this big ol' piiiiig... could drive a man to DRINK! HELP!

[Hinkle2891]

ok, so i was out fishing one of my favorite lakes this morning. i heard some commotion in the lilypads so i threw on my panther martin superior frog and casted it out. for like 5 casts in a row, this big girl (i would say about 4 pounds or better) would emerge and grab at it and MISS! she didn't like to jump unless i retrieved it in a retrieve mimicking jumping. after awhile, she stopped jumping. i'm going back tomorrow cuz i will NOT LEAVE MY VACATION WITHOUT A PHOTO OF THAT FISH! any help on this would be greatly appreciated. am i doing something wrong?

[paul.]

a couple of questions to help clarify and make sure you get good answers:

was the fish truly missing the frog or could you have been taking it away prematurely in your excitement after hearing/seeing the strike?  

when you say jumping, what do you mean?  was the fish coming out of the water after the bait?

was there any open water in the pads or was it a solid mat?

did you try any other baits besides the frog?  

just off the top of my head, i would suggest throwing back in there with a fluke or a senko.  do not react to the sound or the sight of the strike.  wait until you actually feel the weight of the fish on your line.  then strike fast and hard.  good luck on your quest.  sounds like this fish has you all tore up.  hope you get her.

[JShrock07]

Great point Paul!!

I had a hard time grabbing a decent sized bass in the lily pads earlier this year, everytime I threw a frog I would miss but then I threw a stick bait in there a BAM I hammered her!!

I have heard it so many times on fishing shows that whenever you are throwing topwater to always have a stick bait on another pole so you can always throw right back in there!!

-Nitroman

[BassinSoldier]

Try a zoom super fluke in whatever color your frog was (or closest u can find).  On a fast retrieve u can make it jump and skip.  When she swats at it, kill it and let it flutter down.  She'll most likely think she injured it and come back and eat it.  Anyone else agree?

[XbassmasterX]

for your sake and to clarify

when you say to throw a stick bait: how do you want this rigged?

but otherwise great advise just take your time with the frog let em grap it and wait a sec before you set that hook  

[Hinkle2891]

she was coming pretty much all the way out of the SOLID mat of vegetation. you could even see the holes she came out of. and i know the whole "feel the weight" rule... my dad is from the south where he's caught some big ones on top waters. i'm already home now, so i guess she'll have to get bigger for next year, but i like the whole stick bait idea. and i had a couple hit a zara spook and miss... are these fish just retarded or what? it was in OPEN WATER!!!! lol.

[bassbanger]

last time out with my spook jr i had a fish hit it throw it in the air, hit it again when it landed  then hit it a 3rd time in which i felt the weight and nailed her!  

lot of fun to watch.