Hollow-Belly Frog Modding?

[FrogTastic]

Hey all, I was wondering if anybody had any special mods that they did to their frogs? I have a Plano two-tray filled with tools and tackle just for modding my frogs. My kit includes:

1. A ruler that goes down to the 1/64th of an inch - for precise measurements when reshaping hooks or trimming skirts
2. Strong needle-nose pliers - for reshaping hooks
3. Sharp scissors - for trimming skirts
4. Worm rattles - these are used when the frog needs to be louder
5. Paper clips - I like to poke small holes right above the legs of my frogs to help drain water
6. Bic lighter - I use this to heat the paper clips (above) to make it go in easier
7. Spike It Color Markers - for when my frogs need a little bit more scent
8. Lake Fork Frog Trailer Hooks - these are just for when I'm getting short strikes, but I don't want to trim down the skirts
9. Split shot assortment - this is for emergency situations (I have only used it once or twice in three years) when the weight falls out the back of the frog
10. Super glue - for repairing holes, tears, and replacing weights
11. Lead fly-tying wire - this is for when I need a silent presentation, but still want some weight - I'll just wrap it around the hook a dozen times or so
12. Green, purple, white, chartreuse, black, and brown jig skirts - these are my preferred skirt colors for replacing legs
13. BBs - I keep some BBs (like the ones in BB guns) for when I need my frog to basically sit vertically in the water - I will just use these in place of rattles sometimes too
14. Sharpies - I keep at least a dozen different-colored sharpies to mark my frogs whenever they need a cooler color scheme
15. Spare hollow-belly frogs - I keep the frogs that people want me to modify, the frogs that I want to modify, or the frogs that are really beat up in this box, so I don't forget to work on them
16. Leatherman multi-tool - 'nuff said
17. Sewing needles - these don't really come into play too much, but I occasionally use them when replacing skirts
18. Lots of crane swivels - these are used when replacing double hooks
19. Lots of double hooks - a lot of times, hooks in old frogs will rust out or break - that's when these come into play
20. Last but not least, my big ol' Snag Proof sticker - kind of just there to remind me of my first frog I modded

So my question to you is - how do you mod your frogs?

[Senko lover]

Holy Cow! Not that much.......

[Mike2841]

All I do is trim the legs a little bit

[rippin-lips]

I'll bend the hook points up a bit and sometimes trim the legs. That's more random tools/stuff then I carry in a 19' boat lol.

[Brocephus Fishing]

I usually just bend the hooks a little, trim the legs, and that about does it. Granted I keep replacement legs if the frog has rubber legs attached or skirt material if it needs to be replaced, but I don't carry that stuff with me normally. Super glue or mend-it glue is a must in case the rubber/plastic rips, but I keep that for any of my plastic baits. Sounds like you're set up nicely, but no need to carry all of that with you if you are in fact doing so because you can make most of the necessary modifications and fixes at home. Just carry a few spare frogs with you that you've already modified when you go fishing and you're set.

[Basseditor]

I add a spinner bait blade (Colorado or Indiana) to the back sometimes for a little flash. Twist in screw lock, ball bearing swivel then the blade. Works good when using a steady retrieve, but sometimes they'll hit it when it's motionless too.

[aavery2]

No offense, but if I needed all of that to fish frogs with I would find a different one.   I just open the package tie it on and they work like advertised.

[bmlum415]

If anything on my frog breaks like tears or rusted hooks, I just buy new ones. Easier than spending a lot to repair them.

[Sam]

Frog, for a first post you have really overwhelmed us.

 

How about introducing your self in the Introductions section so we can know you better.

 

Your list is outstanding and covers the modifications you can do to a frog.

 

Did I miss "large eyeballs"? You glue them to the bottom of your frog.

 

There are modifications you can do to a frog that you have not mentioned.

 

It is nice to have all of the tools but what are you going to actually do with them?  How do you modify the legs? What colors do you use on the belly?  What line and test are you using? What about your rod and reel setup?  How are you fishing the frog?

 

Your list is an excellent one. After you master the frog how about mastering the shaky head or drop shot?

[Chief 2]

Man that is a lot of stuff just for frogs. I fish them right out of the package. I like the idea of the additional holes to work as drains.

[NJBasstard]

Dang you must really love frog fishing! I just bend the hooks a little and trim about an inch off the legs right out of the package.  I've seen the idea of using BB's mentioned on here before but never tried it myself. 

[BassinLou]

Interesting modifications. I just simply trim the skirt 1" and have at it. If frog is on the menu, you will know quickly. 

[FrogTastic]

Yeah, I almost never take this whole thing with me! Jesus, that'd be a lot...

 

Usually, I'll take some super glue and a few other things that I can fit in the pocket of my cargo shorts on the water. The rest stays in my workshop. 

 

Thanks to Sam and basseditor for some new ideas!

[FrogTastic]

Dang you must really love frog fishing! I just bend the hooks a little and trim about an inch off the legs right out of the package.  I've seen the idea of using BB's mentioned on here before but never tried it myself. 

Yeah, it's pretty much the only type of bass fishing I do  

 

Carolina rigs are pretty fun too, though

[livetofish28]

Yeah, it's pretty much the only type of bass fishing I do  

 

Carolina rigs are pretty fun too, though

Dropshot and shaky head are 2 baits I definetly recomend you learn

Tight lines

Andrew

[Bluebasser86]

I bend the hooks out a little, maybe trim the legs back a bit. 

[FrogTastic]

No offense, but if I needed all of that to fish frogs with I would find a different one.   I just open the package tie it on and they work like advertised.

I don't need all of this to fish frogs. I simply have it to mod frogs, and experiment to see if I can get the bite to be a little bit better

[kikstand454]

Hey ....the man likes throwing frogs.

I dont put a tenth of the effort some of you do with jerkbaits- suspend dots and hooks and line sizes. ..etc. its the same with any technique. Cut the guy some slack.

Welcome aboard frogtastic- I'd love to see some of your color mods and when/ why you do them. I'm a chunk and wind kind of frog guy- but being that I'm in Florida. ...and specifically that I fish lake Seminole alot. ... I feel the frog is something I could use some polishing on.