Swimming frog hooks

[N Florida Mike]

I have not used swimming frogs much in the last couple years. I watched a video of a 9 pound bass clobbering a moving topwater frog. Then I thought of a combo I could dedicate to moving frogs only.

I found a 5 or 6/0 frog hook, and rigged it with a z-man frog that sinks.

After 20 minutes I had gotten 4 hits. The first one hit it on the fall before I could start reeling in. Missed on the hook set.

2nd fish hit as I started reeling in after I saw the wake of the fish closing in. Good fish. Gave him an extra second and popped him. Had him hooked for a couple seconds and he came off. Caught the 3rd fish that hit on top as I pulled it over a clump of grass. Dink sized fish. 4th fish slammed it as it hit the water and let go before I could set.

I have always had problems hooking fish with plastic frogs. The fish love em, but the hook up rate stinks. I have made sure the hook point and barb is out of the frog and that helps some, but there must be a better way. What do y'all do ?

[N Florida Mike]

Also wondering about the rod. It's a 7 ft medium heavy. Seems like a heavy might work better. There's too much bend in the rod I think.

[Bluebasser86]

What line are you using? Casting or spinning?

 

I don't fish the type of baits I'm assuming you're using often, the soft plastic toads like a Zoom Horny Toad. When I did, I always used braid with a 7' MH/F and a 4/0 EWG superline Gama and never had any problem with hooksets. 

 

Honestly, I think this whole myth about needing to wait to feel the fish is a big part of why guys miss so many frog/toad bites. If you see the fish hit the bait and the bait is gone, where did it most likely go? In the fish's mouth! Set the hook! The second I get bit and the frog is gone, I'm swinging. Waiting just lets the fish bury up more, makes is so you have to set the hook through more junk, and gives them more time to spit the bait. All my opinion, but there's a lot of trial and error behind it. Watch some pros, see how many are waiting and feeling for a fish for a frog versus looking for the bait and swinging as soon as they see it's gone. 

[N Florida Mike]

This is a casting reel, Not sure about the line, it was given to me but it's 50 or 60 pound braid. The rod is a 7'0 medium heavy.I use the horny toad , the z-man frog, Ribbet frogs, etc. The hook is a 5/0 gammy frog hook .Very sharp.

I have tried all kinds of hooksets many times and my hookup % and catch rate is terrible, maybe as low as 40 %. In contrast, when I fish other plastics, It's probably close to 90 %.

In most cases, I initially hook the fish, but it comes off during the fight.

I had thought about watching some videos on it, because the bass definitely are interested in these baits. But the poor catch rate takes most of the fun out of it.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Catt]

Double Hooks!  ?

 

Ya know when bass miss a frog drop that rod & fire a Texas Rigged plastic to that spot & hang on!

[riverbasser]

I agree with bluebasser when he says once the frog is gone set the hook but I do sort of wait on frog bites, mainly because the fish often slap or miss all together. I reel with a steady retrieve even after a blow up until I either feel weight or the frog disappears. I've had fish tracking a frog and blow up 3 or 4 times before they actually really get it, just keep reeling. 

 

The hooksets are definately important here and the longer the rod the easier it is.

 

I have more issues with hollow body's than the soft plastic frogs but they are similar in how I go about them