The Frog Fishing Thread

[D Stetz]

I derailed a thread about frog fishing gear earlier, and figured there might as well just be a dedicated thread to anything and everything frog fishing related. That being said, let's talk about it. 

 

What reel do you use? gear ratio? line type and size? what frogs are you throwing? and on what rod? and how often do you actually throw a frog? 

 

Personally; Lew's BB1 Pro 7.1.1 on a Phenix Maxim 7'3" HXF with 65# Power Pro v2 super slick braid, and recently it's always got either a Scum Frog Launch Frog, or a Trophy Series frog tied on it, and if the water temp is over 55 I'm throwing it 50% of the time. 

[Mojo Bass]

Gen4 Revo X 7.3:1 ratio 

Veritas PLX 7’3 Heavy/Fast

50lb regular power pro 

booyah pad crashers or spro bronze eye frogs both popping and walking only frogs I own 

 

I bring my frog rod with me on every outting on my kayak (I’m a yak fisher) since the rod has a couple uses for me, living in Canada I only throw it when it starts getting nice and warm out which is around may here and I’ll throw it to the fall then the frog goes away, I try to throw it as much as I can because it’s such a darn fun technique and almost every lake here has a ton of Lillie’s 

 

[gim]

I love frog fishing, and topwater fishing in general.

 

Problem is, its been so terrible in terms of success the last few seasons, I rarely even try it anymore.  I don't know if the fish have all wised up to frogs or what the deal is, they just don't bite it anymore like they used to.

 

I'm open to advice on this subject because I would like to make it work again.

[hokiehunter373]

Daiwa Fuego CT 8.1:1

Dobyns Fury 7'3" mag heavy, extra fast

50lb power pro
I've got a couple filthy frogs but my favorite has been my Spro bronzeye walking frog.  65 size in midnight  

 

I'm throwing a frog every trip once bass are thinking about getting on beds through fall.  Only way I'm not is if the buzzbait bite is on fire.  Not much better than those 2 bites.  

[Mike L]

Always start with a frog…

Kaden 715C 

BPS Pro Qualifier

50# Power Pro

Original Scum Frog or Trophy Series

 

 

 

 

Mike

[PhishLI]

Quantum ICON PT 7 spd

Lew's Carbon Fire 7'3" Heavy

50 lb Daiwa J-8 Braid

Whichever frog I need at the moment depending on slop in the water.

 

On the Yak this rig pulls multi-duty for punching, jigs, heavier hook soft swimbaits up to 1 1/4oz, Magdraft Freestyle, Beast Coast Miyagi, etc.

 

[swhit140]

I'll throw it once they start to bite it. 

 

Daiwa Tatula CT100HS CS(import model)7:3:1

FX Xtreme Custom 7'3 HF

50lb braid

Booyah, Swamp Donkey,6th Sense, Spro, Zman

[Hook2Jaw]

Short rod frogman here.

 

6'9" Daiwa Tatula Elite Skippin' Jig HF

8 speed Daiwa Tatula SV103

50# Berkley X9

 

I typically throw frogs right after the spawn until jerkbait season in the fall.

[EWREX]

Rod: 7'1 heavy Daiwa Tatula

Reel: Daiwa Tatula CT 7.3

Line: 50lb. PowerPro Spectra

 

[Mojo Bass]

1 hour ago, hokiehunter373 said:

Daiwa Fuego CT 8.1:1

Dobyns Fury 7'3" mag heavy, extra fast

50lb power pro
I've got a couple filthy frogs but my favorite has been my Spro bronzeye walking frog.  65 size in midnight  

 

I'm throwing a frog every trip once bass are thinking about getting on beds through fall.  Only way I'm not is if the buzzbait bite is on fire.  Not much better than those 2 bites.  

X2 A good Buzzbait bite is top notch ????

[ISuckAtBassFishingBoise]

Dobyns SSM 735c

Gen3 Revo STX 7.1:1

50# 832

 

Gonna switch the reel to a Daiwa Fuego CT 8.1:1 that I picked up for $60 with the cheapest 50# braid I can find.

[Deleted account]

I like fishing frogs, but I usually only go to them when the cover requires it, If I can get a popper, walking bait or buzz bait through, that's what I'll be doing. The rod is a 7' labeled MH fast, but it's a bit more powerful than that and it locks out about a third down, which I like for frogging, It's a DSG house brand, that I bought on clearance a while back, and I like it better for frogging better than anything else I've tried, I also throw big spinnerbaits and live line for striped bass with it, (using mono) cause it's just one of those sticks that works. Reel is a Pinnacle Tara 6.3 with 65 PP, I fish it with a short heavy mono leaders cause there are snakeheads and big pickerel, and I hate donating tackle. Frogs, Pad Crasher and Trophy most of the time, but truth be told, with the proper mods most frogs work ok.

[hokiehunter373]

49 minutes ago, VanIsleBassin said:

X2 A good Buzzbait bite is top notch ????

Finding out about MegaStrikes Cavitron changed fishing for me.  Those blow ups are explosive.  Even the misses are fun! lol

[Junger]

7’2 ALX Toadface with a Bantam MGL 8.1

 

I don’t like really long rods for working a frog, and the Toadface has a shorter rod butt which I love, it doesn’t jab me ribs or arms when working a frog.

 

[Born 2 fish]

Rod og tatula 7’4 frog

reel  Lews super duty wide spool

line suffix 832 65 lb 

mostly use pad crashers 

[Jaderose]

13 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

Rod og tatula 7’4 frog

reel  Lews super duty wide spool

line suffix 832 65 lb 

mostly use pad crashers 

I, too, have the OG Tatula 7'4 Frog Rod.  I can't imagine using anything else, frankly.  I treasure that rod while simultaneously working the hell out of it.  Currently mounted on it is a BPS JM Signature 7.5:1.  I have never really liked that reel for frogging and it's also oddly large so when my first frog splats on a mat this year, it will be brought back in by a Revo Rocket.  I almost exclusively throw Scumfrog Trophy Series unless I need to upsize and then I throw a Spro King Daddy.  If I need to downsize, I throw a Pad Crasher Jr. with the legs GONE.  Not shortened, but gone.  I target HEAVY slop and scum mats, preferably with lots of stumps and laydowns.  Give me the NASTY stuff and I'm a happy boy.  On a good day I will come home filthy and that crap will be everywhere!  If it's lighter stuff or has openings, I'll throw a toad on a VMC Drop Dead hook and let the toads flutter down in them holes.  My fishing day is usually cut in half.  Morning consists of regular fishing.  From about noon on...Frogging.  Those fish don't like that direct sun anymore than we do so they gotta go somewhere, right?  Those mats make pretty good shade and if you can target some shade on those mats?  Even better!  I'll start on a fresh scum field by making some fan casts with a pretty quick retrieve just to see if anyone is home.  You can listen for bluegill sucking up bugs and also for any actual frog activity.  Sometimes I'll cast close to shore to see if I can lure any frogs to chase MY frog out in the water.  I want a LOT of activity going on to turn those big girls on.  If I believe there is some action to be had I'll start target casting.  If that target is in relatively open water, I'll do a pretty high arc cast and let that Scumfrog come down with the *splat* that only it seems to have.  and then I wait.  I'll let that frog sit there for up to 30 seconds and then give it the slightest twitch.  That's USUALLY when the blowup happens.  If not I begin my retrieve.  Chug, chug, pause.  Twitch, twitch, chug, chug, pause.  When the blow-up happens, I set the hook firmly, BUT, I do not try to tear off her head.  Here's why....1.)  I keep my hooks sharp so there is no need to.  2.)  Frogging success is about timing.  You'll hear to give a 2 count or whatever but that is nonsense.  When you spend countless hours frogging you learn instinctively what the right timing is PER FISH.  Each one is different.  You will still miss.  I miss hooksets all the time but if I'm swinging for the fences with each one, that frog is coming back at me like a missile.  I could get hurt and most importantly, I just took my bait away from a fish I KNOW IS THERE.  All that scum levels up the playing field, imho.  All that fish knows is something she was trying to eat is no longer there but instead of being gone, has just moved a few feet away.  After a little pause, I give it a twitch.  BOOM!  A second chance!  I rarely miss twice...lol.  I should say that every year starts with a realignment of my muscle memory.  I still have it but it's rusty.  I've figured out that I'm usually right as rain by Father's Day.  That's usually about when the frogging gets really good here in NOWEMO anyway.  

 

Does any of this make sense?  I wrote this pretty much stream-of-consciousness.

[r83srock]

 

I use a St. Croix Mojo Bass 7’4” Heavy fast , a Shimano Curado 200K 8.5:1, and 50lb power pro braid. I like the spro and booyah  popping frogs, but the scum frog trophy in white or chartreuse are my all time favorites. 
 

I throw a frog way too much, but when that bite is happening, there’s nothing better.

[Mike L]

28 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

I, too, have the OG Tatula 7'4 Frog Rod.  I can't imagine using anything else, frankly.  I treasure that rod while simultaneously working the hell out of it.  Currently mounted on it is a BPS JM Signature 7.5:1.  I have never really liked that reel for frogging and it's also oddly large so when my first frog splats on a mat this year, it will be brought back in by a Revo Rocket.  I almost exclusively throw Scumfrog Trophy Series unless I need to upsize and then I throw a Spro King Daddy.  If I need to downsize, I throw a Pad Crasher Jr. with the legs GONE.  Not shortened, but gone.  I target HEAVY slop and scum mats, preferably with lots of stumps and laydowns.  Give me the NASTY stuff and I'm a happy boy.  On a good day I will come home filthy and that crap will be everywhere!  If it's lighter stuff or has openings, I'll throw a toad on a VMC Drop Dead hook and let the toads flutter down in them holes.  My fishing day is usually cut in half.  Morning consists of regular fishing.  From about noon on...Frogging.  Those fish don't like that direct sun anymore than we do so they gotta go somewhere, right?  Those mats make pretty good shade and if you can target some shade on those mats?  Even better!  I'll start on a fresh scum field by making some fan casts with a pretty quick retrieve just to see if anyone is home.  You can listen for bluegill sucking up bugs and also for any actual frog activity.  Sometimes I'll cast close to shore to see if I can lure any frogs to chase MY frog out in the water.  I want a LOT of activity going on to turn those big girls on.  If I believe there is some action to be had I'll start target casting.  If that target is in relatively open water, I'll do a pretty high arc cast and let that Scumfrog come down with the *splat* that only it seems to have.  and then I wait.  I'll let that frog sit there for up to 30 seconds and then give it the slightest twitch.  That's USUALLY when the blowup happens.  If not I begin my retrieve.  Chug, chug, pause.  Twitch, twitch, chug, chug, pause.  When the blow-up happens, I set the hook firmly, BUT, I do not try to tear off her head.  Here's why....1.)  I keep my hooks sharp so there is no need to.  2.)  Frogging success is about timing.  You'll hear to give a 2 count or whatever but that is nonsense.  When you spend countless hours frogging you learn instinctively what the right timing is PER FISH.  Each one is different.  You will still miss.  I miss hooksets all the time but if I'm swinging for the fences with each one, that frog is coming back at me like a missile.  I could get hurt and most importantly, I just took my bait away from a fish I KNOW IS THERE.  All that scum levels up the playing field, imho.  All that fish knows is something she was trying to eat is no longer there but instead of being gone, has just moved a few feet away.  After a little pause, I give it a twitch.  BOOM!  A second chance!  I rarely miss twice...lol.  I should say that every year starts with a realignment of my muscle memory.  I still have it but it's rusty.  I've figured out that I'm usually right as rain by Father's Day.  That's usually about when the frogging gets really good here in NOWEMO anyway.  

 

Does any of this make sense?  I wrote this pretty much stream-of-consciousness.

Pretty much text book frog fishing right there folks!!

People who don’t do it much underestimate that high lob, loud plop and killing it.

Been using the original small one fir over 10 yrs. Walking that little thing in place in every hole has been my go to fir as long as I can remember. 
 

For me, No other frog gets bit more consistency with less misses than the Scum 

 

 

Mike

[Jaderose]

10 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Pretty much text book frog fishing right there folks!!

People who don’t do it much underestimate that high lob, loud plop and killing it.

Been using the original small one fir over 10 yrs. Walking that little thing in place in every hole has been my go to fir as long as I can remember. 
 

For me, No other frog gets bit more consistency with less misses than the Scum 

 

 

Mike

Do you modify them?  I personally have never seen any reason to bend the hooks out any or trim the "legs" any but I think that has more to do with HOW I'm fishing them.  This isn't finesse I'm doing.  I call it "combat fishing"...lol.  I doubt most of the time whether the fish can actually see ANY of the frogs I'm throwing.  They are attacking action.  I have bent out the hooks before and they pick up more sludge.

 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, Born 2 fish said:

Rod og tatula 7’4 frog

reel  Lews super duty wide spool

line suffix 832 65 lb 

mostly use pad crashers 

I shipped my OG Tatula 7'4" HF to Florida.  Took a Curado 201E7 with 60# Fins Original PRT, but figure I'll drop down to 50# when the line needs changing....if I'm still alive then. 

2 hours ago, Junger said:

7’2 ALX Toadface with a Bantam MGL 8.1

 

I don’t like really long rods for working a frog, and the Toadface has a shorter rod butt which I love, it doesn’t jab me ribs or arms when working a frog.

 

I bought the Toadface for frog fishing locally.  Not sure how much froggin' it will see.  Not sure what reel will wind up on it.  My Bantam MGL is the 6.2.  I tried an older Steez 100HLA with Fins 45# 40G braid on it the two times I got out with the rod.  Rod is said to be very versatile.

 

Or I could take a page out of PhishLI's book and put a PT Icon 7 on it. 

 

EDIT:  I was just starting to use frogs so I have several brands to try.

[CrashVector]

Scum frog or small bronze eye.

 

Veritas plx, 7' h/f

Revo S 6.3:1

20lb Hercules 8carrier braid 

 

[DitchPanda]

7ft Daiwa Aird heavy fast

Lews LFS speed spool 8.3:1

50lb power pro

Booyah pad crasher

[Mike L]

18 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

Do you modify them?  I personally have never seen any reason to bend the hooks out any or trim the "legs" any but I think that has more to do with HOW I'm fishing them.  This isn't finesse I'm doing.  I call it "combat fishing"...lol.  I doubt most of the time whether the fish can actually see ANY of the frogs I'm throwing.  They are attacking action.  I have bent out the hooks before and they pick up more sludge.

 

No Sir I don’t 

It’s another reason I use the Scum line exclusively, it’s just not necessary. 
When I used most others I would trim one end to get them to walk but it’s not needed with them, even to walk in place which is my favorite retrieve. 
 

I don’t touch the hooks either. 
I might lightly touch ‘em up once in a great while but only because I use them so often. 

As far bending the hooks out..regardless of the model line, the body is so soft that’s not necessary either. 

 

Certainly is “combat fishing”

I equate it to hand to hand combat of a flipping bite.
A frog is both a “sight and feel” type bait. 
If there’s one in a pad field the lob and kill method will call then in. 
Purposely casting on a pad, letting it sit a few seconds, pull off, sit and walk to the next is my preferred method. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

[D Stetz]

1 hour ago, Jaderose said:

I, too, have the OG Tatula 7'4 Frog Rod.  I can't imagine using anything else, frankly.  I treasure that rod while simultaneously working the hell out of it.  Currently mounted on it is a BPS JM Signature 7.5:1.  I have never really liked that reel for frogging and it's also oddly large so when my first frog splats on a mat this year, it will be brought back in by a Revo Rocket.  I almost exclusively throw Scumfrog Trophy Series unless I need to upsize and then I throw a Spro King Daddy.  If I need to downsize, I throw a Pad Crasher Jr. with the legs GONE.  Not shortened, but gone.  I target HEAVY slop and scum mats, preferably with lots of stumps and laydowns.  Give me the NASTY stuff and I'm a happy boy.  On a good day I will come home filthy and that crap will be everywhere!  If it's lighter stuff or has openings, I'll throw a toad on a VMC Drop Dead hook and let the toads flutter down in them holes.  My fishing day is usually cut in half.  Morning consists of regular fishing.  From about noon on...Frogging.  Those fish don't like that direct sun anymore than we do so they gotta go somewhere, right?  Those mats make pretty good shade and if you can target some shade on those mats?  Even better!  I'll start on a fresh scum field by making some fan casts with a pretty quick retrieve just to see if anyone is home.  You can listen for bluegill sucking up bugs and also for any actual frog activity.  Sometimes I'll cast close to shore to see if I can lure any frogs to chase MY frog out in the water.  I want a LOT of activity going on to turn those big girls on.  If I believe there is some action to be had I'll start target casting.  If that target is in relatively open water, I'll do a pretty high arc cast and let that Scumfrog come down with the *splat* that only it seems to have.  and then I wait.  I'll let that frog sit there for up to 30 seconds and then give it the slightest twitch.  That's USUALLY when the blowup happens.  If not I begin my retrieve.  Chug, chug, pause.  Twitch, twitch, chug, chug, pause.  When the blow-up happens, I set the hook firmly, BUT, I do not try to tear off her head.  Here's why....1.)  I keep my hooks sharp so there is no need to.  2.)  Frogging success is about timing.  You'll hear to give a 2 count or whatever but that is nonsense.  When you spend countless hours frogging you learn instinctively what the right timing is PER FISH.  Each one is different.  You will still miss.  I miss hooksets all the time but if I'm swinging for the fences with each one, that frog is coming back at me like a missile.  I could get hurt and most importantly, I just took my bait away from a fish I KNOW IS THERE.  All that scum levels up the playing field, imho.  All that fish knows is something she was trying to eat is no longer there but instead of being gone, has just moved a few feet away.  After a little pause, I give it a twitch.  BOOM!  A second chance!  I rarely miss twice...lol.  I should say that every year starts with a realignment of my muscle memory.  I still have it but it's rusty.  I've figured out that I'm usually right as rain by Father's Day.  That's usually about when the frogging gets really good here in NOWEMO anyway.  

 

Does any of this make sense?  I wrote this pretty much stream-of-consciousness.

This makes absolute sense, and the timing thing is spot on. People ask me how I rarely miss when they miss all the time, and my answer is on par with what you wrote, you just develop the timing based on countless hours throwing’em. 

[Mastercaster]

St Croix Mojo 7'-4" HF

Daiwa Lexa 300 7.1.1

Suffix 832 50lb