Frog Fishing

[MichiganFishing1997]

I have been fishing the algae matts at my local creek. I only hooked onto one fish and landed it. All if the others either missed the frog when I was dragging it across the matts, or I missed the hookset. 3/4 of the time it was just the fish completely missing the bait, the other few times I just missed the fish. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I went like 1/25 on hookups today.

[Kevin22]

First, what type of frog are you fishing? 

 

I'll tell you how I do it. When the fish takes it I let him have it for 2-3 seconds while reeling down on him, when I feel him on the end I drive the hooks home. 

 

9 times out of 10 they will grab the frog short and take it under, then suck it in once they turn their heads under the weeds. 

 

If the fish just arent taking the frog all the way, even after you are waiting, then you need to switch lures. Maybe a smaller frog, a different profile frog, a different color frog.. something is wrong. Or maybe your fish are just too small for the frog. 

[MichiganFishing1997]

I'm using yum buzzfrogs. And I will try letting them have it a little more next time.

[Kevin22]

With buzz frogs I watch my line. After the fish hits I let him run about a foot and then nail him on semi-slack line. A 7:*:1 reel is necessary because once you set the hook on semi-slack line you have about a half a second to get tight on him before he hits the surface and spits it. I get much better hooksets with semi-slack than with tight line on buzzers. 

 

Another thing, make sure you have the correct hook. It has to have enough gap and be rigged so the hook will pop out and get him with little effort. A lot of my hook-ups on buzzfrogs are not in the corner of the mouth. Most are in the top, throat, or bottom. This comes from popping the hook fully though the frog and then lightly skin hooking it. That fish will take the frog in all sorts of ways and it is important to be able to hook him however the frog is positioned in his mouth. 

[200racing]

yeah it think you they are telling you they are there and feeding but not totally into what your throwing.i would either have a weightless soft plastic ready for a follow up or throw a hollow body frog i work slower and could let sit.

[haydenf96]

Wait to set the hook. I wait until I see the line moving or feel the fish. It takes practice!

[Topwaterspook]

If I may chime in, the frog I rely on the most in heavy summer mats is a Seizmic Toad. There are two colors that float. One is white the other is "southern toad". There are two sizes. The body of water I'm fishing dictates which I use. I prefer a round bend, offset shank hook. I personally just have a better hook-up ratio with this type hook. The great thing about a "floating" frog is the ability to let it sit motionless. Where I fish, this can be a great triggering tactic. Good luck with the frog fishing. For sheer fun, it's one of the best ways to fish.

[AK-Jax86]

1 for 25 isn't a good ratio lol

I usually wait a few seconds before I attempt to set the hook, more often than not it works on some cases the bass will spit the frog out before you can set hook if you wait too long

[BassinLou]

Frog fishing is awesome. You have to tell your mind not the pull the trigger when instinctively its what you want to do when the fish blows up on the frog. You have to see and feel what's going after the brief commotion is over. Sometimes its obvious, the frog is completely gone and you see the line swimming away. SET THE HOOK when you see that. Other times the hit may be so ferocious that they knock the frog out of the water. Wait until the frog lands and watch what happens. The fish may come back to finish what it started. Some of the other explanations listed above are helpful. They may be small bass hitting at it. One thing that I have learned, that I will share with you is, when you set the hook, feel the weight of the fish and maintain constant tension. Take your time and do not be in such a rush to horse the fish up and in. I have had plenty of heart breakers by being over confident thinking the fish was hooked well and I over worked it and lost.

[MichiganFishing1997]

Thanks a lot guys! I know it was a bad day of fishing but it was still fun. I cought a 3+ lber. My next set up will be for this technique. I wasnt using the right gear and I knew it, but I didn't have another option. I did have the frog hooked up right though. Thanks again.

[B@ssCrzy]

I have been fishing the algae matts at my local creek. I only hooked onto one fish and landed it. All if the others either missed the frog when I was dragging it across the matts, or I missed the hookset. 3/4 of the time it was just the fish completely missing the bait, the other few times I just missed the fish. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I went like 1/25 on hookups today.

 

The one question I would ask as well is what type of gear are you using?  If you are trying to set the hook with mono and a ML rod then you are going to miss a lot of fish.  You need braid or something that is low stretch and I like a MH rod for my frog fishing.  When I switched to braid I found myself catching a lot more fish on my hookups.  You are still going to miss some, but you will not miss as many.  Those big hooks on a frog need a rod that can help drive the hooks home hard. 

[Derriick]

If the fish are missing the bait a lot of times it means they are small. If they are getting it and your missing the hookset then make sure you are giving them time to take it under. Reel down, feel the weight of the fish then set the hook hard. I rarely miss fish on my trophy series scumfrogs doing this. Don't sweat the small bass who knock it around and don't take it.

[KYBassin']

I use an old Strike King frog with a trailer hook, rarely miss a fish. And even with the trailer hook I have very little issue with getting snagged. But it is important to give the fish a count or two before setting the hook.

[MichiganFishing1997]

Good to know. Thanks.

[Mike L]

Frog fishing is awesome. You have to tell your mind not the pull the trigger when instinctively its what you want to do when the fish blows up on the frog. You have to see and feel what's going after the brief commotion is over. Sometimes its obvious, the frog is completely gone and you see the line swimming away. SET THE HOOK when you see that. Other times the hit may be so ferocious that they knock the frog out of the water. Wait until the frog lands and watch what happens. The fish may come back to finish what it started. Some of the other explanations listed above are helpful. They may be small bass hitting at it. One thing that I have learned, that I will share with you is, when you set the hook, feel the weight of the fish and maintain constant tension. Take your time and do not be in such a rush to horse the fish up and in. I have had plenty of heart breakers by being over confident thinking the fish was hooked well and I over worked it and lost.

 

This..

Also, I'm not familiar with the buzz frog you're useing, but if the fish are agressive and really start to hammer a frog I change from whatever I'm useing...Spro, Strike King, to a Scum Frog. They have the sofest body on the market.

Also I find them easier to walk in place because they don't have the long seperated legs.

 

 

Mike

[MichiganFishing1997]

I have been setting the hook on more fish, but still no where near as many as i should be.  I have been using pad crashers, yesterday me, my dad, and GF all lost fish on this frog, is it me or the lure? I have missed enough fish and tried enough things to think at this point it may not be me. 

[MarkH024]

What gear are you using to throw frogs with?   ie: Rod, reel, line?

[Kevin22]

There is not a hollow body frog on the market that will not get a good hook-up percentage if you do your part. Just about every single lure on the market is put in front of a professional fishermen for testing before going to retail. If the testers did not get good hook-ups with the frog it would have never made it to market. 

 

The obvious exception from this are the chinese knock-off lures. 

[MichiganFishing1997]

Yeah, i thought it was still me lol.  I have a 7'6 MH Abu Garcia Veritas with and Abu Garcia Pro Max 7.1:1 and its spooled with #50 PP.  Maybe im not setting the hook hard enough.

[MarkH024]

Maybe im not setting the hook hard enough. 

Your gear is ideal for frog fishing. You're probably setting the hook too soon, or too late. Once you get the timing thing down it's second nature and you will see a massive increase on your hook ups and landing.  The only thing I can say that might help is try bending your hooks up slightly off the frogs back. I personally don't do this, but it does help for some.  keep at it, you'll figure it out. Good luck

 

If you're fishing pike infested waters...the snakey ones are terrible at taking frogs in. So there is a chance that a lot of your misses are actual pike and not bass. 

Edited July 8, 2013 by MarkH024

[Kevin22]

How are you setting the hook?

[MichiganFishing1997]

just a small upward motion. Nothing hard, probably not hard enough. 

 

And thanks Mark for the help, il keep working at it!

[MarkH024]

I have a video in the reports section under punchin and froggin. You can see some of my hooksets on frogs. You can check frog turds videos too. He's another froggin magician.

[lmoore]

If the fish are missing a buzzfrog, try switching to a hollowbody. I bend the hooks out just slightly. They often come slightly pointed down to keep them weedless, I bend them to level or just slightly above. Also, if they strike and miss the frog, keep it moving. If they knock it out of the water without grabbing it, I like to just twitch it in place to mimic injured prey. Good luck!

[MichiganFishing1997]

That's what I have been doing. Its just the hookset that's been getting me. Trust me, I get plenty of chances to set the hook. I think I need to let them have it for a second or too then set the hook much harder. I will try tomorrow and get back to you guys. Thanks for the help.