Fall

The conditions were perfect for a buzzbait bite — post-frontal weather, a light chop on the water, and just enough surface distortion to hide the bait’s outline. A textbook setup.

Every time conditions line up like that, I start hoping the bass will commit to topwater. When they do — wow. There’s nothing like the explosion of a big fish hammering that bait across the surface.

Buzzbait Conditions

When It Works Best

• Low skies and low light, especially on a slightly cooler day
• Shallow fish holding near visible cover — the buzzbait flushes them out
• Over wood, vegetation, or any structure that gives fish a good ambush spot
• Light wind to flat calm water
• Stained or clear water where visibility varies

I like to keep things simple: a single-blade buzzbait, white or black depending on water and light. Sometimes I’ll add a fluke or spinnerbait-style trailer, but often I just run the skirt by itself. KVD swears by adding a trailer hook — it’s worth experimenting to see what gives you confidence.