First toad strike

[bowtech_182]

I decided to try a little toad fishing yesterday.  I was using a yum buzzfrog with a zoom frog hook.  I ran it over the tops of some layed down lily pads and right when it went into the water, BAM!!!  It was the most vicious strike that I have felt yet.  The first time I jerked too soon and was promptly pelted with a buzzfrog traveling at mach 3.  The second time I waited a second and has a fish on for 2 or 3 seconds, then it got off.  I am definitely hooked now.  I need to get some braid and try it again.  What are everyone favorite soft plastic toad so I can get some more?

[hawgchaser]

The best I have found are Stanley Ribbits. They are great topwaters but you can also let them sink between the lily pads and use it like a jerkbait. This is a deadly bait

[FishingBuds]

I bought the rage tail frogs, they have a new leg design-waiting to try'em.

[MNGeorge]

I also like the Stanley Ribbits and the Zoom Horny Toad.  Toads are one of my favorite ways to catch Bass.

[calandra]

When looking for active fish I throw the Zoom Horny Toad. When there not so gun-ho, the Scum Frog Popper. I always use braid with the frogs and I change out the hook on the popper to the Gamakatsu Frog Hook. One other thing I do is lightly coat each with MegaStrike sent. I don[ch8217]t think MegaStrike or any other scent product for that matter really attracts Bass, but they do hold on and try to eat that toad once they get a taste of it.

[Still a Bigbuckifan]

I love zoom horny toads. watermealon red or pearl is the way to go. Nothing better than a strike on a toad.

[Micro]

I like Zoom Horny Toads.  

The Zoom Hooks, and the Owner brand counter-parts, are pretty good.  But there is a better way to rig them for maximum hookups.  

I take a 5/0 long shank offset worm hook, in this case a Matzuo, and T-Rig it.  But instead of pushing the hook point up through the body I run it up behind the crotch of the frog and stick the point in the skin on the back.   This is a very weedless method, but the much easier to obtain hookups.  Only occassionally does the hookpoint pop out - mainly if you hit a stump or something hard.

[SnowBass23]

Thanks for that, Micro.  I love Zoom Toads but have had serious problems getting a hook in the jaw.  The way you did that will work a lot better I think.  Good stuff.

[fishfordollars]

I had the problem with missing the fish on the strike. I quit watching my toad and started getting a hookset. I was jerking it away while watching. Seems strange but it worked for me.

[wilsonm1]

NEW ANGLER

i have not have any luck with using toads yet but i have only used them twice so i will try again, Good Tips .

good luck bowtech 8-)

[wilsonm1]

I bought a couple colors of zoom horny toads and a pack of hooks.

[Micro]

Here are various ways I rig my HTs.

1) Gamakatsu 5/0 EWG. Very weedless, decent hookups.

2) Zoom HT Hook (Owner has an equivalent hook). As effective as #1 above.

3) Matzuo 5/0 offset light wire long shank work hook. Rigged in the manner of my previous post.

4) Eagle Claw 5/0 weedless hook. This one draws stares sometimes, but my experience is that it is very effective. It keels very nicely, and hook ups are very easy. (If you rig it hook-up, it will roll over on its back.) It's a great rig for buzzing. Fewer bottom lip hookups than you might think. Not quite as weedless as the others - the guard sometimes gets knocks loose.

[daviscw]

Sooo what are the best ways to fish these?

[warmer]

Sooo what are the best ways to fish these?

I LOVE THE TOAD

i assume we are only talking about soft plastic toads here - all youve got to do is chunk and wind!

presentation: there are obviously variations on speed and pauses and things.  but basic rule of thumb before i adjust for conditions is to drag the toad through and around cover (thick as you please, often the thicker the better) as slow as i can and still have it bubbling on top. if you see him waking behind it. stop and watch your line.

hookset: depending on conditions, but if i want to be sure i think worm fishing.  i watch him hit, throw him slack, feel him, and set up.

gear: heavy action (nice backbone soft tip) 7'6" (daiwa telescoping light and tough for me - although ive broken 2 on frogs this year), 65lb braid.

frogs: it is rare that i find that it matters what color i use beyond light vs. dark, and even then it doesnt seem to matter much.  sometimes they prefer a more subtle look like the horny toad gives (more a ripple than a gurgle) and sometimes i use the stanley ribbit/gambler cane toad type (comparison based on the feet, which gurgle).

hooks: if conservation of frogs is important, i use a heavy wire wide gap offset and rig it just like micro showed in his 1st picture.

BUT if hookups and avoiding bent hooks are the most important factors,  i use a 6/0 (5/0 doesnt work right) gamakatzu straight shank superline (out of print, so if anyone has a good suggestion for one to replace it with im open, i bought about 20 packs so im good for a little while), and rig it with a 1/64th or a 1/32nd screw in bullet weight (advantages: casting distance, hookset, and it pulls the bait back into water better in heavy cover.) as pictured.

[Hoosier_Basser]

My favorite toad/frog this year has been the Chubby, made by secret lures.  Some of the models have clear legs that have def. cut down on the short strikes that seem to happen.  

[tennwalkinghorse]

Zoom and Buzz fish them every change I got and micro good stuff thanks for the tips

[Big-O]

I get best results on Rage Toads and always let the fish load up on the toad before settin' the hook. There is a small 3/4 inch hook relief in the center of the toads back that is designed to hide the hook point and skin hook without bowing the body. When the Toads body is maintained in it's original shape, it runs true and upright every time. I use a 4 to 5/0 heavy wire EWG Gammy and rarely miss'em on the hook set. Braided line is a also a standard for me just in case the fish gets the toad turned in his mouth, I can still drive the hook.

Big O

www.ragetail.com  

[weknowhowtolive]

I love froggin! Nothin like that huge top water explosion. It still makes my heart race when it happens. I honestly have used about 6 different frogs and had almost all the same results. I like Scum Frogs and any frog with skirt trailer type "legs"

I've also used Zoom and Yum frogs when I want to go under.

About 2 years ago I was in TX fishing and my uncle had a purple Zoom frog in the water when I pulled the boat out and got a hit RIGHT behind the motor, churnin water and everything, about 3 feet deep.

[T.Killian]

The Stanely Ribbit in Catpulta and GPmkn/Pearl has been killer this year for me.  The explosions are alot more violent than any top water bait I have ever fished.  As far as hooks, the Zoom HT 5/0 is the way to go, skin hook it in the back between the legs like shown in a previous post, and the cork screw type holder is very helpful as the strikes are so violent you will loose the frog without it.  I was setting the hook to early for the first few and quickly learned that if your burning it to keep the rod tip high and when the strike happens to completely stop the retrive and keep the rod still.  If the fish still has it, you will feel it load up, if nothing is happening keep letting it fall with maybe a slight twitch, the fish will come back as it believes the first strike just injuried the bait and now its falling threw the water column for another slam.

[BassinBoy]

Nothing better thans Mann's Swim Toad, just down right cant beat it.