hokset on snag proof frog

[bubbler]

My friend and I were fishing yesterday and we got 16 strikes and we pulled our armes and backs out setting the hook.

we just could not get one we were ready to fricken kill someone.

help

[JD-FL]

They key to setting a hook on frogs and buzzbaits is to wait till you feel the weight of the fish.  If you set the hook at the moment of the strike you're going to miss.  Another factor is your rod and line.    Use a 7' to 7'6" heavy rod and maybe a braided line in the 50-65 lb range.  Another factor could be the sharpness of your hooks.

[shsesc]

Those are hard to set, the hook lies right against the body so they have to bite hard for the hook to be exposed.  I've used the snag proof frog and the snag proof minnow.  

[Guest avid]

Welcome to the world of frog fishing.

It is soooooooooooo much fun to see a big bass explode on a hollow body frog.

Hooking them............well that's a different story altogether.

Good luck.

PS> Braided line, and a stout stick plus the advice already given is the best bet, but this is a low percentage bait for hooksets no matter what.

[jkniffen]

I ran into the same problem last Thursday.  I thought I had a good hook set.  I fought her all the way to the boat, but as soon as I went to lip her, she opened her mouth and the frog slipped out.  I said a few choice words as I watched her swim away.

[bubbler]

Great tips guys!!!!!

Another question an the frog. :-[

dodn't khow what kinda reel to put the heavy line on. :-[

I have a big Corvalus reel from shimano, would that be good, it is a circular baitcast reel.

I only have that reel because my other 2 reels just broke. >

Only have that and a 2 spinning rods :(

[Guest avid]

The corvalus will work fine.

[pondhopper]

Always encourage this fish to strike the bait from the rear. ;D I have a hook-up ratio worst than you and your partner; worst than anybody, I think.

[rocknfish9001]

I went out this weekend, and caught 25 bass. 17 of them were caught on a weedless frog, and i had probably 3 fish strike for every 1 i landed on the frog. It wasnt the hookset that was the problem, it was the fight. I would hook it, fight it for a second and it would tangle in the weeds and loose me. The secret for the hookset is not to set it right away. You dont necessarily want to "feel" the fish either. Just be confident that it is in its mouth. If you wait too long and never feel the fish, im sure youll be more heartbroken than if you rip it from the fish.

[roadwarrior]

Last weekend I fished a frog over some spiragyra at one of my local ponds. I had thirteen strikes, but only hooked-up and landed three. Mostly, I think the bass missed the frog! Anyhow, here's how I handled the strike:

DO NOT set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. Now you might ask, with such a low hook-up ratio, why listen to this guy's advice? Well, of the thirteen strikes, at least half were repeats. When I was able to feel the weight, hook-up and landing was 100%.

[Dawn2Dusk]

The way I do it is when I get a strike, I immediately point my rod at the direction of the strike giving slack in the amount of about 2'.  I allow the bass to run with the bait until the slack is out and then I set back into him/her.  It seems to work well.

[CyBasser]

DO NOT set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. Now you might ask, with such a low hook-up ratio, why listen to this guy's advice? Well, of the thirteen strikes, at least half were repeats. When I was able to feel the weight, hook-up and landing was 100%.

Absolutely what RW has said! The frogs are the ideal lure for very bad (in terms of snagging) situations. Like everybody, my hooking ratio is perhaps less than 30% - but seeing those explosive strikes just make it up! And once hooked, I don't think I ever lost a bass from coming unhooked. It's just a matter of a succesful hookset or none at all!

[tipptruck1]

I point the rod at the fish and reel in intill I feel the fish. If the fish comes up after it and misses I stop the frog. After a few seconds I jerk the frog agian. Thats how I get most of my bites.

[CyBasser]

I point the rod at the fish and reel in intill I feel the fish. If the fish comes up after it and misses I stop the frog. After a few seconds I jerk the frog agian. Thats how I get most of my bites.

That's quite true. With frogs repetetive attacks are quite common, so if a bass strikes and misses the frog (quite common) or it gets it but does not get hooked, give it a couple more twiches. Chances are it will attack again...

[Upnorth]

All great advice.  Also keep another rod or two rigged up with a texas rigged Sweet Beaver, Senko, etc.  When the fish miss in heavy slop, alot of times they will blow a hole in the cover.  Quickly cast back into the hole with your follow up bait and about 75% of the time they will be there.  But with frogs its still: 65# braid+Flipping Stick+waiting on hookset= low strike to catch ratio