Dvo509

I threw it for smallmouth on FFS. It’s pretty cool to be able to get a jerkbait style bait down 40ft to the smallmouth. Unfortunately they were not on any sort of a minnow bite that day. They were definitely after something on the bottom. So I didn’t play with it very long. I am sure it will have its time to shine. I could see someone also using it around docks like an ikea or a flying lure as well.

I really like the queen tackle LS tungsten underspin.

3” Yamamoto Zako

Curious to see what new lures this season everyone is trying that is either new to the market or new to them? I personal can’t wait to try the G Rat Pistol Pete 5.25”(new to me) and 6 Sense Axle Swim Jig(I am a big fan of the Divine Swim Jig from 6 Sense).

I am taking a swim jig with a beaver or a drop shot

This thread made me want to share my favorite frog fish of all time!

735 Dobyns Sierra for open water and docks 736 Champion for dirty work Revo STX- 7.3.1 (I think it has a 24lb drag) Fish Lab Rattle Toad for most applications. Very very easy walking frog and good weight to it for casting. Durable as well. Good In open water and vegetation. Only time I reallly go away from it is if I am fishing heavier mats or want a Teckel style or popping frog(mostly when there is a tiny bit of chop on the water). For the thick layered dollar pads and mats I throw the River2Sea Mat Daddy. It’s a bigger flatter keel frog that doesn’t roll on mats. Honorable Mention-The MB Big Gabbot, Molix Rattlin Pop I tend to catch better fish the slower work that frog. Cast…Pause, Walk Walk Pause, Walk Walk Pause, Walk Pause. Walk Walk Walk Pause. I mix it up like a Jerkbait. No swinging side Hook sets for me. I believe the frog rolls in fish’s mouth and I tend to only burry one hook point in side or bottom of fish’s mouth. If I work the frog from 5-7 o’clock and set the hook at 11-1 o’clock I am much more likely to drive both hook points in roof of fish’s mouth. I don’t wait on them. Once I see that frog disappear I thumb that reel and Jack them. I don’t ever really reel down to my hook set either. No playing with the fish. It’s coming into the boat ASAP. If no one is there with the net it’s getting boat flipped if possible.

Don’t sleep on the floating jerkbaits.

Completely normal sound when casting. It always trips out my buddies when I start throwing it. It’s a complete trash Jerkbait. No need to ever bring it up again?

Honestly the thing that helped me the most throwing a frog was not reeling down and waiting to set the hook. I naturally walk the frog with rod tip down and to left. For what ever reason I can put better action on the frog that way. I wish I could walk it at 6 o’clock as good as I do at 7 o’clock. I tend to work it slow and if you are working a frog slow enough that braid is going on to your reel a little loose. So I would have a little slack in on line on the water and on my reel spool. So instead of reeling down and waiting to set the hook I thumb that spool as hard as possible and almost whip set it right when I see the frog disappear. For what ever reason it just works really well for me and My hook up ratio went way up. More times than not when I lose a frog fish it’s because the fish either buried me in thick vegetation and I can’t crank the fish and all that slop in. Usually if I miss them in the hook set now they are either too small, slapping at it, or just grabbing the legs. I am also cranking that thing as hard and as fast as I can into the boat. No playing around. I would also say a hook set at 11 to 1 o’clock is very important . If you go 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock or lower that frog is going to roll in the fish mouth and you are most likely going to only catch one of the hook points. It’s a bad habit to have and fight it all the time. Instead of having both hooks penetrate to top of the fish’s mouth you tend catch the side of the fish’s mouth or even the bottom. these are just all my theories from experience.

My color biases: -Black and blue works on cloudy and sunny days because It’s always dark and overcast under docks and in the shade. -chartreuse is just white to fish -There are only two colors of top water frogs needed. White and Black(I do own a lot more though)

ALX Zolo Jerkbait Lure: 3/8 - 3/4 oz,Length: 6'9”, Power: Medium,Action: Fast

I own the Sierra 735 and the Champion 736. I honestly use both of them equally. If I am frogging in sparse cover/open water, or around docks I am using the Sierra 735. It is IMO easier to walk a frog on the 735 because of the blank. It’s a little slower action. When I am throwing around heavy cover and thick pad fields I have the Champ 736 in my hands. It is a little more difficult to walk a frog at first with the 736 than the 735 because of the faster tip. However that might have been just because I owned the 735 a couple years before the 736 and I was use to that actions. Once you get that 736 comfortable in your hands I would say thats the superior frog rod. You can pull a fish out of most thick weeds and pads with the 736. I do believe the Sierra 735 is more versatile rod than the champ 736 but as a straight frog rod I would go with the 736. When frogging I honestly have them both on the deck at all times and I go back and forth depending on what I am fishing or what frogs I have tied on.

I would say a big soft swimbait like a Hawghunter or hudd style bait. It takes a lot of patience to slow roll(most the time) for less bites.

I love my costas but to my knowledge Bajio Sunglasses is a new company started by people that started Costa after they sold the company. Not sure how true this is but a local Tackle Shop that sells their sunglasses told me this. They also have glass lenses. I still wear costas and the best lens in my opinion around is the green 580g. Also the the Silver sunrise Glass lens is money in low light.