Got up early yesterday and headed out the to the lake -- started throwing a buzz bait in an area where it has produced well in the past.  Had about two dozen blow-ups that missed the lure by 2-3 feet.   Tried slowing down, speeding up and stopping to let it sink but no takers -- any ideas what is going on here?

did you use a trailer hook, usually this will increase your hookup percentage. You did the right thing slowing up though if they arent hitting it and your retrieving fairly fast, it's always a  good idea to slow down. You know the fish ae there though so keep on trying it. I would recommend a trailer hook unless its super weedy or you were already using one.

Since the fish are revealing themselves by attacking the buzzbait and you tried slowing down I would use a wacky rigged senko and throw it to the places where the bass blew  up on your buzzbait and there is a good chance you will catch those short strikers

Trailer hook- definitely. But sometimes a bass will just be annoyed, or feel threatened, by a buzzbait in summer, and do no more than swat it with its tail trying to chase it off. Since you found bass were there, and that was very important to learn, next time that happens try downsizing to something that looks very much like what they feed on. A really quiet flat sided shad imitating crankbait might have got bit. Or maybe a 2" floating jerkbait on 6# line with a light spinning rig.

Jim

Shad_Master,

        If a bass has made an attempt at your bait, but misses quite badly, he or she is trying to tell you to make a sublte change in presentation.   Specially when they continue to blow up by the bait and not on the bait.

The bass is already interested in it, but won't take.      

Small changes maybe in buzz bait size.    Maybe too much noise, or too much splash.    Tweek the blades in or out can take splash away or add it.

Skirts is too large, maybe trimming down or thinning it.    Small color change from solid white to wh/chrt.    All chart.

Some topwater bites only lasts 20 minutes, so adjustments can be made each cast with out removing unless changing sizes.

Thanks for the input guys, I did have a trailer hook on, but would have needed to have about 10 get one of these guys hooked up (LOL).  Also, I did follow-up with a worm and managed to catch some fish, I had just never seen so many blow-ups without at least one decent bite before.  Mattfly, those subtle changes may have been an issue, but I was following up on what has worked in the past and was surprised at the outcome.  I'm particularly interested in your comment about tweaking the blades to add or subtract splash -- can you elaborate on this a little more?

Shad_Master.

    If you look at your baits blades, they can be bent down, cupped-in in small increments.   By doing so, they bite into the water more, giving it more gurgle, splash and noise.    If you look at the bait out of the package, the blades can appear or are basically at 90 degree bends, you can open them up wider to give less splash, less noise, and it cuase the bait to run slower or faster because of blade position.

Some people drill holes, tiny holes in the blades for more bubbles.   I also do that and put scotch tape over the holes and remove it when I need that added change, ie..... noise.

Some buzz baits you can bend the  wire frame down towards the lead head to make the blades hit the lead head when the blade turns to add more noise.

Some blades won't physically hit the lead head ever, some will.    You just have to know what your looking at the store when you want those subtle features.

I always try to buy buzzbaits I can modify on the fly with out re-tying.   I use quick skirts from Terminator spinners for fast color changes.

I never see a reason not to have a trailer on a buzz bait, or even two trailers, after all, its top water!!!!!

Hookem

Matt.

yeao get you a trailer hook...might trim the skirt a little too...might even paint hook color red

Always cast so your reeling in against the current with buzzbaits. Fish always have their bodies going into the current rather then away from it.