FROGGIN WOES!!!!!!!!

[Muddy]

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Hey Do Fellas you ever throw those Snag Proof or Rojo type frogs. I have been out with them 3 times, without exagaration 20 to 25 ttakers NOT ONE HOOK UP, I even felt the weight of the fish before setting the hook WHAT AM I DOIN WRONG????? Ghoti already PM'd me, maybe i will try some of Brent's Toads and an EWG Hook.

Dominick

PS I am using a 6'6" Cabelas Fish Eagle II MH baitcasting set up wit 15 lb test line

[mattm]

I find that using Shimao reels help ;D.

[Muddy]

I think you need help

[mattm]

Ok....seriously

1) Were you fishin on top of a lot of slop.  If so the fish are only going on vibration and are just going to miss it a lot.

2) If you are sure your feeling the weight of the fish only two things can be wrong.  1) You are actually waiting to long and the fish is spitting the frog or 2) and much more likely there is to much give in your set up.

Most likely solution is to only fish frogs on braid.  Heavier rod would help to, but I would just go buy some braid.  Plus, when you do start hooking them up it will cut through the trash.

[MARSH MASTER]

Use some sort of attractant to get them to hold longer and swallow it.

[FR0G]

For all my froggin needs I use only braid. It provides the no stretch for extremely piercing hooksets. Also, a fast actioned, long rod would help too. Is this in open or slop type water?

[Muddy]

Slop~~~ Mostly floating silver dollars and lilly pads. Well Long Mike and Ghoti said the same: Braid, and scent

[JShrock07]

I used to have the same problem with my frogs. I would have very aggresive stikes but never get a hook-up.

I started talking to a buddy of mine and he suggested a weedless hook.

So I wnet to the local Wal-Mart and picked up some eagle claw 2/0 weedless hooks. I riged them up and brought the wire down around the tip of the hook and added some super glue to the top of the hook to keep the bait attached to the hook.

I tried that and on my very FIRST cast I caught one, just to see if it was luck I tried it again, and again and overall I only lost 1 all day and I think that is because I prematurely set the hook and pulled it away from the bass. This is now my goto way to rig any frog. I just received my order from Brent and I bought some of his frogs and they are terrific!!! Try them.

[Brian_Reeves]

I use snag proof frogs a lot and have an incredible hook up ratio.  I also use a MH rod with a baitcaster.  The only difference that I see is that I'm catching fish and you're not  ;D

Just kidding.  I'm throwing mine on 30 to 65lb braid.  For lilly pads, you can get away with the 30lb stuff.  If you want to start playing in matted hydrilla or other thick grass, 65 or more is the way to go.

[Megastink]

BRAID! BRAID! BRAID! BRAID! BRAID! Get the picture? 30-65#, but get 50#, its good all round. Also, IMO, i use at LEAST a 7' rod, and HEAVY action. Try just counting "1 Mississippi" after you see the strike. Go to this link:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1215907931/30

Simp had the same problem. Read the advise and reasoning i gave him. I think it may help you land some fish.

[Pigsticker]

when I see guys around me throwing a hollow bodied frog with a stiff rod and braid they will get 1 fish for every three bites on average WITH the legs/skirts trimmed without the trimming maybe 1 fish for every eight bites if that, All the hits on these are by twitching the frog and then the bass hit it when it stops

Now with a soft bodied zoom horny toad me and my friends on average get 3 fish for every 4 bites, just by reeeling in at a constant pace like a buzz bait

Just my observations

Note the 1 for 3 ratio is a AVERAGE I have seen 4/4 3/4 4/5 ratios but have seen alot of 0/3 1/4s as well

[Zel]

Well, you know I can't give you any advise on frogin.  When it becomes too frustrating, I switch to a GYCB Fat Ika, and I'm back in my comfort zone.

[Muddy]

I figured that out sitting in the back seat the other night :

[.ghoti.]

I don't use braid fro any bass fishing; I only use it for muskie fishing.

My frog setup is a 6'10" Setyr heavy, mod-fast rod, Energy PT 7:1 reel and 14lb geen mono. I used to have 17lb line on this, and went to 14 for better handling and longer casts. I've had no problem with the swap to lighter line. I'm fishing most silver dollars, sparse pads and pond weed. No need for heavier line to get the fish out of these.

Like I told Muddy, I bend the points of the hooks out on the Snag-proof frogs. And, I flatten out the V. That makes them no longer snag-proof, but also no longer hookup-proof. I quit using the Snag-proof frogs when Horny Toads came out. I get a lot better hookup percentage with these type of frogs.

I have a new favorite; the NetBait Paca Toad in the larger of the two sizes. I use a 5/0 EWG hook when I want to fish it slow with pauses. The big Paca Toad will float a 5/0 EWG. When I want to fish it faster, I use a 5/0 EWG Superline hook. The toad will not float this hook, but the hook is heavy enough to act as a keel and keep the bait running straight on a fast retrieve.

One thing I've discovered when using any of these toads is this; lubrication is required. These baits are thick enough that the bass can get a very good grip on them. If you can't quickly slide the bait in their mouths, you can't get a good hookset. MegaStrike works great for this. So does Pam garlic flavored cooking spray, but I no longer carry that stuff around. Mega Strike is easier and less messy to use.

Cheers,

GK

[Megastink]

Use whatever youre comfortable with. But i am a DIE-HARD Spro Frog Fisherman, and i throw it on 30# Power Pro. I find that a heavy action rod is best, but with a fast-med. fast tip. A little "limp" in the tip will help to increase your hookup ratio. Personally, with that set-up, i keep a 4/5 hookup ratio. But hey, maybe it just works for me...

[Muddy]

Thanks fellas! I gotta sort this out and see what is gonna work for me

[Tarpon 120]

In my opinion, hollow frogs and horny toads are so different that they should not be lumped into the same category.  Sure, they are both "frogs" and are topwater baits, but one is fished slow while the other is burned like a buzzbait.  Hookset techniques are different as well.  

For the snagproof variety I noticed my hookup ratio went way up when I switched to a Powell 735 (MH with extra fast tip).  This rod teamed with a fast reel with 65 pound braid provides me with instant pressure when I get an agressive strike.  Once I feel pressure I wait one long second and hammer it.  If the strike is an explosion, odds are that you are going to get it.  If the bait is slurped, thats where your touch and patience come into play.  

[Megastink]

Tarpon,

Granted, you FISH them two different ways (and sometimes the same way), youre EQUIPMENT remains the same. You SHOULD use the same length rod, heavy braid, and, you set the hook the same way: strike, pause one second, set the hook upwards. SO, although they are fished differently, they arent TOO far apart.

[Tarpon 120]

Similar I agree, but different enough for me to use the same setup as my buzzbaits.  I step the rod down one notch to a 734.  I have had good results with this softer tip allowing the fish to get the bait down easier.  Like the buzz, I will reel down on a strike, feel the fish (hopefully)  and side sweep the hookset.  Different from my hollow body set, which is like yours, up quick.  

[roadwarrior]

This is the only frog I fish and I don't use braid:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_73278____SearchResults

When a bass strikes, lower you rod tip while reeling quickly.

Set the hook when you feel the fish. It's not complicated to

don't make it so!

If the fish misses, you won't "feel the weight". Let the frog

sit and chances are either she or a friend will come back.

Also, I don't believe any moving bait needs scent. The frog

strike is viscious!

8-)

[Muddy]

I had 3 of those, gave one to Zel, ask him how he's doing ;D

[Zel]

$*#%$*#... and that's putting it mildly!

[Megastink]

Zell, you didnt like the Spro Frogs?

[Zel]

I like them, just seem to be brain-dead when it comes to getting a hookset.  BASS EXPLOSION ON THE FROG... COUNT ONE-ONE THOUSAND... SET HOOK... DUCK CAUSE HERE COMES THE BAIT RIGHT AT ME!

[Megastink]

What line are you throwing it on?