Frog Timing Question for all y'all Expert Frog Fishermen

[AJ Hauser]

Hey fellas. Hope you are having a great week. I went to a new canal yesterday and quickly realized that the only thing I was going to be able to throw was a weedless topwater. Popped on a frog and started to work the acres and acres... and acres... of cheese-covered shallow water. In terms of clarity it was stained, not filthy, and I was in a smooth-bottom plastic kayak. Nothing else would be able to get through here. 

 

I'm by no means an expert frog fisherman, and I'm wondering about timing in an area like this. The water was surprisingly only 70° and I did manage to catch 3 fish and miss a few more on the frog. For those of you that love froggin'... is there a "sweet spot" when you would have to be on the water to fish this spot, or would you fish it all throughout the heat of the summer and into the fall? I'm wondering if I need to explore it a bit more now before the heat gets brutal, or, if I need to spend my limited fishing time elsewhere now, then come back here during the heat of the summer - thoughts?

 

Any insight is very appreciated! 

 

Sincerely,

-Frog-Noob

 

[Mobasser]

It sounds like the fish are hitting your frogs now, so I would keep throwing them. Once it gets hot, I do best early mornings or evenings on frogs. But, I wouldn't hesitate to throw one on a hot summer day, under bright sun. Guys report getting strikes on frogs in the middle of the day also.                               Another one to try is the Johnson Silver Minnow spoon. Add a trailer, and sharpen the hook really good.

[Mike L]

There are no hard and fast rules.
A frog bite can be anytime of the day regardless of water or air temp. 
Since you got 3 and a few other hits that tells me to stick to it until it dies off. 

When I first started getting serious about learning all the intricacies of throwing a frog, I followed the line of thinking of once the sun gets above the trees the frog bite dies, until I learned better. 
 

Looking at the picture and your success rate I’d fish it without any considerations. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[TheSwearingAngler]

Frog season started for me a few weeks ago, there won’t be a day or time of day I won’t throw the frog until mid to late October… if the spot looks froggy I’m giving it a shot.

[casts_by_fly]

I start fishing a frog when the bass are bedding, which is normally low 60's here and on through the summer.  Like you see, there are some places where its by far the most efficient thing to throw.  However, some days they just won't hit it.  I had one of those last night.  One blowup from a little fish and that was it.  The bass were in a funk mood, not chasing anything, not eating anything put in front of them, etc.  For where you're talking about, I'd have a frog and a light punching rig set up to fish that.  Throw the frog until you've found a fish or two and then go through that general area and punch it.  Log sticking out?  Punch around it.  Find a deeper spot or a place with some rock?  Punch around it.  Since its new to you, you're going to have to learn it and where the bass hang out.  They won't be evenly spread up and down the canal.  The frog can cover some water and help find them even if they are blowing up and missing it.

[AJ Hauser]

Got it - thanks all. @casts_by_fly I will get set up for that - punching is new to me as well. There definitely seem to be areas where they are hanging out, and areas that are dead. I have spent long periods of time working over a stump, only to check it out after nothing strikes and find it's sitting in 2 inches of water... which is... frustrating., You can't tell the first time you roll up on a log sticking out of thick muck though! @TheSwearingAngler @Mike L and @Mobasser it sounds like the right time to throw the frog is all year if it looks froggy. I'll make sure to make some trips out here even in the heat of the summer and see how it goes. 

 

You guys have any "favorite frogs" and for any particular reason? I have a Livetarget Frog tied on at the moment because it came in a subscription box and it's super soft. I used to use Sebile Pivot Frogs (killer single hook but kind of heavy w/ external weight) but those were discontinued, and I had a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog (LOL) I liked with a rattle - no rattles anymore - dang it, Kevin! 

 

I was looking at the Scum Frog Pro Series because it has rattles attached to the hook, some weight and what looks like a fair amount of "hook"... but I was not a big fan of the original Scum Frog (which is still in my box but I never reach for it). 

Thanks dudes! 

[Deephaven]

Whenever fish are up in the slop you can throw a frog.  Spawn+ anyways as I haven't had any luck prespawn.  Mid day is often my favorite time...but I live in MN.  Not sure what that would mean further south.  They do get tighter to the sweet spots in high sun though which imo makes them easier to catch.  As for frogs, anyone you have confidence in will work.  

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, AJ Hauser said:

You guys have any "favorite frogs" and for any particular reason? I have a Livetarget Frog tied on at the moment because it came in a subscription box and it's super soft. I used to use Sebile Pivot Frogs (killer single hook but kind of heavy w/ external weight) but those were discontinued, and I had a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog (LOL) I liked with a rattle - no rattles anymore - dang it, Kevin! 

 

I keep it simple with frogs.  The booyah pad crasher is small but heavy enough at a half ounce.  It walks great when you need and comes through anything.  I like the physically smaller size because its easier for a bass to suck it in.  I don't typically throw a popping frog and in that slop you have I wouldn't bother.  If you like rattles, buy a pack of round beads from the craft store that are just a touch bigger than the hook hole and throw them up in the body.  I agree in your slop that a rattle isn't a bad choice.

 

The other thing you will want to do is go for a paddle down that canal in the late fall or early spring before the slop comes up to see what the bottom is.  That will pay dividends in the summer.