Got Me A Live Target Frog On The Way

[Josh Smith]

Hi Folks,

 

I've never had any luck with froggin', mostly because I've never tried much.  Dad had a rubber frog in the '70s that I inherited in the '80s because he never had any luck with that one, either.  I figure I wasn't using it right.

 

This year my goal will be to master a technique I'm no good at, or not experienced at.

 

Last year I renewed my acquaintance with plastics (love the variety now, but Jelly Worms still work quite well!), and with topwater, divers, and spinners.  I've discovered a new love for jerk baits.

 

Now I need to master the frog, or get as close to mastering it as I do mastering anything.  There are plenty of weeds on my favorite lake, though it's not matted like it started to get years ago.  If I get the boat going by summer as I have planned, I can make it to some concealed lily pads, too.

 

So, I need to know how to use this thing I just ordered.  It looks funny to me, but I've heard it works.

 

Any advice is appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[coak]

Just work on your cadence for the retreive. I've had a few Kopper's frogs and they were always a little more work to walk than some other brands. Watch some YouTube clips and also about trimming the legs. Also, you don't need to always be in vegetation to throw that lure. I think you should check out the field mouse they make too. That thing walks way better for me than the frog and gets smashed when I throw in and around reeds and cat-tails!

[Fishinthefish]

I'm going to steal your idea for this year. I never fish jigs, and I think I'm going to start this year since I'm missing out on a large range of fishing tactics, and fish. Thanks for the idea, but sorry I can't help with your frog issue I'm not familiar with them enough to give you advice.

[ABW]

Koppers frogs work well for me. Trim about 1/2 - 1 inch off the legs if you want them to walk. Make sure you use braided line too

[BassinLou]

LT frogs are my bread and butter for frogging. They can be worked in various ways. I will say that learning to walk a LT frog is a little bit more challenging than other frogs in the market today, but it can be done with lots of practice.

I would not be too overly concerned if you can't walk it however. Popping them in thick to sparse cover is very effective and easier to do.
Here are some tips i give to rookie froggers:

1. Don't be afraid to throw the frog into nasty cover. The frog can handle it. When a bass takes a frog, be sure the bass has the frog and set the hook hard. Let your rod work with you. I cannot emphasize this enough.

2. Be patient and methodical on your approach. Look for cover that has the highest probability of holding fish.

3. Take quick mental notes of what approach is illiciting strikes and stick to that game plan.

4. Lastly,make sure you are properly equipped. Make sure your rod and reel are up to the task. Frogging is a rough and tough technique.

5. Enjoy the experience. Once you get your first explosion you will be hooked forever. Good luck.

[DocNsanE]

I've had some success with frogs on some days and on others I can't get anything to bite or I miss every strike. But I think the best tip came from BassinLou: take quick mental notes of what approach is getting the strikes. I've had days where I had to work the bait aggressively to get a strike and other days I'd walk it a little bit and then sit it over vegetation motionless for 10 seconds before a bass would come hit it. If whatever you are doing isn't working, change something up! I think it's also nice if you have a couple of frogs to work with. I don't care really what the top of the frog looks like since the bass won't see it. But I want to have a frog with a white belly, one with an orange belly and one that is all black.

 

 

Frogging doesn't work for me every time, but when it works, holy moly is it ever fun.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Check the hook sharpness, Ive had a couple LT frogs with less than ideal points.

 

For times that the bass strikes and misses dont panic or reel in quickly just stop for a second recoup and give twitch again you may get hit a second third time.

Or if in slop or thick vege

have another rig set-up with a falling lure like senko, you get a strike that missed follow with senko throw it in the hole created by strike bass could be waiting below

[Diggy]

This should fire you up

 

[Josh Smith]

This should fire you up

 

 

Haha!  I have that episode downloaded but haven't watched it yet!  Great minds think alike!

 

Josh

[Josh Smith]

Koppers frogs work well for me. Trim about 1/2 - 1 inch off the legs if you want them to walk. Make sure you use braided line too

 

 

LT frogs are my bread and butter for frogging. They can be worked in various ways. I will say that learning to walk a LT frog is a littel bit more challenging than other frogs in the market today, but it can be one with lots of practice.

I would not be too overly concerned if you can't walk it however. Popping them in thick to sparse cover is very effective and easier to do.

Here are some tips i give to rookie froggers:

1. Don't be afraid to throw the frog into nasty cover. The frog can handle it. When a bass takes a frog, be sure the bass has the frog and set the hook hard. Let your rod work with you. I cannot emphasize this enough.

2. Be patient and methodical on your approach. Look for cover that has the highest probability of holding fish.

3. Take quick mental notes of what approach is illiciting strikes and stick to that game plan.

4. Lastly,make sure you are properly equipped. Make sure your rod and reel are up to the task. Frogging is a rough and tough technique.

5. Enjoy the experience. Once you get your first explosion you will be hoooked for ever. Good luck.

 

 

I've had some success with frogs on some days and on others I can't get anything to bite or I miss every strike. But I think the best tip came from BassinLou: take quick mental notes of what approach is getting the strikes. I've had days where I had to work the bait aggressively to get a strike and other days I'd walk it a little bit and then sit it over vegetation motionless for 10 seconds before a bass would come hit it. If whatever you are doing isn't working, change something up! I think it's also nice if you have a couple of frogs to work with. I don't care really what the top of the frog looks like since the bass won't see it. But I want to have a frog with a white belly, one with an orange belly and one that is all black.

 

 

Frogging doesn't work for me every time, but when it works, holy moly is it ever fun.

 

 

Check the hook sharpness, Ive had a couple LT frogs with less than ideal points.

 

For times that the bass strikes and misses dont panic or reel in quickly just stop for a second recoup and give twitch again you may get hit a second third time.

Or if in slop or thick vege

have another rig set-up with a falling lure like senko, you get a strike that missed follow with senko throw it in the hole created by strike bass could be waiting below

 

Thanks guys!

 

What I'm getting from this is that I should just work it like my frog-colored Zara Spook, only use it in thick stuff?

 

Walk the dog and adjust from there to conditions?

 

Thanks,

 

Josh

[A-Jay]

Just like working any Bass bait, on any given day, fast slow & even dead stick will work, so don't get all crazy with what retrieve to use.  Simply moving the bait a few inches and then letting it sit for a few beats and then doing that again will get you bites almost every day & on every body of water.   The frogs position in the environment & the fact that it looks like an easy meal is where the magic lies (notice I didn't say anything about color or type of retrieve). 

 

For me frog fishing is about patience - first to work the bait slowly and secondly (and Most Importantly) on the strike, regardless of the ferocity, one must wait just a tick before setting the hook to ensure the fish has the bait.  Some like to wait to feel the bass's weight on the line and that works too, I just can't seem to wait quite that long.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[AllTerrainAngler]

i prefer the live target mouse

[BassinLou]

i prefer the live target mouse

 

The LT mouse is ok. I was really excited to get my hands on these when they were first released. They have caught me very nice bass, unfortunately they cannot sustain the same abuse as that of the LT frog. The mice take on water very quickly after you have caught a few bass. Yes, you can squeeze the water out on every cast, but that becomes PITA when you have a small window of time to cast the next spot. 

[long island basser]

[quote name="BassinLou" post="1705282" timestamp="1424265836

I would not be too overly concerned if you can't walk it however. Popping them in thick to sparse cover is very effective and easier to do.

1. Don't be afraid to throw the frog into nasty cover. The frog can handle it. When a bass takes a frog, be sure the bass has the frog and set the hook hard. Let your rod work with you. I cannot emphasize this enough.

.

[Cameron211]

Not to hijack your thread here, but I was just at dicks and saw the lunker frog by *** I think. About picked one up, but wanted to see if anyone has used it and or had success on it. Pretty pricey for almost 8$

[Cameron211]

****

[Cameron211]

Lol idk why it wont let me spell lunker hunt sorry