Solid body frog sliding down hook

[beardown34]

I was so excited to try out the Z-man Hard Leg Frogz and they finally arrived today. I rigged it with a 3/0 EWG hook and haven't fished it yet, but just holding it upright, I'm having problems with the butt end of the frog sliding down the hook. the problem is there is so little plastic for the hook to sit in. not only is there a hook slot on the top side, but there is also a belly slot on the under side. i understand the concept of wanting less plastic for the hook to have to travel through, but now there is so little plastic to keep the lure from sliding down the hook. and because of the hook slot on top, there isn't really any plastic to stick the end of the EWG hook into. for now i've just buried the tip of the hook back into the hook slot, but i'm guessing after 1 or 2 fish that plastic will tear, and then what?

has anyone come up with any solutions for this? i also noticed this was the case with the Culprit Marsh Frog. Would it help to bring the hook point up farther back (away from the hook eye) or closer up (towards the hook eye)? 

or maybe instead of coming up through the middle of the belly slot, come up just a tiny bit off to the side, so the hook grabs a little of the thicker part of the frog's body instead.

[doyle8218]

You can always skin hook it if that is happening.

[CenCal fisher]

A dab of super glue will hold the frog in place. I use super glue to hold the Ned rig on

[buzzed bait]

something like the owner twistlock hooks would help you out. they'll keep the "nose" of the frog in place and no sliding down the hook.

[scaleface]

Hes not having trouble with the nose sliding down . 

 

 

[Megastink]

Buy a pack of rubber skirt collars, snip one in half longways, and slide it onto the bend (put the point of the hook through the outside of the collar) of the hook. Rig your toad and slide the hook onto and snug the collar underneath the butt of the toad. This works for me for other plastics like swimbaits, it should work for you too.

[beardown34]

awesome idea megastink. i didn't have rubber skirt collars, but i do have other rubbers ... trailer hook tubing of course. i didn't want to add too much resistance under the frog's butt, so i only pierced through one side of the tubing. plus this way i don't have to re-penetrate the plastic for skin hooking, which will hopefully help preserve the bait. i'll test it on the water tomorrow and if it stays up great. if it slides down the hook then i'll try piercing through both sides of the tubing. thanks for the idea megastink!

 

[primetime]

They make bait buttons for this exact purpose. they are marketed toward saltwater I believe, and a pack of 100 is like .99 I think Puchi makes the ones I buy and they make colors from glow etc. I have the same problem, especially with Elaztach or when fishing in weeds, sometimes a bigger hook helps, less stretch, but the collar is a good idea as well.

Z-man makes a weighted hook for elaztach called a Trigger Hook which has bait buttons on the bottom and on the shank for holding baits in place. I use the 4/0 more than the 3/0 on the frogs, I like the 1/8 & 1/16, that is a great hook, SUPER STRONG. Priced well, easy to  find on Ebay cheap.

[beardown34]

thanks for the input primetime. i've read that those trigger hooks end up hooking humans better than they do fish. but those bait buttons are a cool idea. i'd never heard of those before. very glad i asked the question here. thanks guys!

[scaleface]

On 8/6/2016 at 9:39 AM, Megastink said:

Buy a pack of rubber skirt collars, snip one in half longways, and slide it onto the bend (put the point of the hook through the outside of the collar) of the hook. Rig your toad and slide the hook onto and snug the collar underneath the butt of the toad. This works for me for other plastics like swimbaits, it should work for you too.

I'm going to remember this tip .Good idea .

[IgotWood]

I fish the Z Man frogs too, and I do not have this problem. I rig them on a Gamakatsu Superline Offest EWG in a 4/0 or 5/0. The hook is big, but it fits. The wide gap, and heavy gauge help the bait right itself once it hits the water. I should also add that it does very well in the weeds and the slimy snot.

 

[beardown34]

speaking of the bait buttons -- anyone know if they will work with snelled hooks? i've been tying my texas rigs with snell knots lately.