to cast as far as possible. That leaves a lot of slack that need to be taken up before the lift of the lure can bring it to the surface. The bait is moving toward you, so you feel the tension in the line, but there is just as big a bow in your line under the water (as the lure sinks) as there was above it.  Watch your line, if you can, when you make a cast. If it resembles that first hill a roller coaster starts up and then plummets down. This is exactly what I'm talking about.

I cast side arm 99% of the time & rarely get an arc but I absolutely know what & agree with what you are saying! 

All the techniques mentioned shouldnt be that necessary, i would but a different buzz bait