Buzzbaits don’t all run in a straight line. A lot has to do with how the blade is cupped. When fish are taking buzzbaits, it’s important to have one that veers to the right and another that goes in the opposite direction, as well as one that tracks straight.

There will be times when it’s advantageous to use one or the other, depending on the cover you’re fishing. For instance, if you want to fish the shady side of a dock, and it’s on the right, use a left-handed buzzbait because it will stay in the strike zone longer. If you’re positioned to come down a riprap bank from left to right, use a right-running buzzbait because it will hug the bank better. You can also tune the wire of a buzzbait a bit so you can run it how you want to.

However, sometimes you just want the buzzbait to run straight and true. And there are buzzbaits that will do that right out of the package. I’ve found that Boogerman buzzbaits will run straight, for instance, and so will most double-bladed buzzbaits. Using the right buzzbait will definitely help you when you’re fishing linear cover of any type.

—- Straight Talk pro Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala.