Jitterbug Blues

Maybe something like this?
http://secretweaponlures.com/swl_buzzbaits.htm

Why, sure you can do it, Randy. Several of the bass pros have been modifying
their buzzbaits this way for years. I started doing it over in Arkansas back
in the later 80's when I fished night tounaments regularly.

Most buzzbaits have enough wire behind the prop to shape into a loop, if you
replace the rivet with a bead or flat washer. If there's not enough, try
removing the bead in front of the prop, too.

While you have the wire straightened and prop off, there are a few things
you can do to improve the bait's productivity.

1. Put the head on an anvil and flatten it. Try to make it balanced side to
side. A flat head will help the bait stay on top at slower retrieves. You
may need to do a little file work, and then paint to suit. (A plain lead
head works just as well as a painted head, but a spash of red at the throat
doesn't hurt any bait.)

2. Using a small bit, drill out the rear hole on the buzz prop. This achives
the same effect as casting the bait 2,000 times (or tying it to your radio
antenna as you race down the road to your fishing hole). The large hole
produces a louder squeek that many buzzbait users swear improves their
results.

3. Crimp the rivet or bead behind the prop so it doesn't rotate with the
prop. The increased friction adds to the noise.

4. Especially at night, use a trailer blade on a buzzbait.... even those
that have a trailer blade over the hook. I probably hook 1/3 of my buzzbait
bass on the trailer hook. As they thrash around in the fight, the trailer
hook sometimes sinks home to provide insurance if the main hook tears loose.
A bass' aim in the dark of night isn't as good as during the daylight hours
or when there's light shining on the water, so the trailer hook turns some
near-misses into hook-ups.

Even though many anglers get a kick out of modifying their own baits, some
prefer to buy them ready to fish. We incorporate these features in the
buzzbaits we manufacture (as Henry and Harry pointed out in their posts).
One of our prostaffers fished Percy Priest yesterday with our
white/chartreuse buzzbait, and he got into some non-stop largemouth and
hybrid stiper action. After 40 big fish in two hours, his buzzbait still
looks new. I just posted a photo on ABPF. If you haven't seen them in stores
or online yet, read Rick McFerrin's article at
http://tennesseebassguides.com. He included photos that should give you a
better idea of what I described.

Charles and I plan on wearing out some Mohawksin bass with these baits in
about a month.

Joe


"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...

I don't know if I could do all that Joe, have a picture of it?
"Joe Haubenreich" (removethis)swljoe-at-secretweaponlures.com wrote in
message ...
Try a black buzzbait, Randy. Attach a spinner blade behind the buzzprop to
slow it down to a crawl. You can probably straighten the bent wire behind
the prop, replace the rivet with a beat, and have enough to bend into a
loop
to clip on an inline blade attachment. Be sure to use a trailer hook, too.

Joe
________________________________

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
Well I went out again last night, after the rain storm the lake was flat
calm so I opted to once again go with the jitterbug, Taking Rich Z's
advice
I slowed it down and what a difference. 7 good bass in about two hours.
Still had a bunch of fish that completely missed it, sometimes multiple
times. I even had 3 that came off after the initial strike, every fish
was
hooked on the rear treble. I'm going to try swapping out the hooks. Thanks


"Marty" wrote in message
...
I don't night fish, but the Jitterbug is by far my favorite topwater. If
you
don't already do so, I highly recommend adding split rings and replacing
the
factory hooks.

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...
Went out last night for some after dark fishing. Had quite a few fish
blow
up on the jitterbug, only two keepers and about 6 fish that came
unbuttoned.
Could not figure it out for the life of me. Tons of fish just missed it
completely. I don't do much night fishing, it was frustrating as hell

On Sat, 16 Jul 2005 13:16:13 -0500, "Joe Haubenreich"
(removethis)swljoe-at-secretweaponlures.com wrote:

Try a black buzzbait, Randy. Attach a spinner blade behind the buzzprop to
slow it down to a crawl. You can probably straighten the bent wire behind
the prop, replace the rivet with a beat, and have enough to bend into a loop
to clip on an inline blade attachment. Be sure to use a trailer hook, too.

Joe

That sounds a lot like my newest buzzbait. I have it tied in right
now!

Harry J aka Thundercat
Brooklyn Bill's Tackle Shop Fishing Team
http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com
Share the knowledge, compete on execution.

Joe Haubenreich wrote:

Try a black buzzbait, Randy. Attach a spinner blade behind the buzzprop to
slow it down to a crawl. You can probably straighten the bent wire behind
the prop, replace the rivet with a beat, and have enough to bend into a loop
to clip on an inline blade attachment. Be sure to use a trailer hook, too.

Joe
________________________________
I have a couple of buzz baits made like that - called Jumpin Jacks. They
were fairly popular a few years back around here. One difference was the
buzzbait blade was free moving - it was on a split ring, too, attached
to the upper arm.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

One of our folks in Alabama makes his own buzzbaits that way, too. Four or
five years ago, we tried something like that on our spinnerbaits. Severla
here have tried our buzzbait attachment that converts that lure into a
topwater bait. The only problem was.... you had to really keep it moving for
it to remain on top. My preference is to fish the buzzbait s-l-o-w-l-y, if
possible. The trailer blade helps, as does a frog chunk trailer.

Joe
_____________________________
"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
.. .
Joe Haubenreich wrote:

Try a black buzzbait, Randy. Attach a spinner blade behind the buzzprop to
slow it down to a crawl. You can probably straighten the bent wire behind
the prop, replace the rivet with a beat, and have enough to bend into a
loop
to clip on an inline blade attachment. Be sure to use a trailer hook, too.

Joe
________________________________
I have a couple of buzz baits made like that - called Jumpin Jacks. They
were fairly popular a few years back around here. One difference was the
buzzbait blade was free moving - it was on a split ring, too, attached
to the upper arm.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

"alwaysfishking" wrote in message
...

You know I suggested that jitterbug the other day after you mentioned a
dragonfly bite. Yesterday I was over at Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way, and looked
at their selection of jitterbugs. They had several that were patterned like
winged insects. All I could think was dragon fly.

--
Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com