Frog Novice

[Mitch f]

I'm the first to admit that I'm a frog novice. Because I usually fish rivers, I rarely fish areas with a lot of lily pads or scum on the top of the water.

I bought a great looking SPRO frog for $10 the other day and used it for the first time today. I use a local civic park pond to test out my new lures and gave it a try. Like most all of my top water baits I usually try to walk the dog with it. The SPRO frog walks well, as long as you trim the rubber leg strands a bit. My first 2 casts produced 2 big blowups and each time the bass took the bait under the water. Both times I set the hook to have the lure fly right back at me. Man, the hook up percentage on this bait must be pretty poor. I'm obviously not waiting long enough or something. I'm also pretty sure my rod was not stout enough. Any suggestions?

[countryred]

Frog fishing is exciting. Stiff rod and braid helps. Also when a blow up occurs, reel fast until you feel weight and bust'em.

[Ham]

You better throw it on braid or you're going to get your heart broken. You need at least a MH rod, but it doesn't have to be a pool cue.

Sometimes fish do short strike, but they'll also crush it at times so it may have been fish behavior or operator error. Still a very fun way to fish.

[fishinwrench]

If you're playing with frog baits you HAVE TO try the Stanley Bull Ribbit on the "double take" hook. That thing is outrageous. And if they miss it just stop and let it slow-fall about 10", they'll almost always get it on the second try. I love that bait!

[dtrs5kprs]

We do a lot of frog fishing in the summer around KC, once our Table Rock trips wind down. Usually a 7' or so rod with 20# seaguar (these are small boat trips and same rod doubles for pitching, thus the fluoro) or 30# power pro. Get into the back end of the frog and shove a jig rattle (the plastic snap in collar type) and a few each of 8mm glass beads and BB's. Makes a huge difference, just make sure it still floats. We mostly use the old Scum Frog because they are cheap and work, with an upgrade to an Owner or Gamak frog hook, and a big split ring up front to let it wiggle around. Hard to beat black or a green color. For whatever reason in the smaller lakes we do not fare as well with the "new" frogs with skirted legs.

Lots of blow ups to 1 hook up is the rule, but it is crazy fun to watch. There are some days when they just flat eat it down almost every time, especially in duck weed. Those are special.

Hotter the better. We usually start in July when things get good and matted over. After July 4 is about right. Last August was awesome.

For us it is a tool to fish cover, not so much the new age topwater thing folks are into. There are better topwater baits than a frog for sure.

[John Andrews]

For what it's worth, i use the smaller xpo frogs $3.99 at acadamy sports. I hook 'em dang near every strike. My reason for this, since they are a smeller frog the fish gets it in their mouth better. I am DONE with KVD, Spro. But if you must pay that kind of money for those oversized frogs, rub a bit of KVD fish sticks on it. They seem to hang on to it a bit longer.

[John Andrews]

I myself catch a LOT of bass at a "SPOT" on Springfirld lake. Since I release all my fish I rarely give up my "Honey holes" I see to many beer swilling idiots out there, keeping fish that are NOT LEGAL SIZE. Besides that I like knowing I can paddle over there knowing I will catch fish every time. As far as color of frogs go buy the ones that look NATURAL how many friiggin pink, yellow, and purple frogs you see around here LOL. the retrive that works the best for me goes like this

Cast and let it SET STILL until the disturbed water calms. 2 or 3 Short, firm jerks. and pause for a couple of seconds ( frogs dont hydroplane on top of the water, they swim in it ) keep doing this until you get close to your kayak/boat/ etc. if your in the lilly pads and your frog scoots up on top of one STOP!!!!!!!! use very TINY jerks while on the lilly pad just enough to make the pad shake a little. Once your frog comes off the pad STOP AGAIN. My best bass have been caught as soon as it comes off the pad. There are some people the bend the frogs hooks up from the body a little to improve hook sets. YOU WILL LOSE MORE FROGS THIS WAY!!!!!!!!!!

[Mitch f]

Thanks for the advice guys!

[stlfisher]

I use almost exclusively Zoom's horny toad. If they aren't hitting them on top just swim them back with soft little pulls (you can't really do this with any other frog bait that will look natural). My go to bait when pond or river fishing. I catch more fish swiming them subsurface than on top. I like these better than the spro type baits, but just my preferance.

[John Andrews]

Update on the frog lures I use they are H20 lures NOT XPO sorry for the mis-info just bought more today at adacamy