zoom toads in the morning

[wilsonm1]

hey,

i am a begginer angler and i have a couple quiestions.  i went out last weekend on a lake in nc.  my dad and i got up at 5:30 am and surpirisingly it was pretty bright outside.  we remeberred this spot from last time that had lily pads, i had a zoom hook and zoom horny toads.  i rigged it up and started skittering it across the water on the lily pads.  like second cast splash i bass tried to hit it and missed .  again and again the bass kept missing my frog and hook.  i tried pausing at after they hit it but they just hit only hit it once before i casted again.  this happened all saturday morning and im not sure what i am doing wrong or is there something else i need to do???

thank you guys in advance.  

[wilsonm1]

me again.... and also what  COLOR  works best?????

THANKS

[alabamabassmaster]

The most important thing I think in fishing frogs is rigging it properly. Look at this image, see how the hook is just above the surface of the frog, this is critical in landing bass. From personal experience fishing frogs I have used different hooks and fished them different but the thing that stays the same is keeping the hook a little exposed so it gets a better hook-set. A big bass will most of the time set the hook themselves when she takes off with the frog. I had a 4 lber yesterday on a Yum frog and I was fishing it slow and about 6" under water and she nailed it.

My best color is Green Pumpkin with some Chart. on it.

Also, if you get strikes with no hook-set it could be small bass or gar.

[Shad_Master]

If the cover will allow it you might want to try a trailer hook on your frog - if not, try waiting before setting the hook and let the fish run with it for few seconds.  But know that you will have a lot of blow-ups that never get hooked on this type of bait.  But when you do, it is awsome and worth all the aggravation.

[Wayne P.]

alabamabassmaster, for the shorter bodied frogs like the Horny Toad, putting the hook bend between the legs and skin hooking the point on the back (txposing) assures better and more hookups. When a strike occurs and the hook is set, the frog swings out of the way and doesn't take up hook bend space.

[warmer]

i never fish an exposed hook, so im not inclined to agree w/ this theory.

did you ever feel the fish when you set the hook?  

what kind of rod are you using?

line?

it is possible that your rig isnt heavy duty enough.  if you have a soft rod in heavy cover and line w/ stretch you may not be able to hit them well.

the gar theory is mildly appealing to me.  do you have lots of gar? are the fish "waking" on the bait, or just blowing it up.  

if you can do it (its not easy as a new toad user), this is what i do when they seem to be short striking, go into wormin' mode when they strike: drop the rod, give them line, feel them up, and then hit them.

[alabamabassmaster]

i never fish an exposed hook, so im not inclined to agree w/ this theory.

Topwater frogs are the only ones I expose the hook and that's simply for a better hook-set. A big 4+ lb fish will easily set the hook themselves if they "hit it like they want it". If they tap tap you can throw a worm and get them. (from experience)

[wagn]

i don't have a pic of this, one was posted sometime last year, but i rig my frog up with 2, usually 5/0 hooks. I put the eye of both hooks through a split ring at the front of the frog, t-rig each hook with the hook points spread out at the back of the frog.  so it's narrow at the front of the frog where both hooks go in, and i spread the hooks out at the back. This creates a nice keel, keeps the frog upright and has greatly improved my hook-up percentage. A little hard to describe, but i hope this helps

[wilsonm1]

kool, thanks guys

[wilsonm1]

hey wayne p,

are you saying use a bigger hook and so the fog is only touching a little:-????

[warmer]

If they tap tap you can throw a worm and get them. (from experience)

to each his own my friend...

i never fish an exposed hook...

(from experience)

i cant help thinking im fishing thicker stuff, because any exposed hook, no matter what cute little hook keeper groove you hide it in, gets hung.

here is how im rigging mine, i find with the straight shank it shoots through the plastic, and i dont have any problem with bent hooks... now broken rods thats another thing entirely. 1/64 screw in weight 6/0 gamikatsu (out of print), and butt hooked.

word

[wilsonm1]

i also have another quick question.

when i seem to reel in the frog it "flips" over so the bottom of the frog is on top.  i thouvht about getting some weighted hooks but it might make it sink makeing me get all tangled up all the time.  i want to ask you all if there is a simple fix.

[warmer]

when i seem to reel in the frog it "flips" over so the bottom of the frog is on top.

it doesnt matter which side is up as long as it isnt rolling.

[ba7ss3in]

x2, it don't really matter. IMHO, I think they are so aggressive trying to strike the bait that they will miss it.

[tyrius.]

If they are totally missing it, then chances are you're fishing it too fast for them.  Try slowing it down or switching to a hollow body frog.  If they are actually hitting the toad you may be setting the hook too fast.  Don't set the hook when you see the strike.  You'll pull the bait from them.  Wait a bit and then set the hook.  This "wait a bit" takes practice.

You've already gotten plenty of good advice regarding rigging the toad.

[tennwalkinghorse]

I'm with Wayne P on this one the toad swings out of the way when the fish hits clearing the hook   Try it it works

[warmer]

chances are you're fishing it too fast for them.

come to think of it, my toads roll on their back sometimes when they crank them hard to the boat.... so slow them down and you might kill 2 birds w/ one stone.

[LCpointerKILLA]

Hey Wayne P what kind of hook is that? *not the screw in hook

[wilsonm1]

thanks for the help