40 Year Old Virgin: Never Frogged Before

[HawnSalt]

Hey Guys, I've been fishing for a couple of years but have never managed to catch a fish on a frog before.I do OK with most lures and soft plastics, but a bass on a hollow bodied frog has eluded me for a very long time.

 

I've tried frogs from Booyah, Snagproof, Koppers and a bunch of others and got so frustrated that I wrote if off for a while. I would get bites on the frog, but would either yank the baits too fast from their mouths or leave it down long enough for them to spit it out before I can hook them.

 

I gave up for a while and ended up fishing just about every other topwater instead. I recently got a couple of frogs as a gift and started trying them again, to no avail. I understand that a lot of people recommend 50 to 60 lb. braid and a MH rod, but is it absolutely necessary?

 

I'm running on a major budget and can't afford to get new gear for a technique that I've learned to live without. Is it possible to catch on a medium 6' fiberglass rod or a 6'6" composite and 14 lb. Trilene XL on a baitcaster? I was thinking about going up to 17 lb. Trilene XL/XT or some type of copolymer line. Would that help?

 

 

 

[tcbass]

You can definitely use what you have just makes it riskier. 

 

I only use 30lbs. Power Pro braid on all of my baitcasters and 15lbs. on my spinning reels and do fine. However, I'm not fishing super thick pads like Florida. But I've never had a breakoff.

 

If you have frogs and aren't having success I suggest taking one of them, if it's a Booyah and making a Whopper Frog. I saw a ton of improvement in my frog fishing hookups when I switched too this. You don't need a Teckel Sprinker Frog tail like some use either, you can just cut the tail off of a cheap swimbait.

 

Good luck!

 

Here's how to make them:

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

You're going to have a really difficult time hooking a fish on a fiberglass rod and a frog, composite won't be much better. I've used a 7' MH/F Lightning Rod Shock for frogs plenty of times and it works pretty well. You can order a spool of KastKing Super Power off Ebay with free shipping for under $5 for your braided line. 

 

A lot of techniques you can get away with a multipurpose type rod and reel, frogging isn't one of them. 

[HawnSalt]

Thanks guys, I'll save up for a heavier rod/braid and try the Whopper Frog mod in the meantime. I like the swimbait tail tip, which cuts down the cost. I tried some 20 lb. Power Pro from my spinning rod this weekend and had all kinds of issues with that, so I clearly need to go higher on that.

 

I almost sprung for the Deps Basirisky and separately for the Lake Fork Tail Hook last year out of desperation, but decided that it was a shortcut and not the real thing.

 

The problem for me is finding a decent 2-piece MH baitcasting rod.

I've heard good things about the Lightning Rod Shock the only problem is that I think it typically comes as a 1-piece rod. Is this a graphite-only technique?

 

 

[islandbass]

@HawnSalt:

 

Hmmm.  I was searching for a 2-piece MH rod myself just today, hoping to find an H rod for frogging/jigsaw   since I also want to give frogging a try. I only found one brand that even came close and it was St. Croix, in a casting and MH. There were 2 triumph models of what appear to be the same rod spec wise but different in length. One was either 6’8” or 6’9” and the other was like 7’1”. 

 

If I have a peeve, it’s buying things as important as this sight unseen and worse not held in hand. I just hate it. I want to try the 7 footer, but I’m dreading it might be tip heavy and the 6’8” , can I live with that as a bank angler? They were the same price at $140 and I’ve never spent that much on a rod and if I did, maybe I should get it one piece, but 1 piece rods don’t suit my portability needs so I keep rambling on with indecision and mental paralysis. 

 

Now that I got that off my chest, I feel better and can say that both are perhaps my best options in the given market that are a compromise and might suit my needs. 

 

I guess its it’s time to flip a coin. 

 

Oh, their was one other company, Kast king. They also had a 2-piece mh in one of their line ups and another one that came with two tips. Another possible candidate and for less than half that of the st Croix.

 

I need to do more research on it but normally aluminum oxide or comparable material is my minimum standard for guides and the Croixs have them. 

 

With all the positive talk about st Croix it’s awfully tempting. Decisions, decisions, decisions. 

 

I have excellent one piece bass rods but my 2 piece rods are the ones that get called to duty 90% of the time because of my fishing reality. 

[HawnSalt]

I'm seeing the same thing.

The best options for a 2-piece seem to be St. Croix Rods.

 

I wish all of my rods could be St. Croix.

The Triump, Premier, Mojo and Avid all look nice... but it will add up.

 

A 1-piece is way more budget friendly like you were saying but can be a pain to transport. I found two sub-$20 options at Dick's/Field & Stream.

 

I may be temped to try one of those for now until I can figure out a better option. St. Croix rods will definitely be in my future, I just don't see it right now.

 

 

[islandbass]

It turns out I was mistaken on the Kast Kings regarding to MH models. Only their pedigree line has an 2 piece that come with an M and MH tip. Yup two tips for on rod. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! That is pretty cool. 

 

I thought their other line, royale something had an MH, but no. Only medium. Not bad but probably not suited for frogs. 

 

Interestingly enough, I’ve discovered my 2 piece Cabelas mag touch is a M powered rod but it has not had a single problem drill the large, bulky hooks of spinnerbaits. I found this a bit odd. I was using this rod because it’s all I have so you have to use what you even if it might not be adequate. On more than one hook set, and I never ever cross their eyes, the hook penetrated the harder, upper lip without a power hook set and I’m using mono. Another interesting point but I still want at least an MH. I gave up my cherry hardly used MH crucial for an auction ? so that part of my arsenal is non existent. 

[Smalls]

I drive an ‘05 Chevy Malibu. Far from a large car, and my 7’6 frog rod fits. I usually lean the front seat back, makes it a little easier. 

 

Being on a budget, you’re gonna be really upset when you snap your 6’6 medium glass rod trying to pull fish out of pads or slop. 

 

I’ve been there. If you’re gonna frog with it until you can buy a new, heavier rod, stay clear of heavy cover. And at least upgrade to braid. 

[HawnSalt]

Thanks Smalls.

I tried 20 lb. braid on my baitcaster and that was a no go.

Will upgrade to something heavier, may be 50 or 60 lb. braid.

[Glenn]

This will help.

 

 

[HawnSalt]

Thanks Glenn!

 

I just want to take this moment to thank you for all that you have done over the years. I've really benefitted from you sharing your years of hard earned wisdom that really opened up the world of fishing to me.

 

The kinds of things you've shared and I've learned were things that were kept secret and shrouded in mystery where I'm originally from and as a result prevented me from fully enjoying it, like I do now with Bass fishing.

 

The knowledge you and others have shared here on Bass Resource has kept me engaged long enough to actually benefit from the healing power of fishing. It has helped me get through some dark days and continues to be a source of healing in these difficult times.

 

Thank you for all that you do and all that you've done in the past to build such a wonderful and positive community around Bass Resource.com. Me and the thousands of members in the forums owe you a tremendous of debt of gratitude.

 

Thanks again for link! I suspect that it will only fuel my love for topwater, if I could only figure it out. In closing, I just wanted to link to my favorite one of your videos that pretty much started it all for me. Thank you so much and all the best.

 

 

 

 

[Glenn]

Wow!  Thank you so much!  I'm humbled to say the least.  Glad I can help.  It's why I do what I do.  Hope to keep doing it for many more years!

 

Thank you!