How to get an uncooperative walking bait to walk?

[snake95]

I got some walking baits (frog-pattern Livetargets) that are lying over on one side when I'm trying to walk them.

They "kick out" to one side and lose the walking cadence.

Tried using a snap to the split ring, and direct tied to the nose.

Suggestions on how to get them to walk better?  

 

 

[flyfisher]

sounds like user error to me.  Every walking bait I have used requires a little different technique to get them to walk appropriately.  

Practice and take your time and get it to walk but slowly at first, then you can pick up the speed  a little.

[Molay1292]

6 hours ago, snake95 said:

I got some walking baits (frog-pattern Livetargets) that are lying over on one side when I'm trying to walk them.

They "kick out" to one side and lose the walking cadence.

Tried using a snap to the split ring, and direct tied to the nose.

Suggestions on how to get them to walk better?  

 

 

What rod and line are you using 

 

[snake95]

3 hours ago, Molay1292 said:

What rod and line are you using 

Vertias 2.0 6'-6" M/F.  15 lb big game.

I'm relatively new to walking baits - started last year - but have been able to walk skitter walks, sexy dawgs, and one knocker spooks and catch bass on them.  

This particular bait has some pretty good reviews out there and a nice looking flat spot below the nose like a sexy dawg, so I had high hopes.  

[smalljaw67]

Those are what I call "tight walkers", some walking baits kick out far and work best with a slower cadence while others, like the one you have, work better with a quick cadence. If you twitch the rod in short quick twitches the bait will work well but if you let it swing too far out and twitch it again it will roll. It requires practice but it is worth it in the long run.

[stk44]

Try trimming the skirt down to about the same length as the frog. This seemed to help a bit with the walking, I don't think that would help the bait from falling over to one side though...

[fishballer06]

As a side note, you're going to have trouble with hooksets using a medium power rod for frog fishing. I would recommend at least a MH and use braid. 

[snake95]

8 minutes ago, stk44 said:

Try trimming the skirt down to about the same length as the frog.

 

6 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

you're going to have trouble with hooksets using a medium power rod for frog fishing

Thanks guys, just for clarification, I'm talking about their walking bait not the soft-bodied frog here.

FWIW the form and graphics are cool, but personally bought them more for reputation for overall quality than a belief that the fancy graphics help catch many more fish than a spook with simple colors.

[stk44]

Yeah, I just re-read your OP. Sorry about that

[Molay1292]

57 minutes ago, snake95 said:

Vertias 2.0 6'-6" M/F.  15 lb big game.

I'm relatively new to walking baits - started last year - but have been able to walk skitter walks, sexy dawgs, and one knocker spooks and catch bass on them.  

This particular bait has some pretty good reviews out there and a nice looking flat spot below the nose like a sexy dawg, so I had high hopes.  

As mentioned, your rod and line choice may be hindering your ability to walk some baits properly, especially a frog.    If you have the option try stepping up in power and use braided line.

[snake95]

1 hour ago, smalljaw67 said:

work better with a quick cadence. If you twitch the rod in short quick twitches the bait will work well but if you let it swing too far out and twitch it again it will roll.

@smalljaw67Thanks so much, smalljaw that's very informative and helpful.  I liked your point that it will take practice.  

Smalljaw, @Molay1292

(and others) - any further opinions and experience on line and knot (position and type) preferences, and rod preferences for this type of tight walking bait? (especially with this particular bait - I'm throwing the lighter one 5/8 oz).

 

Edited August 4, 2016 by snake95
Further explanation, reference to molay's comment

[Choporoz]

I walk tight smaller Gunfish using 8# Yo-Zuri on a 7' MF.  Tie direct with San Diego Jam.  Quick horizontal or slightly downward wrist-snaps....won't take you long with just a little practice

[timsford]

If its the hard bait with trebles then your line and rod setup should be fine. A med abu rod is what most manufacturers would call mh anyway. I'd try doing as small jaw suggests and use shorter twitches.

[smalljaw67]

1 hour ago, snake95 said:

@smalljaw67Thanks so much, smalljaw that's very informative and helpful.  I liked your point that it will take practice.  

Smalljaw, @Molay1292

(and others) - any further opinions and experience on line and knot (position and type) preferences, and rod preferences for this type of tight walking bait? (especially with this particular bait - I'm throwing the lighter one 5/8 oz).

 

Your rod and line are fine for that bait, I see a lot believe you are using the hollow body frog and not the hard walking frog so that is why they mention braid. The bait has a split ring so any knot is fine as long as you tie to the split ring and not a snap which I do not like with topwaters in general. Rolling happens on most walkers and it is a reason we tend to miss fish that slash at them as the hooks are more to the side than directly under the bait. The thing that is good however, is that because of the round shape they don't lose their cadence as easily, Sebile makes the flat belly and Storm makes the top walker with a flat or slightly flat belly to keep the baits from rolling. The walking frog you have does walk well but it needs to be used with short twitches with less slack as I mentioned earlier, the shape along with the line tie position make it give a little spit but with too much slack it will move to far to the side and when you give it another twitch you'll actually pull it over on its side until it faces you again. Just remember to limit your slack as it will keep the bait from going to far to the side so if you want to go a little slower you can but keep the slack down by using short twitches. If you practice with it for an hour or so you'll get it down, so don't give up on it as the profile seems to be one that gets larger fish interested.

[snake95]

10 minutes ago, smalljaw67 said:

If you practice with it for an hour or so you'll get it down, so don't give up on it as the profile seems to be one that gets larger fish interested.

Just a great explanation and makes complete sense with the way the walker was behaving for me.  One of the things I've enjoyed about getting back into fishing has been learning to use baits that I wasn't familiar with effectively, but this Livetarget walker had me stumped.  Thanks a lot, smalljaw!