Frog Fishing Help?

[FishinBrian]

Hey y'all

 

Earlier today I did some fishing with my new topwater frog lures. I got three frogs, two being snag proof in white and chartreuse, and the other being a matzuo in green. All the bass were eyeing the lures and following it, but I only got one bite and it didn't even hook on. Does anyone have any tips to make these suckers work well? I fished it using the pause and retrieve method, very slowly. Any advice helps, and thanks a lot.

[5dollarsplash]

Try working a cadence for awhile. I'll walk a frog over an open stretch between pads or grasses. Sometimes they want a little more commotion!

As a side note, those snag proof frogs are one of my favorites. Try bending the hooks out very slightly, helped my hookup percentage.

[jtharris3]

If I'm having troubles getting the bite sometimes I'll work it at a cadence and at a point where I feel a bass is eyeing the bait I'll stop it and let it sit. Sometimes for up to a minute. A lot of the time they can't resist it setting there.

 

I'll also try various speed and cadence retrieves to see what triggers the bass.

[Mccallister25]

Not to jack the thread, but whats the best frog to "walk"?

All Iv used is the pad crasher, and I cant work it to save my life.

[Bankbeater]

I can't get a bite walking the dog for anything.  I get better bites working the frog through the muck like a popper.

[BuckMaxx]

Slow it down and tick em off with it. The hook set timing on a frog is crutial. a "slurp" rip it! A "big splash and viscous hit" let them take it for a second or two until you see you line running before setting it.

[buzzed bait]

Let them take it under a couple of seconds before you set that hook.  They will get it under the water, turn the head and suck the frog in and THEN you set the hook.  I also like to throw the frog on the bank where it permits and hop it in the water from there.  I've had many strikes with that method.  Walking the frog and taking some long pauses is the other method I like to try.  I simply jerk my rod tip about 6 inches then crank the reel a full turn and repeat this method, pausing along the way.

[BenB54]

Not to jack the thread, but whats the best frog to "walk"?

All Iv used is the pad crasher, and I cant work it to save my life.

 

Snag proof's phat frog and spro's bronzeye frog walk really well.

[J Francho]

 

Does anyone have any tips to make these suckers work well?

 

Keep fishing them.  Like any other bait, they take time to learn them well.  Use a MH to H power rod, and 40-65# braid, and have at it.  It isn't necessary to learn to walk them, though that is one cadence that works.  I always hear people say to wait to set the hook on a frog fish - this is terrible advice.  Don't wait to set the hook on a hollow body frog.  Bass engulf their prey, so froggy gone, swing away.  otherwise you are just giving the fish more time to reject the bait.  Always have a follow up plastic worm or senko ready for times when the fish miss the bait, or just slap at it.  often times those misses are either smaller fish, of a very big fish actually eating blue gills that are following your frog.

[buzzed bait]

I always hear people say to wait to set the hook on a frog fish - this is terrible advice.  Don't wait to set the hook on a hollow body frog.  Bass engulf their prey, so froggy gone, swing away.  otherwise you are just giving the fish more time to reject the bait.  Always have a follow up plastic worm or senko ready for times when the fish miss the bait, or just slap at it.  often times those misses are either smaller fish, of a very big fish actually eating blue gills that are following your frog.

 

I have to say that when I allow the fish to take the frog for 2-3 seconds my hook up ratio improves 2-3X.  this is with a hollow body frog.  if i try to set the hook as soon as the fish hits the frog, it generally comes flying out of their mouth headed in the direction of my head.  

[tritondriver]

I watched a video yesterday of bobby barrack one of the most acknowledged frog fisherman in the country on fishin frogs....he said...when the frog disappears...swing the dang rod...I will be taking his advise..

[BassinLou]

I have found that in some instances working the frog aggressively and with a lot of commotion elicits an aggressive strike in return. Pop the frog hard two - three times in succession then pause. Then pop it 1-2 times hard and wait see what happens. The strike will usually occur on the second pause, or in the middle of one of the pops. You gotta change the way you frog sometimes. When I stumbled across this technique I caught 3 bass totaling 13lbs in less than 30 min.

[AK-Jax86]

I have found that in some instances working the frog aggressively and with a lot of commotion elicits an aggressive strike in return. Pop the frog hard two - three times in succession then pause. Then pop it 1-2 times hard and wait see what happens. The strike will usually occur on the second pause, or in the middle of one of the pops. You gotta change the way you frog sometimes. When I stumbled across this technique I caught 3 bass totaling 13lbs in less than 30 min.

We fish the frog the same way!

My only problem is when I am not getting bites or seeing any action in the water I get impatient and go with a fast retrieve. With my experience I catch nearly all my big ones on the pause especially when the frog is sitting there for a long time

[AK-Jax86]

Another thing about the strikes is I notice that the big ones inhale the frog on the pause, a lot of times it is real suttle, rather than an aggressive attack like when the frog is moving.

This morning I was fishing my frog right at sunrise I pause it for a second and it looked like my frog feel into a hole in the water lol I tugged and it was a 18" fish

[BassinLou]

AK, I call those strikes slurps. The bass slurp them like expensive oysters. Not that I have tried one, they do not look to appealing.

[J Francho]

Yep, bigger bass usually quietly slurp the bait.

[mg4u2nv]

As said already, just more practice with the bait will help you get better.  Frogs IMO are probably the most exciting way to catch bass.  As far as hook sets go, as soon as i get a blow up, i reel up the slack(which takes a second or two) and if the fish is there i drop the hammer!  I always try to make sure the fish still has it before swingin though, don't want a double hook flyin back at my face!  I also use pad crashers, and i've found(which i read on these forums) trimming the legs about an inch helps them "walk" better.  If you can walk a spook, i generally move the rod tip MAYBE half as much as i would with a spook.  And experimenting with different cadences and rythms is key.

 

Matt

[ToadTorcher]

When frog fishing it's crucial to find the cadence that they're keying in on that particular day. I usually fish with a buddy and we'll both use apposing retrieves till we find what they're onto. Sometimes they'll want a quick retrieve with a 1 - 2 second pause. Other times you'll have to wait 10 seconds or longer. We'll also use different colors to see which works best any particular day.  

 

Keep changing the cadence till you find what they're honing in on and you'll be nailing them in no time!

[AK-Jax86]

AK, I call those strikes slurps. The bass slurp them like expensive oysters. Not that I have tried one, they do not look to appealing.

Yea they do slurp em

My girlfriend wanted me to go out for oysters with her and her girlfriend I was like first when did you start eating oysters and two do I look like the type of person who would eat oysters lol Friend chicken yes oysters hell no lmao

[AK-Jax86]

When frog fishing it's crucial to find the cadence that they're keying in on that particular day. I usually fish with a buddy and we'll both use apposing retrieves till we find what they're onto. Sometimes they'll want a quick retrieve with a 1 - 2 second pause. Other times you'll have to wait 10 seconds or longer. We'll also use different colors to see which works best any particular day.

Keep changing the cadence till you find what they're honing in on and you'll be nailing them in no time!

10 secs or longer... The other morning I caught a 6lber while I was untangling a wind knot. My total retrieve time from when I casted to when I landed the fish was probably around 10 minutes, because I was trying to get the knot out. But the fish watched the bait the whole time and struck it when it was a couple feet in front of me. Frog was sitting still for 3 mins, I got the knot out reeled a foot and BOOM

[BassinLou]

Fortunately, you got the knot out because you may have been starting another thread on how a bass broke some piece of your equipment again. LOL.

[AK-Jax86]

Fortunately, you got the knot out because you may have been starting another thread on how a bass broke some piece of your equipment again. LOL.

Lol yea these fish have cost me too much money this month!! Only positive is I got a brand new reel for my old one

[aqualkinbush]

First off frogs are fun but I'm in the wait a second before you set the hook group,  Second, you guys are nuts oysters are great. Just don't eat them if your landlocked.