Modifying Hollow Belly Frogs

[basshole8190]

A few things i do to all my frogs before i fish them

1. Take pliers and bend hooks up maybe 1/16 of an inch for better hook ups but not so much the point will collect slop or trash on the surface.

2.trim the legs about 1/8 inch and trim one leg at a 45° angle to combat short strikes and help make it walk better

3. I take small worm rattles and add 1-2 for added attraction (i keep a few without rattles)

4. take a paper clip and straighten one end and heat then poke a hole centered between the legs to help drain water from the frog

Doing these things have made my frog fishing much more fun and a lot easier. any body else do anything different to modify their frogs?

[AK-Jax86]

I buy myself a pack of Stanley ribbit hollow body frogs with their size 5 frog hook. Tie it onto my 30lb braid and I'm good to go.

ALL FROG FISHERMEN I recommend Stanley Ribbit frogs they will change the way you fell about top water! No I do not work for them in any way

[basshole8190]

I like the stanley ribbit frogs. they are deadly when fished thru weeds and killed over open patches. I don't fish them as much now that I've gotten pretty connfident in the hollow belly frogs

[BassinLou]

Basshole, I do and have done the mods you have mentioned, except the hole with the paper clip. You actually find that the hole in the rear actually helps with drainage instead of contributing to taking on water? The hole, stays right at or below the water line depending on how you work your frog. The only time I take on water is after a good missed strike. Hole or not after a strike as violent as a bass strike and can't see that little hole draining water. Please help me clarify.

[basshole8190]

Lou the hole is very small and i put it maybe 1/32 of an inch above the top of the legs I've not noticed it taking on more water than an ordinary frog it just ensures i squeeze more water and i think it helps air escape more quickly on the strike for a better hookup. or at least that's my theory. could just be a confidence thing for me also.. booyah pad crashers come with a drain hole similar to what i do straight outta the box. if you've got one you could see wat I'm talking about

[BassinLou]

Basshole8190, thank you for the clarification, the explanation makes sense. I do use Booyah's however next time I buy a frog I will look at one and see the hole you mentioned. Thanks again.

[AK-Jax86]

I like the stanley ribbit frogs. they are deadly when fished thru weeds and killed over open patches. I don't fish them as much now that I've gotten pretty connfident in the hollow belly frogs

I was talking about the Stanley Ribbit Hollow Body frogs not the regular ones. I'm addicted to them they work like magic!

[AK-Jax86]

Basshole8190, thank you for the clarification, the explanation makes sense. I do use Booyah's however next time I buy a frog I will look at one and see the hole you mentioned. Thanks again.

Lou but yourself 2 packs of Stanley Ribbit Hollow Body frogs (one black and one white). The bass LOVE the black ones and for whatever reason the biggest bass I catch are using the white ones while they are sitting still and they hit the black one on the move... It's weird

[BassinLou]

Andrew, your conviction on these frogs is so compelling that you have me seriously thinking in trying one. Are they hollow body or are they soft plastic topwater like a rage toad or a zoom toad. I have seen Ribbits but has topwater buzzing frogs not the hollow body variety. Have you used a Koppers frog yet??

[MarkH024]

I'd like to add that you shouldn't modify any frog out of the box until you throw it or have previously done modifying and are aware of the results.  This is directed towards the guys who rarely or never have fished hollow body frogs. Once you start snipping, cutting, and poking holes into frogs it really can't be undone so think about that before you start modifications to frogs that are $10 or more.

I fish frogs a lot...and I rarely feel the need to modify them out of the package. On a rare occasion it is "necessary" but most will fish just fine straight out of the package. This isn't a slam on the topic at all but new frog fisherman should be aware of it before they actually modify just by going off of what they read.

My $.02

[BassinLou]

MarkH, great point. I am glad you brought that up. Out of all of the frogs I have, only 2-3 frogs have some sort of modification to them. The rest are fished as is out of the box.

[War Eagle 44]

I'd like to add that you shouldn't modify any frog out of the box until you throw it or have previously done modifying and are aware of the results.  This is directed towards the guys who rarely or never have fished hollow body frogs. Once you start snipping, cutting, and poking holes into frogs it really can't be undone so think about that before you start modifications to frogs that are $10 or more.

I fish frogs a lot...and I rarely feel the need to modify them out of the package. On a rare occasion it is "necessary" but most will fish just fine straight out of the package. This isn't a slam on the topic at all but new frog fisherman should be aware of it before they actually modify just by going off of what they read.

My $.02

 

I agree 100%, the only mod I ever do to my Spro's is cut the legs to the length I think is best. I like for the legs to be the exact same length as the body, other than that I just fish'em. I've never experienced the hook up problems on frogs like so many other people have, guess I've just been lucky. In fact it seems to me the bigger the fish the better they're hooked. When I miss a fish on a frog it seems it's usually a smaller one, who knows about these things though. 

[MarkH024]

I agree 100%, the only mod I ever do to my Spro's is cut the legs to the length I think is best. I like for the legs to be the exact same length as the body, other than that I just fish'em. I've never experienced the hook up problems on frogs like so many other people have, guess I've just been lucky. In fact it seems to me the bigger the fish the better they're hooked. When I miss a fish on a frog it seems it's usually a smaller one, who knows about these things though. 

I think a lot of people blame missed hook ups to their gear/lures, where as I'd be willing to bet it has more to do with technique and timing. Also....the fish sometimes just miss...it happens especially in very thick pads/mats. I've never felt the need to bend my hooks on a frog to get better hooksets.  If anything I want them to be a snug as possible to remain as snagfree as possible.  The force of a 1lb bass bite is enough to collapse any hollow body frog on the market.

 

Most of my misses on a frog are a credit to idiotic northern pike that I'd rather not catch anyway. 

[Blues19]

I use the Spro Bronzeye Frogs and have tried modifying and not modifying. After years of fishing the Frogs, the only thing I do now is cut the legs about 1/2" shorter on the bronzeye Jr.  I am looking for more bites when using the Jr. and look to make the profile a bit smaller. I leave the regular size frogs as is out of the box. Frog fishing is so much fun!

[War Eagle 44]

I think a lot of people blame missed hook ups to their gear/lures, where as I'd be willing to bet it has more to do with technique and timing. Also....the fish sometimes just miss...it happens especially in very thick pads/mats. I've never felt the need to bend my hooks on a frog to get better hooksets.  If anything I want them to be a snug as possible to remain as snagfree as possible.  The force of a 1lb bass bite is enough to collapse any hollow body frog on the market.

 

Most of my misses on a frog are a credit to idiotic northern pike that I'd rather not catch anyway. 

 

I think you're correct on all counts. I also never bend my hooks, they catch on grass and wood and foul enough of my casts as it is. I have a fishing buddy that INSISTS on bending the hooks because he saw a YouTube video in which Rojas said that he does. It doesn't matter how many fish I catch on mine with the hooks not bent or how much he gets snagged, he isn't going to fish one without bending them. He's just one of those guys that believes everything he reads or hears from a "pro", it doesn't matter how much evidence there is to the contrary.     

[basshole8190]

I do miss fish on frogs mainly when i first start throwing them because the strike is so violent i get excited but all these things i do to modify my frogs is mainly a confidence thing for me persoanlly

[ULG]

i only trim the legs if the bite isnt how i like it but i keep modded and un modded on board at all times if the bite is on! like the previous posts, u js gotta get ur butt out there and do it! color, location, time of day, cover, water clarity are all factors that come into play with fishing situation, and whats good for the goose isnt always good for the gander! with that being said, all accounts are noted from personal experience and just because this guy is doing it doesnt always mean its gonna work for you. but figuring it out for youself is where the fun is to me!!! but spro poppin frog all the way, i can walk it with out spitting too much and then pop n spit it. caught some biggins doin that around shallow cover, at all times of the day, in the spring thru fall! just put your time in is the best advice i can offer, good luck guys