Fishing A Top Water Hollow Body Frog

[mathnerdm]

So I'm pretty new to bass fishing, and just recently discovered the fun of top water frog fishing. I was out with a buddy in a local creek full of grass and lily pads when he pulls out a frog and just starts killing them, I knew I had to try them. So I went to academy and picked up a pack of 4 H2O hollow body frogs and a SPRO bronzeye frog. I've fished them twice so far, once at a different part of the creek where I had a few explosive hits but missed the hooksets (later reading taught I should have waited a few seconds first) and then today at a lake where I saw no action.

 

My questions were, can they be fished through open water or do you just want to fish them through/near lily pads and grass? The lake I was at had a couple spots with lily pads near the bank where I was fishing and I would just cast into them and walk it through (the best I could), occasionally pausing in gaps between the pads. Nothing. We did just get a lot of rain a couple days ago so could that affect frogs effectiveness? 

 

Does it matter the depth of the water you're fishing them in? Also, I just put on 50# braid and was wondering if that's good for frog fishing?

 

Any tips for why I might have had zero luck would be much obliged! Thanks!

[BassinLou]

There is no rule that says you can't fish a frog in open water. #2,  50lb braid is fine. I use that on my frogging outfit as well. I personally like to throw frogs around visible cover. I will also throw it if I see submerged grass in the area. As you have experienced so far, throwing a frog does not guarantee action. Sometimes frogs are on the menu and sometimes they are not. If you are not getting any looks while your frogging, have a plan B in mind. 

[fish365]

The braid is the way to go on the line. Throw it into the heaviest stuff you see, as in pockets of pollen/sticks/trash, past openings in grass and pads working it towards the opening, under overhanging tree limbs, and parallel to rocky banks. 

[mathnerdm]

The braid is the way to go on the line. Throw it into the heaviest stuff you see, as in pockets of pollen/sticks/trash, past openings in grass and pads working it towards the opening, under overhanging tree limbs, and parallel to rocky banks.

Thanks for the replies guys! Another question, on your retrieves do you tend to lean towards just steadily walking it in? Or little twitch pauses? And also this is the first time I've used braid and already have fallen in love with it, I really do mostly fishing in creeks and places with a LOT of trees and brush to get caught in and the braid has already saved me from losing quite a few dollars in lures. Loving it!

[BassinLou]

I allow the fish tell me what retrieves work best. If I notice they want the frog constantly moving I will walk it. If I noticed that they are slamming it while its motionless for a little bit then I will pop it periodically. Sometimes they even want the frog worked really aggressive. Very hard pops and chugs. That's how I landed the 6lb bass in my avatar. Lastly, braid is the only way to go for this application. Imho. Good luck!!

[Mccallister25]

I caught my first frog fish about two weeks ago, and it was two feet off the bank. No grass, weeds, etc. So it is possible to catch them that way, but like already stated they have to want it. Iv thrown frogs plenty, with no action what-so-ever.

 

I too have a quick question for the frog gurus though.. Is it possible to catch fish just sorta popping the frog along, and have no real "walking" action to it? Im horrible at walking a frog, but would still like to catch fish on them.

[MIbassin]

I caught my first frog fish about two weeks ago, and it was two feet off the bank. No grass, weeds, etc. So it is possible to catch them that way, but like already stated they have to want it. Iv thrown frogs plenty, with no action what-so-ever.

I too have a quick question for the frog gurus though.. Is it possible to catch fish just sorta popping the frog along, and have no real "walking" action to it? Im horrible at walking a frog, but would still like to catch fish on them.

absolutely, I've caught a lot of frog fish in the lake/ponds around here literally just dragging it back and pausing it. In fact, that's how I start my retrieve

[Mccallister25]

absolutely, I've caught a lot of frog fish in the lake/ponds around here literally just dragging it back and pausing it. In fact, that's how I start my retrieve

 

Now thats interesting. Youve caught fish by just slowly reeling and pausing the frog back to you? Is this on hollow bodies, or like the Ribbit style?

[Bankbeater]

I have had luck using a Spro Bronzeye, and just letting it sit in the water after throwing it out.  The bass tend to hit the bait as soon as I start bringing it in.

[MIbassin]

On the hollow body's, it's more of a light sweep than a constant reeling motion

[frogflogger]

I catch as many chugging and pausing as walking - last good fish was caught chugging and pausing over 20+ feet of clear water with no visible cover. For myself the only rule to frog fishing is 50# braid.

[mathnerdm]

Thanks again for all the replies! Do yall use leaders when using braid or do you tie it directly to the frog? I heard some people saying it's hard to walk top waters with braid, is that true?

[Drewski73]

Straight braid to a frog. Braid makes using treble hook topwaters like Zara Spooks a little tougher because the hooks tend to wrap up in thebraid for some people. Im not one of those people, I throw treble hooked topwaters on braid all the time with no issues. I do back of the drag when using treble hook baits, and lock it down when using a frog.

[BassinLou]

Thanks again for all the replies! Do yall use leaders when using braid or do you tie it directly to the frog? I heard some people saying it's hard to walk top waters with braid, is that true?

 

If you don't want your heart broken, do not put on a leader, imho. At least not for this application. By having a leader, I consider the knot, although it may tied on perfectly, a weak spot. With such a powerful hookset, if there is going to be a failure, the leader knot will be one location. Second would be the tie off to the frog. I "always"!! Tie the frog straight to braid. 

[BassinLou]

I caught my first frog fish about two weeks ago, and it was two feet off the bank. No grass, weeds, etc. So it is possible to catch them that way, but like already stated they have to want it. Iv thrown frogs plenty, with no action what-so-ever.

 

I too have a quick question for the frog gurus though.. Is it possible to catch fish just sorta popping the frog along, and have no real "walking" action to it? Im horrible at walking a frog, but would still like to catch fish on them.

 

If you look in the SE threads titled " Florida guys check in here".  That 5lbr I caught last weekend frog fishing, was caught as I was about to lift the frog out of the water to cast again. It startled me for a second. When frog is on the menu, bass will get to your frog regardless of  what you are doing sometimes... LOL..

 

. 

[KYBassin']

If you don't want your heart broken, do not put on a leader, imho. At least not for this application. By having a leader, I consider the knot, although it may tied on perfectly, a weak spot. With such a powerful hookset, if there is going to be a failure, the leader knot will be one location. Second would be the tie off to the frog. I "always"!! Tie the frog straight to braid.

I agree with this. Leaders are for subtle, slow presentations..where the fish has a chance to really see what's going on. A fish that's coming for a frog isn't factoring anything into the equation...other than messing up a frog. All instinct predator mode.

[Catch and Grease]

I would never use a leader for any top water bait...

[mathnerdm]

Thanks for all the help, yall basically cleared up all my questions and then some! What has been awesome about this forum is that no matter what I have questions with, yall can always answer and then still give more advice. By far the best forum I've ever been on!