Froggin

[The Young Gun]

I'm a fifteen year old male from northern Wisconsin.

I've been fishing pretty hard for 2 years now, mainly bass and walleye. Everything I know about fishing has come from reading books, internet, and self experience. Never was taught by my father or grandpa or male figure. So here I am today with a question for someone with lots of knowledge.

I see all these bass masters using topwater frogs and I watch in awe at how effective they are, but whenever I try them I never get anything. Can someone give me some more info about what kinda setup line wise and retreive wise to be most effective?

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I use 50# braid with a 7' MH and a 7'2" MH rod. Use the walk-the-dog or popping retrieve. If they are hitting topwater they will hit the frog.

[M-D]

In my experiences...mono or braid is preferred. I like mono, it floats.

Go heavy on the line too if you are fishing in heavy weeds / mats.

Early, late and periods during heavy overcast or rain are when I have my best results. Poor results during bright conditions.

Action...I've had times where they want it worked very fast and other times where I had to throw it out and let it sit long periods with an occasional pop or two then sit until you can't take it any longer.

Hope this helps, YMMV.

[The Young Gun]

With the frogs so light is there any way to add weight to increase casting distance?

[BASSHUNTER1961]

If you add weight they will sink, or sit too low in the water. You should have no problem with casting distance with the correct rod.

[Bair]

With the frogs so light is there any way to add weight to increase casting distance?

That shouldn't be a problem. Most hollow-bodied frogs weigh 1/2-3/4 oz. Even Zoom horny toads weigh enough to cast.

[The Young Gun]

I recently bought a Strike King KVD frog, and was wondering, does the rubber skirt help compared to frogs without it? or is it a personal prefrence?

[BASSHUNTER1961]

Cut the skirt off and see if you can get a little more distance LOL...... Just kidding, don't do that. I would have to say you would get a bit more distance without the skirt cause there would be less drag. I do not think it's an issue though. I cast all my frogs 25-30 yards using baitcast gear, and I can throw them further if needed. Work on your accuracy, and don't get so caught up on distance.

[John A. Bertolino]

ok so im new to the whole bass fihing thing i mean i have fished as a kid but gave it up for years then just got back into it anyone got any helpful tips cuz seems like i have tried everything from froggs to rubber worms to rubber crawfish got small bites but never landed anything any help would be great thanks

[Sam]

Go to this web site regarding frog fishing.

John is a trip and he talks to you like a normal person and is not hawking any products.

http://www.hogbass.com/

Send him an email and get on his mailing list. He also used to have conference calls and if so, join in.

Good luck and remember, let the bass take the frog and set the hook when you feel pressure and cannot see the frog any longer. A white frog can help you do this.

[Bair]

I recently bought a Strike King KVD frog, and was wondering, does the rubber skirt help compared to frogs without it? or is it a personal prefrence?

Yeah, I believe it helps

[jignfule]

Might want to try the new "spro baby frog popper" It's easy to walk-the-dog and we have been tearing it up with them.

[A-Rob]

I fish a Ish Monroe Phat Frog right now and have been happy with it

65# test, 7'0 MH rod, baitcasting reel

San Diego Jam knot

I throw it anywhere I can't get a worm....so heavy pads, mats, or open water with thick weeds under the surface.

Just fish it around "fishy" looking areas and you'll get hit eventually.

Stick to fishing it with Largies tho, small mouth will pop it but never (rarely) eat it good enough to get a hook into it. Better to switch to a jitterbug, spook etc for smallies.

[A-Rob]

Oh! Make long casts in more open areas

I roll cast the frog when fishing the bank and fire it up against the structure, it even skips real good

[The Young Gun]

Why is evryone using such large pound test on these little frogs? 65# braid? 50# braid? whats wrong with baic 20lb braid or 15lb mono? or fluro?

[tnbassfisher]

Go to this web site regarding frog fishing.

John is a trip and he talks to you like a normal person and is not hawking any products.

http://www.hogbass.com/

Send him an email and get on his mailing list. He also used to have conference calls and if so, join in.

Good luck and remember, let the bass take the frog and set the hook when you feel pressure and cannot see the frog any longer. A white frog can help you do this.

I had seen his youtube videos a while back, but had never seen that site. Thanks for posting.

Why is evryone using such large pound test on these little frogs? 65# braid? 50# braid? whats wrong with baic 20lb braid or 15lb mono? or fluro?

You are typically throwing frogs in and around the "junk" (brush, lily pads, etc.). Because of this you want to make sure that you have enough abrasion resistance to keep from having one break off after wrapping around an obstruction. Braided line allows you to have much more strength at a smaller diameter.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

Also, 20# braid is sooooo small in diameter that it digs into itself on the spool after landing a sizable fish,or ripping one out of the junk....

[BassHunter_Hunt]

I added tube rattles in one of my frogs to make a bunch of noise to catch the attention of any stalkers around.

[BassinLou]

I use 50# PP, with a 7'4" H St. Croix rage. You need to use strong rod with backbone because as you will soon find out you will be put in a situation that a bass will decide to hit in a heavily thick area of pads, branches, or grass and if your not properly prepared you will lose.

[iceintheveins]

Trust me, even with 1 - 3 pounders, you need the extra strength to horse bass out of the thick weeds and brush, or they will bury you and you will often lose them. Plus, braid gives you a MUCH better hookset due to lack of stretch.

You need the heavy action rod and the heavy line, believe me! You will be extra glad you have it when a 4 - 6 or maybe bigger bass blows up on your frog. I use a 7' heavy action graphite, a 6.4:1 baitcast reel, and 50 pound power pro and a 20 pound mono leader. It's easy to cast most frogs on this, even a 5/16 ounce scum frog.

[iceintheveins]

As far as retrieves, I generally believe in frog fishing slow retrieves are better. I like to walk the dog a little bit , slooowly. When I am in thick weeds, I use a chugging or bobbing retrieve, meaning I will move it enough on the weeds to create some disturbance, then let it sit for 15-30 seconds. When I am in a pocket, I walk the dog till I hit the edge, then I will let the frog sit for 30 seconds to a minute. Same thing when I am nearing and edge in the weeds. The other major pattern in frog fishing besides fishing matted weeds is pitching or skipping the frog back into shaded pockets near the banks during the day. Bass will often sit in these, and you will often get bit as soon as the frog splats down on the water or you move it a little bit. The bigger the shaded pockets and the deeper, the better IMO. Once you leave the productive area, quickly reel the frog in and pitch or cast it back to the pocket or weedmat.

[The Young Gun]

I live 2 hours from st. croix wisconsin where there big factory is and i wanted to get one of those rods! I have low income, so if I buy a 40lb braid, for frogs.. can I also use that for texas rigging and stuff in other situations? and is a 20lb mono leader a big help?

[The Young Gun]

Trust me, even with 1 - 3 pounders, you need the extra strength to horse bass out of the thick weeds and brush, or they will bury you and you will often lose them. Plus, braid gives you a MUCH better hookset due to lack of stretch.

You need the heavy action rod and the heavy line, believe me! You will be extra glad you have it when a 4 - 6 or maybe bigger bass blows up on your frog. I use a 7' heavy action graphite, a 6.4:1 baitcast reel, and 50 pound power pro and a 20 pound mono leader. It's easy to cast most frogs on this, even a 5/16 ounce scum frog.

I use 50# PP, with a 7'4" H St. Croix rage. You need to use strong rod with backbone because as you will soon find out you will be put in a situation that a bass will decide to hit in a heavily thick area of pads, branches, or grass and if your not properly prepared you will lose.

is a leader a good thing and saves the expensive braid if snagged?

[BassinLou]

Since your on a budget, you can use mono for texas rigging and straight braid for froggin. If you can stretch your budget a little bit more get some FC or better yet and it will be cheaper for you, get the yozuri hybrid line. I have recently been trying that line out for my leaders and I have had success.

[mikey5string]

I use 30lb power pro and have never broken off on anything. I fish frogs a LOT and throw them in some nasty lookin stuff. I have pulled a 16' aluminum boat in to a few trees with it and gotten my frog back.

One of my favorite presentations is throwing it on shore and hopping it in. This is especially deadly when there is a steep drop off near shore and cover for the bass to hide. Bass will wait for frogs to jump in the water and nail them. I get hits as soon as the frog touches the water.

I used to be a "frogs only work at dusk" guy. I thought of them as kind of a fun, gimmicky bait. That changed this season when I really gave it a chance and threw it at any place I would think a frog might be. It has been my #1 producer this year by far. I have a frog permanently tied on a rod and always bring it.

I rarely fish frogs in open water and will usually throw it at some pads/grass twitch it a few times and reel in to throw at another target. From my experience, if it doesnt happen within the first 5 seconds, it aint gonna happen.

Frogs are my #1 summertime bait in ponds or lakes with vegetation along the banks. Look for water that is at least 18" deep under the pads the deeper it is right next to the bank the better. There can be situations where the water gets too shallow to hold bass. Dip your rod in, if the water doesnt cover at least to the 4th guide, its probably too shallow and warm for a healthy bass population.

If youre pond/lake has lily pads or weeds near a bank in water 2' or more and youre not catching bass on a frog, find a new hobby ; )