Frog Fishing Problems

[BucketMouth15]

I have recently been getting into froggin'. I started out with the frog on a spinning rod with light mono. One afternoon I had about 7 strikes with only 1 caught. The frog goes completely under water then floats back up. Should I be setting the hook sooner and harder? I have also made the switch to a baitcaster with 30 lbs braid so this should help with long hook sets. Please any input is welcomed.

[Ski213]

In my personal experience people, myself included, generally set too soon. It's so hard to wait when one nails it. I don't fish a frog a ton so others could probably give better advice, but I wait till I feel the fish.

[the reel ess]

I got 99 problems, but a frog ain't one. 

 

Switch to braid. 20# on MH spinning combo will do. But if you really wanna cross their eyes, a Heavy BC combo with 50# is the going thing. Take pliers and bend your hooks out away from the frog just enough to not be touching it. There is a trailer hook that rides up and loops over both hooks. Hold off for 2 whole seconds before setting the hook after the bass takes the frog down. That bass has a mouth full of air and maybe some frog. If you give him time, he'll exhale the air through the gills and have all frog/water. Cross his eyes then. You'll still miss some but catch more. A 50% rate ain't bad.

 

If you have 2 rods, rig the other with a senko weightless and toss it to the spot the fish missed at. They'll often take a consolation prize.

 

Good luck.

[BucketMouth15]

Very well explained. Thanks!

[bjangler]

A bait caster is much better for the job, especially when using hollow body frogs. Although a heavy action rod is recommended, I do get by with a 7' Med Heavy rod since I only have 3 setups (I have 20# PowerPro). Definitely bend the hooks up, or more parallel with the frog body, it'll give you a little more leeway. Also, from my experience, the Booyah Pad Crasher is the frog with the best hookup ratio. 

 

I have really started using them this year and at the beginning of the season my hookup ratios were abysmal, but the key I have found is in both the waiting and the hook set. You really have to be patient and zone in on the strike. I am now able to tell if the bite is a bass or a pickerel by the way the bass swallow and the pickerel hit from the side. Once you see that disturbance on top, try your best to wait and see the frog move (Perhaps even count out 1 Mississippi...2 Mississippi) and then I bring my rod from where I was walking it low to the water at my right hip and really use both hands as I make a hard set up above my right shoulder. Really engage your arms and core for a strong hook set after that initial wait. The past few times I've been out my hook up rates have been over 90% and I am ecstatic. 

 

This is such a fun way to fish and the strikes are amazing, try those tips and I hope it works for you, good luck!

 

This is exactly what I practice

[Breakin heads]

A bait caster is much better for the job, especially when using hollow body frogs. Although a heavy action rod is recommended, I do get by with a 7' Med Heavy rod since I only have 3 setups (I have 20# PowerPro). Definitely bend the hooks up, or more parallel with the frog body, it'll give you a little more leeway. Also, from my experience, the Booyah Pad Crasher is the frog with the best hookup ratio. 

 

I have really started using them this year and at the beginning of the season my hookup ratios were abysmal, but the key I have found is in both the waiting and the hook set. You really have to be patient and zone in on the strike. I am now able to tell if the bite is a bass or a pickerel by the way the bass swallow and the pickerel hit from the side. Once you see that disturbance on top, try your best to wait and see the frog move (Perhaps even count out 1 Mississippi...2 Mississippi) and then I bring my rod from where I was walking it low to the water at my right hip and really use both hands as I make a hard set up above my right shoulder. Really engage your arms and core for a strong hook set after that initial wait. The past few times I've been out my hook up rates have been over 90% and I am ecstatic. 

 

This is such a fun way to fish and the strikes are amazing, try those tips and I hope it works for you, good luck!

 

This is exactly what I practice

The best setup is a 7' 6" baitcasting rod with 65# braid. Work the rod tip very low or very high so when the fish hit you can the fish the 2-3 seconds it needs to engulf the frog. Then you try and break its neck.

[Big C]

Then you try and break its neck.

 

A little gory Mr.Head Breaker, but the proper method, no doubt. 

[tnt2671]

hollow body frogs are my go to lure i fish them in season every time I'm out which is usually 4 to 6 days a week sometimes i'll actually throw nothing but frogs all day . my advice would be get yourself a mh fast IF this will be your only bait casting rig as it will be a more versatile rod for other techniques,  if you are buying the rod exclusively for frogging me personally i'd go with a heavy fast action . length wise it's all personal preference and there is no best length it's what is comfortable for YOU my catch and hookups are just as good if not better with my sorter rod why because it's more comfortable for me to throw accurately and work the frog with for long periods of time, my current favorite frog rod is my 6'9'' megabass super destroyer with a scorpion 51 or a core 101 spooled with fx2 50lb braid. i also use my 7'3'' kistler depending on were i'm frogging. as for line i see no need to go any lighter than 40lb , i'd suggest 50 -65 lb you'll have all the strength you need especially if you run quality braid such as fx2 ( i can't say enough about this stuff it's awesome) because it's diameter runs small vs it's lb rating. with heavier braids you won't have dig in issues and it's well worth the money for the quality stuff. reels your choice go for ratios in the 6's on up.  as for missing strikes that could be hook set timing , smaller fish short striking, the frogs you using( booyah and spro are solid but theres tons others out there) , buy both junior and full size frogs downsizing on some days makes all the difference,   tweaking hooks helps  and defiantly a spinning rod with 8lb mono is far from optimal. get the correct rod ,reel and line then i would suggest get out there and practice because all the advice given here about wait x amount of time , this length rod etc. is good advice but every strike is different sometimes it's get smashed and a instant hook set works other times you might slowly take up that slack and feel for pressure which can be seconds, cover , bank vs boat all come into play. i will say don't  be afraid to throw them into the thick stuff i mean the nastiest of the nasty right up in  the bushes , reeds , drag them form shoreline vegetation back into the water frogs are amazing as they'll go through just about anything.  i'm not at all trying to sound like I'm dean rojas  here but i am very successful with my frogs and practice and time on them is what got me there best of luck to you!

[lectricbassman]

I got 99 problems, but a frog ain't one.

Switch to braid. 20# on MH spinning combo will do. But if you really wanna cross their eyes, a Heavy BC combo with 50# is the going thing. Take pliers and bend your hooks out away from the frog just enough to not be touching it. There is a trailer hook that rides up and loops over both hooks. Hold off for 2 whole seconds before setting the hook after the bass takes the frog down. That bass has a mouth full of air and maybe some frog. If you give him time, he'll exhale the air through the gills and have all frog/water. Cross his eyes then. You'll still miss some but catch more. A 50% rate ain't bad.

If you have 2 rods, rig the other with a senko weightless and toss it to the spot the fish missed at. They'll often take a consolation prize.

Good luck.

I agree. This is my second season using frogs. Last year i used mono and a spinning combo. Countless blowups and 1 caught all season. My rig was too light and i was setting the hook too soon. Switched to mh baitcast setup, 30lb power pro, and i wait until i feel the fish before i set the hook. Lost count of how many ive caught but my hookup ratio is at least 80 percent now. And have thay senko ready, ive caught alot on the follow up too!

[vmabuck]

I also recently got into this topwater frog action. Tried it first with a 6' 6" MH and 14 pound mono. After losing two really nice fish in the muck I did some research. I am throwing into heavy cover and also throwing from the bank which means I have to pull them through some above surface aquatic plants that shield the bank. I ended up getting a Berkely 7' 6" Heavy E-Motion and a H2O Express reel with 50# braid, making sure the reel had an aluminum body because I was told this is a must if you are going to be setting and yanking out the muck with heavy braid. I was told the carbon frames would wear out fast under these conditions.

 

Well, the research paid off well. The action is hot. Can't wait to get out more than an hour doing this.

 

I am also a recent convert to bass fishing and baitcasting. I have been pretty much a western trout fly fisher my whole life. I was even a guide for a few years in Northern NM. I never thought for a minute this bass fishing could be as fun as it is. Definitely love the topwater action action being a fly fisher. And the similarities of choosing flies vs. soft plastics is easily seen.

 

Lovin it!

 

 

 

[FrogFreak]

All great advice here! I'll tell you about a story that might help. I was trying to teach my son to frog fish and he was having trouble understanding how long you have to wait to set the hook. Well one day he happened to see me catch one on a frog and he was astounded by the amount of time I waited to set the hook. Since then he has improved and now his hook up ratio has skyrocketed. It's just hard to understand how long to wait until you see it in action. Yes, some days they inhale it and practically hook themselves but most days you have to wait until you feel them. 

 

I personally use Boyah frogs. I prefer the poppin pad crashers. They don't break the bank and they are very soft. I don't bend out the hooks because I don't like when I get snagged. As rods go, I get a much better hook up ratio when I use a heavy rod that's very stiff but I sacrifice casting accuracy so I've went to a MH rod and I see it as the best of both worlds.

[vmabuck]

Been looking at different kinds of these frogs. So far I have purchased a Lunker Hunt frog, with realistic legs, KVD Sexy Frog, and a Scum Frog.

 

I liked the action of the Lunker Hunt frog but after two missed strikes and one 2.5 lb'er both legs were gone. That took all of 30 minutes. Now it just kind of rolls around so it is no good. I contacted LH about the quality of the legs and they just said, basically, that is just part of the game. They are sending me a replacement though. I found that story hard to swallow because after 10 or so misses in the beginning, and now 5 successful sets and lands through the muck, the KVD Sexy Frog is still rockin just like when I pulled it out of the box.

 

So, if I had to judge from my initial experience, I have to say not all frogs are equal. I will use the new LH and see how long it lasts now that I have the timing better on hookset. But if I lose the legs after a few fish then I will not be purchasing that brand anymore.

 

Right now the KVD Pumpkin/Pearl Belly Sexy Frog is doing real well for me. I tried the Scum Frog but for some reason it did not inspire a lot of faith for me. So it will have to be a last resort backup.

 

Next purchase with be the Booyah mentioned above. I really want to try that brand...

[the reel ess]

Been looking at different kinds of these frogs. So far I have purchased a Lunker Hunt frog, with realistic legs, KVD Sexy Frog, and a Scum Frog.

 

I liked the action of the Lunker Hunt frog but after two missed strikes and one 2.5 lb'er both legs were gone. That took all of 30 minutes. Now it just kind of rolls around so it is no good. I contacted LH about the quality of the legs and they just said, basically, that is just part of the game. They are sending me a replacement though. I found that story hard to swallow because after 10 or so misses in the beginning, and now 5 successful sets and lands through the muck, the KVD Sexy Frog is still rockin just like when I pulled it out of the box.

 

So, if I had to judge from my initial experience, I have to say not all frogs are equal. I will use the new LH and see how long it lasts now that I have the timing better on hookset. But if I lose the legs after a few fish then I will not be purchasing that brand anymore.

 

Right now the KVD Pumpkin/Pearl Belly Sexy Frog is doing real well for me. I tried the Scum Frog but for some reason it did not inspire a lot of faith for me. So it will have to be a last resort backup.

 

Next purchase with be the Booyah mentioned above. I really want to try that brand...

This is the first frog I ever bought.

http://www.basspro.com/Snag-Proof-The-Original-Frog/product/37017/

 

I caught my PB on it more than 10 years ago and I still have it. Not one like it but the actual lure. It only costs $6.50. And it still gets more hits than the SPRO, Scum frog and some other hard rubber popping frog I have. If you're going to buy it, buy the casting size (1/4 oz) The spinning size is 1/8 oz and it really doesn't cast far enough even on spinning gear. 

[Damn Yankee]

Booyah makes a real good frog,very soft body for a better hook ratio.If you want a heavier frog, I like the Koopers,5/8 or 3/4.More money though.The important things are good hooks,3/0-5/0,and soft body imo.

[BooyahMan]

Booyahs are fantastic, and if you couldn't tell by my username I am a HUGE fan of their products. They are incredibly soft and while some people have had issues with durability, mine have held up just fine. They walk just fine too. 

 

Also, don't underestimate the junior size. I caught my two biggest bass on a Pad Crasher Jr. 

[vmabuck]

This is the first frog I ever bought.

Snag Proof Frog.jpghttp://www.basspro.com/Snag-Proof-The-Original-Frog/product/37017/

 

I caught my PB on it more than 10 years ago and I still have it. Not one like it but the actual lure. It only costs $6.50. And it still gets more hits than the SPRO, Scum frog and some other hard rubber popping frog I have. If you're going to buy it, buy the casting size (1/4 oz) The spinning size is 1/8 oz and it really doesn't cast far enough even on spinning gear. 

 

I will get one of those and try it out!

 

Did you see the tip in the comments on the BP link about spacing the legs wider using boiling water and a shot glass?

 

Seems like a more realistic look after that mod...

[5fishlimit]

Some others to check out (though more costly) are the Spro bronze eye frog and the River2Sea Bully Wa & Spittin' Wa frogs.

 

Both are great and worth the extra $ in my opinion.

[ww2farmer]

The best setup is a 7' 6" baitcasting rod with 65# braid.

Mehhh.....maybe in your opinion, but I "prefer" a 7' rod MH rod with a "little tip", and 50lb braid. Is my idea of an ideal frog set up the best??? Probably not, but it's the best for me. Only ignorant idiots, or kids speak in absolutes about tackle.

[the reel ess]

I will get one of those and try it out!

 

Did you see the tip in the comments on the BP link about spacing the legs wider using boiling water and a shot glass?

 

Seems like a more realistic look after that mod...

I did see that. Thing is, I like the leg shape. This is a frog that a bass can engulf completely. I think the others with the long legs can be harder for a fish to find the body. If there's one thing I don't like about this frog, it's that it doesn't run true. You twitch it and it might go straight, might turn either way. But fish don't seem to mind that.That and the fact that it's so light.

 

If you do it, let me know how it turns out.

[vmabuck]

I'll see if I can find one and I will fish it both ways.

 

I know sometimes people like to mod things just to say they did it LOL!

 

But hey, what ever inspires confidence in your game I say go for it! I think it sends positive vibes down the rod and make your flies or lures just a little more appealing...