Getsem Surface Buzz-N
Application: Primarily used to work surface cover such as duckweed, lilypads, and grasses.
Advantages: The 6" Getsem, normally used for this technique, is heavy enough to make long cast, is durable, and can be rigged Texas style with or without a bullet wt. To maximize presentation for type cover being fished, water depth, and mood of the fish. The weighted version unlike the conventional frogs can be dropped through cover to the fish. Also, rigged properly, the erratic action produced by the tail slapping the surface produces aggressive reaction strikes, many times even from relatively lethargic bass. Another very important benefit of this technique compared to frogs is the comparative ease of hook set.
Rigging: Rig a 6" Getsem Texas style with a 5/0 wide gap off set worm hook and 3/16 oz. bullet weight pegged at head of lure. Rig the Getsem with the flat part of the tail perpendicular to the surface. 6 ½' and 7' heavy action rods with 20-25# test line are recommended. Many people will use a tough extremely low stretch line, such as 30#+ Spyder line, Power Pro., or Lynch line for maximum hook set performance needed on long cast and heavy cover. Also, these lines are rarely damaged by backlash and have greater knot strength and durability.
How to Fish: Make long cast across cover. Hold rod high and hake tip as you retrieve lure medium to fast across surface. When fish strikes, kill the lure, drip rod, and set hook when you feel the fish. The most frequent mistake made is striking the fish too quickly. Other mistakes are inadequate line strength, rods too short and light to get hook set, and inadequate hook size. The Weightless version of this rig is more effective at times, normally, when using a slow to medium retrieve, especially in the spring. Many times, we will buzz the tail for the weightless presentation. Buzzing the tail creates more tail action at a slower retrieve. The weighted version is most popular, especially in summer and fall, due to the more erratic action from popping the worm wt., which causes the tail to slap the surface harder, resulting in aggressive reactive strike. This technique allows you t quickly cover large areas minimizing time required to locate and harvest fish.
Getsem Rippin:
Application: Catch bass holding in submerged grasses.
Advantages: Triggers reaction strikes.
Rigging: Rig big cutdown Getsem on a ½ to ¾ ounce jig head and buzz the tail.
How to Fish: Cast to submerged grass and count down. Using 7 ½ foot medium heavy to heavy action rod with high speed reel, rip the lure in long swinging sweeps just as it falls to top of grass taking up slack as you reposition rod for subsequent sweeps. When this techniques is clicking, it produces violent strikes and big fish.
Buzz Bait Super Buzzn:
Take 4 ½" to 6" Getsem depending on size of Buzz Bait being used. Cut appropriate section of body between the head skirt and tail skirt. Heat and weld lure head and tail section back together. The main body of this modified Getsem should fit the Buzz bait hook perfectly leaving the tail extending beyond hook point. Rig with flat part of tail perpendicular to surface of water. Convert paddle tail to sputter buzz tail. Totally replace skirt of buzz bait with this modified Getsem and get the front and rear buzz action for a unique and effective presentation.
Super Carolina Rigging:
Position a 2nd 3-way swivel approximately 1 to 3 feet above the weight on a regular Carolina rig. Rig a 2nd lure on a 6" to 18" drop off this swivel allowing you to offer two sizes, types, and colors at once.
Getsem Dropshot Jigging:
Application: Primarily used when lure needs to stay in strike zone longer to coax fish into biting. Especially effective on bedding fish.
Advantages: Enables you to off two different sizes, colors, and positions at once.
Rigging: Rig a big cut down Getsem on a 3/8 to 9/16 jighead. Dropshot at 4 ½" Getsem above this. Especially effective on bedding fish using pearl and watermelon colors.
