My first tip to anyone who is going to use a spinnerbait or buzzbait for pike, bass or any kind of predator fishing, is to add a split-tail trailer to the lure as well as a stinger hook. The most effective way to add the stinger hook is to first take a large-eyed hook such as a swash hook, which is just a bit smaller than the main hook. Once the plastic trailer has been slid onto the main hook, slide the stinger hook on with the point facing the same direction as the main hook. Next, take a small piece of silicon tube about 3mm in length and slide this over the main hook. This will prevent the stinger hook from coming off during fishing. I find this method much better than locking the stinger hook in place. The hook now has more play and will fish better over structure than a rigid hook. Adding a stinger hook to the back of your lure will definitely eliminate those short strikes by about 90% and I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to make sure your hooks are razor sharp. Personally, I never leave for a fishing trip without a good hook file in my bag.

I personally do not like to use a leader on smaller fish (1lb to 5lb) if I can get away with it. The fish can usually see the leader in highly fished areas and also in clear water. It can also interfere with the action and running of smaller baits. I have lost very few small fish without the use of a leader. Most predatory fish strike with incredible accuracy.

If you are fishing an area known to hold or produce large fish (5lb to 20lb), I would definitely suggest using a leader, as these "big boys" will sometimes inhale the whole thing. I do not believe however, that you need to use 40lb or 50lb leaders. I would suggest a short 20lb to 30lb test fine steel leader in conjunction with 15-20lb main line. Use a good multiplier/bait caster reel and a medium to medium-heavy action 7ft casting rod. These will be more than adequate in most situations.

My suggestion is to use the Euro Canadian Outfitters Pike Leader. If you have less on your line, your chances of catching on snags and weeds will be greatly reduced. You will also have more luck if your leader is finer and less visible.

Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are both excellent lures for fishing weedy, woody and generally snaggy areas due to their overall design. It is very easy to run these baits around most areas that would be impossible to fish using other lures such as crankbaits or jerkbaits. When fishing areas with wood, brush and reeds etc., cast beyond these obstacles and retrieve your lure directly through them. Let the lure make contact with these obstacles and if the water is deep enough, let it flutter down for a second or two after striking an object, as this can actually cause a fish to strike out of anger or as a reflex.

I find the buzzbait lure to be the more exciting of the two, strictly because I don't think you can beat the thrill of a top-water hit! It's also the easiest one to retrieve. It is important to remember that once you have achieved a comfortable retrieval speed and get that lure buzzing across the surface smoothly, there is no guarantee that you will land all hits unless you follow a couple of important tips on how to set the hook.

With the spinnerbait you usually set the hook as soon as you feel the weight of the fish. With the buzzbait the technique is much different. The first thing you see when a fish hits a top-water lure is a splash or a swirl and this is where most anglers make the fatal mistake of setting the hook too early, hence pulling the lure away from the fish. You must wait until you feel the weight of the fish before you heave back on your rod. This is quite difficult to master, so until that point, expect to lose a few fish!

With the spinnerbaits there are quite a few variations on how to retrieve them. It's not always just a case of throwing the lure out and reeling it in. Although this works in most cases, here are a few tips that can put the odds of catching in you favour. When you know that the fish are active, try using a fast retrieve just under the surface. This is referred to as burning the spinnerbait and allows you to cover water quickly. If your lure starts to roll at high speed, try twisting a piece of lead wire around the shaft of the main hook near the head. This extra weight allows the bait to be retrieved faster and will keep it running true. On colder days, try slowing your retrieve right down, virtually crawling the bait. Then reel the lure up and let it flutter down and try speeding it up for a second, then slowing it down again, as all of these things can trigger a strike from an otherwise lethargic fish.

When fishing over weeds, don't be afraid to throw your bait right in the thickest of foliage and rip it back when you feel it getting hung up. This is an unbelievable way of getting a fish to strike. Also, try reeling it across large weed flats, letting the lure flutter down into any openings and pockets you might see. You never know what might be hiding down there. Remember, fish relate to any kind of structure.

When fishing fallen wood and stumps etc., cast towards it and bounce it over and through the obstacles causing the blades to bang and ding off the various surfaces. This will generally encourage a hit.

When fishing with any kind of lure such as the ones mentioned, I feel that it is imperative to have a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Without them you will never know just how many fish will follow your bait to the boat or bank.

If you do see a fish follow up to the boat or shore, do not stop reeling. This is a very common mistake and will often result in the fish turning away. The idea is to do completely the opposite and actually speed up your retrieve. This seems to anger the fish into striking. If you are in a boat or have deep enough water near the shore and the fish is very close, stick your rod in the water and make a figure eight continuous motion in the water with about 12 inches of line between your rod tip and your lure. You will not believe just how many big pike and muskie have been caught this way, so close to the boat or shore. Just remember not to have your clutch/drag set too tight.

Another thing that I truly believe is that by adding some kind of attractant to your lure, it will tremendously improve your chances of hooking a fish. Giving your bait a squirt of some kind of bait fish scent will not only be more appealing to the fish following it but they will also hang onto it longer, giving you a few more seconds to set the hook. Sometimes this is just what you need.

It is important to check that your bait is tuned correctly. You can check this by holding the head and looking straight down at it. If the wire looks twisted in any way simply bend it back into position to avoid it from rolling on retrieve. After hooking a few big fish, your bait may get a bit bent out of shape. To avoid this, I personally use titanium spinnerbaits since they never bend out of shape.

I hope that these tips help to improve your fishing skills and I wish you the best of luck on your next fishing expedition!

Author: Shaun Rickard