Topwater - Frog Vs. Mouse?

[DaveT63]

So what's the difference between a frog and a mouse when it comes to topwater?  I see a lot more frogs on the market than mice.  Is the frog that much more productive?  Is the mouse fished the same way as a frog?  And is there a time when one is better than the other?

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[smr913]

I saw a bass blow up on a baby bird once. Topwater is topwater as far as I am concerned. Bass will think it is whatever it wants to think it is.

[Mike2841]

They're essentially the same thing. The frog has two legs out the back and the mouse usually just has the tail (talking about the lures). I'm pretty sure it doesn't make a difference, the bass just sees some commotion on the surface and eats it up.

[Blues19]

I will agree, I think topwater is topwater. I think most people associate Frogs with water than mice, so I think that is why Frogs are more dominant on the market

[FlipnLimits]

Mice get tired and drown eventually, frogs don't

 

Same thing in my opinion too.

 

FL

[RoLo]

Frog, Mouse, Toad, Rat they're all man-assigned names for man's amusement,

It's not likely that bass actually make a distinction between them

Then again, I did overhear a couple bass talking about swamp donkeys, smokin roosters & space monkeys  

 

The important difference in topwater plastics is whether it's Solid (toad) or Hollow (frog).

A solid toad typically sinks so they're normally fished nonstop to keep them on top (buzzed).

A hollow frog floats so they can be fished with a stop-&-go retrieve without sinking.

 

Roger

[Jay Ell Gee]

I have one place in particular that a topwater mouse will outfish a frog 3 to 1. It's not everywhere, just one particular area. Maybe they see a lot of frogs? Maybe they eat baby nutria that are plentiful there? No idea. However, it is a noticeable difference in preference.

[RoLo]

I have one place in particular that a topwater mouse will outfish a frog 3 to 1. It's not everywhere, just one particular area. Maybe they see a lot of frogs? Maybe they eat baby nutria that are plentiful there? No idea. However, it is a noticeable difference in preference.

 

I wouldn't attribute the difference to shape, I would attribute it to size difference 

On average, the smaller lure will outfish the larger lure, while the larger lure will usually produce a higher mean weight.

Small poppers like the Pop-R is a numbers lure, but big buzzbaits are lunker lures.

A Zoom finesse worm will usually outfish a Zoom Ole Monster, but the trophy is more likely to fall to the bigger worm

 

Roger

[DaveT63]

Thanks for the responses, all!  Just what I was hoping to hear!

 

Dave

[gulfcaptain]

Yeah, think they are close. Only difference is for example Live Target.  The small field mouse walks really easy compared to the small frog.  Hence the small mouse gets hit more because of the action.  I would say find 2-3 different soft body frog style baits and stick with them.  Spro came out with the Bronze Eye Shad which is a bit easier to walk then the frog and the Ish's Phatt Frog and Poppin Phatty both walk easy and have a small glass rattle in them and you don't have to worry about them filling with water.  If you use the Live Target Mouse, just remember to drain it out every couple casts cause it does fill up, but I have caught some nice fish on them and have about a 70% hook up ratio since they are pretty soft.

[WIGuide]

I don't know how much of a difference there really is. I haven't fished a mouse yet but I've fished a lot of frogs. I'm sure it has a slightly different profile, but I don't think it'd make much of a difference. I might have to buy one this year and give it a try to see for sure.

[rawjuice]

I see no difference, ive been using mouse and frogs for 5 years and get the same strikes on both. I carry a lot of different frogs and a couple different colored mouse on me at all times, they both work the same to me!

[Maico1]

I use Birds,Mice and Frogs with the Frog being the most productive, but then the others catch fish too but that may also be because I find myself going for the Frog first......

[Bankbeater]

I've never had a frog go after a mouse, but I have had frogs go after a black Spro before. I don't think the bass care as long as they think it's food.

[AK-Jax86]

I am strictly a frog guy

But my buddy on Instagram makes these wooden rat top water swim baits and people tear bass up on them, majority of them are night fishing but a lot catch them during the day too. He is working on a FL lizard, I want him to call it the FL Gator, that he is going to send me to test it out on these FL Big Bass. Can't wait to test that thing out, but the rats/mice do work for bass

[frogflogger]

I've seen bass leap and eat a skimming red-wing black bird twice in my long fishing career - first one in Kansas in the 60's the second one in the everglades in the 90's - I'm not sure you can fish too large of a topwater but I've had days when the little mouse knocked them.

[Weld's Largemouth]

So what's the difference between a frog and a mouse when it comes to topwater?  I see a lot more frogs on the market than mice.  Is the frog that much more productive?  Is the mouse fished the same way as a frog?  And is there a time when one is better than the other?

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

Use a frog for lilypads or heavy cover. Mouse open water only, That thing will get stuck up in pads, unlike the frog