First Hits on topwater frog!

[ib_of_the_damned]

Finally started getting hits on my topwater frog(hollow body) I was working a floating grass/weed mat and every hole i stopped the frog at got hit.  I missed every single fish, at least four fish.  What do you guys suggest as far as hooking up after the hit?

[packman]

Wait in till you can feel the weight of the fish before you set the hook.

[senko_77]

9 out of 10 times it's because your not getting a good hookset.  You may think you are, but when that fish hits, you need to reel up that slack and absolutely knock the fire out of him.  Make sure that when you reel down, you feel the fish's weight because sometimes the fish will blow up on it to "stun" the frog, then come back and really eat it.  Keep playing around with it and you will get it down.  There is an art to it, but once you've mastered it, you will really catch some nice bags with the frog. 

[ib_of_the_damned]

Thanks for the insight on the frog fishing Senko77, appreciate the help.  Got another question for you and anyone else who can help.  What would you guys follow up a missed frog strike with?

[senko_77]

Thanks for the insight on the frog fishing Senko77, appreciate the help. Got another question for you and anyone else who can help. What would you guys follow up a missed frog strike with?

Usually they will eat the frog again, but you can never go wrong with any kind of weightless soft plastic thrown close to the scene of the crime

[BriBass]

Thanks for the insight on the frog fishing Senko77, appreciate the help. Got another question for you and anyone else who can help. What would you guys follow up a missed frog strike with?

Usually they will eat the frog again, but you can never go wrong with any kind of weightless soft plastic thrown close to the scene of the crime

x2

[iceintheveins]

A fluke is a great throw back bait. When froggin' you gotta be using braid, and wait till you feel that bass after the take. Then hammer the hook home.

[endless]

When I fished using frogs using my spros and if I missed the hit, I would pause cause I had a few come back for a second try.

[phoneman]

I had a couple topwater action for my hollow body last night.

they didnt take it, but struck the heck out of it. after waiting and seeing if they would come back for round 2, they didnt.

tried to follow up with senko. but maybe the bass suspected entrapment.  >

[Red Bear]

When froggin' you gotta be using braid

no you dont

[Gatorbassman]

When froggin' you gotta be using braid

no you dont

Then what do you suggest?

[Catt]

9 out of 10 times it's because your not getting a good hookset. You may think you are, but when that fish hits, you need to reel up that slack and absolutely knock the fire out of him. Make sure that when you reel down, you feel the fish's weight because sometimes the fish will blow up on it to "stun" the frog, then come back and really eat it. Keep playing around with it and you will get it down. There is an art to it, but once you've mastered it, you will really catch some nice bags with the frog.

Thanks for the insight on the frog fishing Senko77, appreciate the help. Got another question for you and anyone else who can help. What would you guys follow up a missed frog strike with?

Usually they will eat the frog again, but you can never go wrong with any kind of weightless soft plastic thrown close to the scene of the crime

X3

[Gangley]

When froggin' you gotta be using braid

no you dont

it generally helps out a lot if you do.

[Red Bear]

When froggin' you gotta be using braid

no you dont

Then what do you suggest?

while braid might be preferred by many for frogs, you dont 'have to' or 'gotta' use it to have success with frogs is all im saying. to clarify, my comment is based on how iceintheveins worded his sentence. if he had said "when froggin braid is probably the best line to use" i probably would have not even replied. but to blatantly say or even imply you cant catch fish on a frog without braid like he did, i felt it was a fallacy or inaccuracy. plus for me if its top water frogs, i feel like hooking the fish is more about timing and focus than the line youre using. then again, maybe im more ignorant towards the subject than i think, ive had just as many good days as bad days with frogs...

[iceintheveins]

When froggin' you gotta be using braid

no you dont

Then what do you suggest?

while braid might be preferred by many for frogs, you dont 'have to' or 'gotta' use it to have success with frogs is all im saying. to clarify, my comment is based on how iceintheveins worded his sentence. if he had said "when froggin braid is probably the best line to use" i probably would have not even replied. but to blatantly say or even imply you cant catch fish on a frog without braid like he did, i felt it was a fallacy or inaccuracy. plus for me if its top water frogs, i feel like hooking the fish is more about timing and focus than the line youre using. then again, maybe im more ignorant towards the subject than i think, ive had just as many good days as bad days with frogs...

That's more what I meant, is that braid is BEST, but not required.

[7mm-08]

Welcome to the addiction.    There really is a bit of timing you need to acquire to have a good hookup ratio.  I usually work the bait with my rod relatively high.  When I get a strike I reel down to take the slack out of the line and get my rod tip in position for the hookset.  As soon as I feel the fish, I attempt to dislocate his jaw. 

Also, correct equipment will make a huge difference.  A good rod with decent backbone and low or no-stretch line will up your hookup % mightily.

[ib_of_the_damned]

Welcome to the addiction. There really is a bit of timing you need to acquire to have a good hookup ratio. I usually work the bait with my rod relatively high. When I get a strike I reel down to take the slack out of the line and get my rod tip in position for the hookset. As soon as I feel the fish, I attempt to dislocate his jaw.

Also, correct equipment will make a huge difference. A good rod with decent backbone and low or no-stretch line will up your hookup % mightily.

It was awesome to see the bass hitting my frog and actually taking into their mouths. I felt the fish a couple times and I guess I got too excited and set too fast. Anyways I believe my setup was not the reason. I have a 6'6" MH/XF Vendetta w/ Daiwa Exceler high speed and 10lb. Yo-Zuri Hybrid. The frog was the BPS Kermy Frog. I want to try either the spro or tru tungsten frogs.

[Bass Junkie]

7MM-08 is 100% correct. At least a MH rod with braid will get you 3X the fish most days. Although I have caught fish on a M action plastics rod..... Don't suggest it though.

[jignfule]

When froggin' you gotta be using braid

no you dont

Then what do you suggest?

while braid might be preferred by many for frogs, you dont 'have to' or 'gotta' use it to have success with frogs is all im saying. to clarify, my comment is based on how iceintheveins worded his sentence. if he had said "when froggin braid is probably the best line to use" i probably would have not even replied. but to blatantly say or even imply you cant catch fish on a frog without braid like he did, i felt it was a fallacy or inaccuracy. plus for me if its top water frogs, i feel like hooking the fish is more about timing and focus than the line youre using. then again, maybe im more ignorant towards the subject than i think, ive had just as many good days as bad days with frogs...

That's more what I meant, is that braid is BEST, but not required.

May I have an aspirin, please

[Bass Junkie]

LOL. We all just need to fish more often.......

[Red Bear]

That's more what I meant, is that braid is BEST, but not required.

i probably just took it too literal at the time, its all good, sorry for the confusion folks.

[River Rat316]

Save up for a rod that's at least 7' and H action, I prefer a mod fast or fast tip with braid. I use 65lb Power Pro for froggin, some may say its overkill, but it won't break on a bad cast, and gives a little piece of mind when a hawg has you wrapped around some pad stems. One other thing not mentioned here is after the hookset (which needs to be hard) you really need to keep the pressure on the fish, if you give them the chance to turn there head and get some pull against you the battle just became ten times harder. Bigger fish will instantly dig down into the weeds and wrap you up, this is another reason I recommend at least a 7' rod, you get a lot more leverage the longer you go!

[Rhody]

for me it was a 7 foot rod mh with a fast tip that improved my catch ratio significantly. coupled with the spro bronze eye... usually i have better success with the jr half ounce model

[Rhody]

Welcome to the addiction. There really is a bit of timing you need to acquire to have a good hookup ratio. I usually work the bait with my rod relatively high. When I get a strike I reel down to take the slack out of the line and get my rod tip in position for the hookset. As soon as I feel the fish, I attempt to dislocate his jaw.

Also, correct equipment will make a huge difference. A good rod with decent backbone and low or no-stretch line will up your hookup % mightily.

It was awesome to see the bass hitting my frog and actually taking into their mouths. I felt the fish a couple times and I guess I got too excited and set too fast. Anyways I believe my setup was not the reason. I have a 6'6" MH/XF Vendetta w/ Daiwa Exceler high speed and 10lb. Yo-Zuri Hybrid. The frog was the BPS Kermy Frog. I want to try either the spro or tru tungsten frogs.

imo the tru tungsten frog does not have the same action as a spro frog, and the body is much harder which doesn't allow as much compression of the frogs body during the hook set.

[ib_of_the_damned]

Thanks for all the suggestions and help so far, Im still learning to fish the frog so all these tips are being used. Here is an example of the stuff im fishing my frog through at the local city lake.