Buzzbaits and chatterbaits

[drew03cmc]

1/4, 3/8oz or the smaller size buzzbaits for creeks. I've honestly never caught a thing on buzzbaits, but I'd love to this year. 

Chatterbaits are a whole other creature. What are your opinions?

[Dutch]

I'm not sure what you want opinions about.  In regard to buzz baits I normally throw 1/2 oz with a swim bait trailer.  I have 2 favorite colors black and white.  Bladed jigs are about the same normally 1/2 oz with a variety of trailers.  Year before last bladed jigs were better than spinnerbaits for me.  Last year I couldn't buy a fish on them. My favorite color of them is red/chartreuse but I make them and have lots of colors.

[Cwallis]

I haven’t had much luck fishing them in creeks either. 

[Seth]

A few years ago I caught several smallies on a green pumpkin chatterbait, but have since opted to fish a swimbait instead. Not really sure why, just have. They'll eat buzzbaits too, but the green bass seem to prefer them over the smallies from what I have seen. Chatterbats and buzzbaits tend to produce a better quality bite for us than a lot of other baits when they do get bit by smallies.

[drew03cmc]

Thanks guys. I'm working to build confidence with both of these baits this year and this info helps out, telling me I may not be wasting my time throwing these on Ozark rivers.

[Al Agnew]

You are absolutely not wasting your time throwing buzzbaits on Ozark rivers.  I use them less than I once did because I've found other lures that I like fishing a little better, but I know guys who don't throw much else in the summer, and they are pretty happy with what they catch.  As for size, you don't need to go too small.  My usual buzzbait, which I make myself, is a 1/4th ounce, fairly compact one, but with tandem in-line props so it makes a pretty good racket.  I'm also likely to try a bigger 3/8th ounce one with a single but bigger prop.  As for colors...fluorescent yellow, white, and black--the black one is for dark days and murky water.  A chartreuse or fluorescent yellow buzzbait is one of the more effective lures you can use in ultra-clear water.  If you're fishing a small, ultra-clear creek with a buzzbait, just remember to make casts as long as you can and land your cast 5 feet or more away from where you think the fish will be...don't land it on top of them.  Throw it into the middle of the next pool before you start up or down the riffle.

I've caught 20 plus inch smallmouth and 6 pound plus largemouth on Ozark rivers with buzzbaits.

As for chatterbaits, I never fish them, but might experiment a little with them this coming summer.

[Gavin]

The Accent  B-2 buzzer is a killer. Usually in half once. You won’t catch a pile of dink’s but the ones you do catch are usually nice. Like 1/4 oz single buzzers, and the single triple blade buzzers too. Toss a walking plug in open water allot more though. Buzzers are for casting through above water tree tops, above water veg, and over weed mats. Walking a frog works well too. Chatterbaits are decent in thin weeds. Johnson Silver Minnow is probably better because fish don’t see them often anymore.

[drew03cmc]

Sounds good. I'm jonesing for some smallies.

[liphunter]

Have any of you guys had any real success using a trailer on a chatter bait?

[Ham]

I never throw it without one so whatever success I have had is with a trailer.