Okay guys, what's the secret?

[Shad_Master]

There must be some secret to fishing frogs that I just haven't picked up on yet -- I have been fishing a local lake for the last week throwing frogs (ZOOM Horny Toads, GULP! Bat Wings and, last night, Mann's Hard Nose).  I have had bite after bite and can't keep 'em hooked up.  I am riggin 'em on 12# Yozuri Hybrid on a 4/0 Gammy hook.  Last night I did have one solid bite and lost him due to a rooky mistake (had the drag set too loose and he buried in the grass) but all of the others have hit it, run with it and then come unbottoned.  I know I am not pulling the trigger too quick (at least not every time) as I do let 'em run with it before dropping the hammer.

Any suggestions?

[Avalonjohn44]

Is the hook exposed, or at least resting in that little groove some frogs have?  If so, maybe switch to a bigger hook?

[captaininsaneo]

I don't use frogs much, but I have heard of trouble with hooksets before.  I have always thought that you could possibly rig them with a small trailer hook almost like a buzzbait.  Now like I said I dont fish them much, but on frogs like a YUM buzzfrog I don't think it would hinder the action as the legs are spaced far apart and they get a lot of lift.  You should try it out if you're not fishing in too heavy of cover.  Also, if you use this in a tourny and win some dough I should get atleast 60%, haha.

Lemme know if it works!

[mattm]

I don't know what set-up your using but braid will help.  Also use the heaviest action rod you have or better yet go buy a heavy rod if you can.  I don't personally have this set-up because I don't fish frogs enough to justify having one rod, reel and braided line tied up to just to a frog.  Most likely your problem though is your casting that frog a mile and you have to much stretch in your equipment on those long hook sets.  If like me you can't go out and get a specific frog set-up it will help to fish the frog on your heaviest rod, hopefully at least a med heavy, at the 11 o'clock position. This will force you to reel down and give the fish time to take the bait.  However, your pretty sure that you are already giving it enough time so it is probably your set-up.  

[jaywag7]

Shad_master,

Are you fishing the grass on Walnut Creek???  That must mean they are starting to hit the frog there??  That's great news.  Just out of curiosity, what colors are they hitting on??

[Shad_Master]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I thought about a trailer hook, but the cover that I am fishing is just too thick right now for that.  Also, I am fishing from bank so not casting a mile as mattm suggested, so I'm not sure line stretch is the problem either.  Braided line might help and I will try that.

Yeah, jaywag, they are hitting frogs, but not on the grass - on the edges or in the holes.  I have thrown june bug, brown, green pumpkin and watermelon and gotten bites on all of 'em.  The best place has been on the outside weed edge just before or just after sundown - also, there is a major bug hatch of some kind going on and this has the bluegills going crazy, which seems to be pulling the bass up in the shallows around dark.

[jaywag7]

Awesome, thanks for the info.  I plan on going out there as soon as I get back from vacation.

Good luck!

[Siebert Outdoors]

hook might be to small

Line might be streaching too much

What action rod you using?

[Autiger1291]

I was having the exact same problem about three weeks ago and now its fixed. I do have a MH rod and braided line on my main frog rod, but I did catch a few with 12 lb Yozuri Hyrbrid Ultra Soft without any trouble. It's almost has to become an involuntary action that you have to get used to when fishing horny toads. You really don't want to let them run with it. Just make sure they are there and then set the hook HARD. It takes some force. Also make certain you are rigging the frog correctly. I use a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu. Here is a link for the exact way to do it.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1179334367

Once you get everything down they are an amazing fun bait to fish. Also don't underestimate their deadliness as a subsurface bait. Don't be afraid to stop it next to some cover.

[ben watson]

hello everyone, i love fishing with frogs, when i first fished them i was using mono but as some people suggested to much stretch, then i switched to braid much better, also make sure hook is SHARP, even if its right out of the pack they might not be very sharp, i really never gave it a second thought before but it really does make a difference.

[Lightninrod]

Haven't thrown one in a few years but when I did, I rigged mine with a 1/8 oz screw-in weight, a 4/0 GY Sugoi hook and used 100% fluro.  Not sure how y'all are fishing them but I would throw it as far as I could and buzz it back, right on the top of the water, like I would a Zoom Speed Worm(very good, subtle buzzbait) or a regular buzzbait.  Sometimes, I would 'kill' it and get bitten on the fall but most bites were severe topwater/buzzbait bites and they got hooked and stayed hooked.

Dan

[Triton_Mike]

Your problem is solved!! Here is your secret.

http://allatoonaguides.proboards101.com/index.cgi?board=tipstalk&action=display&thread=1175893302

T Mike

[Brad_Coovert]

Great hook idea Mike!

Brad

[mike bat]

all i can say is BRAID ..... also you must under stand there are times when the bass will just miss the toad all together ..... ive got my frogging down ,,, i use a st croix legened tourney bass frog rod .... i love this stick , i was useing a loomis frog rod but there was just too much cork for me,, also the st croix is liter in over all weight .... i have a diawa zillion casting reel the burner one .... and i use 50lb power pro ,, however i will be tryin the suffix 65lb braid this year ..... the rod ,, reel ,, line ,., and baits all play a big role in landing bass with a frog .....  i learned this the hard way after i lost 2 bass almost on back 2 back casts .... bolth bass where heavy the line i was useing gave the bass just enough stretch to get off and the rod didnt have the mustard to yank em free from cover ..... the reel i was using was way slow ,,, in fact i use the same reel for cranks now .... well you live and learn .... just keep tweeking your tackle till you land a few and then tweek some more ...  what works for me may not be the best way ,, but it works ..... and dont pull the trigger till you feel the fish ,,, ya easier said than done .... i tend to watch the line if i see that line moving i pull the trigger ..... good luck froggin is my favorite way to catch em  

[Brad_Coovert]

Shad, I reread and noticed your fishing from shore and fishing thick grass areas.  Another problem you may be having is that the bass are taking your bait and then swimming into the grass.  The heavy grass will interfere with a hookset at times.  Like some have said, braid will help here as it cuts through grass better than any other line made.

Brad

[jomatty]

the owner screw locks that look like the horny toad hooks are also great frog hooks.  braid is key for fishing frogs of any kind, maybe more so than any other specific combination of line and application.  reel the frog with your rod tip high and when you see the blow up quickly drop your rod while taking up slack.  this will let the frog eat it but also get you in the right spot for a strong hookset that should help keep the fish out of the muck.  for those that suggested a trailer hook the best way imo is to take a treble hook and cut one of the hooks off.  then slide it on the hook like you would a spinnerbait trailer.  bury the hooks int he legs and you have a completely weedless bait with a trailer hook.  this works better on some frogs than others. personally i rarely do this although i have had success when the fish were just eating the legs.

matt

[Shad_Master]

Thanks guys -- Mike's double hook looks like a great idea -- I will try this and give you a report. Jomatty, I saw this technique demonstrated again this weekend on BASSInsider -- I had fogotten about it -- I'll give this one a try also. And Brad, you are right about the thick grass -- interestingly enough two years ago, I used braid for all my techniques and had good success, but had gotten away from it for everything except jigs and chatter baits. I will try this as well.

You guys are the greatest!!!!