Buzzbaits really shine in the fall beginning about the end of September up through the middle of November or even later, depending on the weather. The shad are on the move in the shallows again when the water cools down, and the bass follow them.
My favorite buzzbait rig is a 7-foot heavy-action Damiki Dark Angel rod and an Abu Garcia Revo STX reel. It’s got a gear ratio of 7.1-to-1, and that’s important. You want to be able to get the buzzbait on top fast and keep it there without working yourself to death. I also use a Damiki buzzbait in natural-shad color and tie it to 20-pound-test Berkley Big Game monofilament.
As for where to fish, just watch for shad flipping or bass busting them on top. Then haul off, throw the buzzbait as far as you can, and crank it back in. The bass will do the rest.
— Damiki pro and AOY Bryan Thrift