Ribbit Frog ripped them up this morning, but lost a possible PB!! Now with picks from a second trip.

[Simp]

Well it's been a great night slash day so far. My sleep habit has been off the last few days and today I woke up at about 12:30am. My sister and her kids spent the night at my place last night and I woke up my nephew to look out at the stars with my telescope. Jupiter and four of her moons were just awesome in the dark night. We had a great time and then at about 3am I put him back to bed and jumped on Bass Resource.com! I sat on here reading and then I saw the clock and it was 4:50am. I then thought lets go fishing instead of reading about it ;D. I grabbed my rods and went to a local refuge pond since our boat is out of commission until the new trolling motor shows up.

I had recently bought my first Ribbit frog the other day and had tried it out quickly on a crapy park pound to see it's action, but this was the fist serous fishing trip with it. Conclusion I LOVE IT!! I got there before sunrise but had some light. My only problem was my baitcaster just couldn't throw it far because I hadn't bought the weighted hooks they recommend. This was a problem because I needed to be able to heave it with about 5-6 feet of moss in front of me. So I put it on my spinning tackle that was a fairly light rod on 8lb test. I could throw the thing a mile with it. My first explosion was on about the 10th cast and yes explosion because a strike wouldn't be accurate it was a EXPLOSION!! It ended up being a nice 3lb bass and man it's fun with light tackle on these guys. Then 25 min later boom again and this guy got in the moss and he was tough to pull out. He ended up being a 2 pounder or so but a chunky little guy. As I got him in I said to myself man if I get a big one on I don't know if I would be able to get him up here. I said to myself well you will have to horse him on top of the moss and drag him. Easier said then done I found out.

Then happened what we all look forward to and dread a possible PB! I said dread because I didn't have the tackle I needed to bring in a PB today. I had what I had to have to catch fish today and that wasn't enough for this gal. I had worked back to a spot I had already hit but it look to bassy not to hit again. The ribbit approached the moss and whomp fish on!!!! The one thing I like about the spinning tackle with the ribbit is the way a small amount of extra slack that is left on the line compared to a baitcaster. This prevented me from yanking the bait to soon. When I did set the hook I said WOW he's got some heft and then I though maybe he is just in the weeds/moss already. Then right out of a commercial she jumped with the rising sun in the background. It was a moment only the Lord could have given any one, but it was unfortunate that it was that moment I took his name in vane with a HOLY **** and a *** *** she's HUGE! ;D She then darted back and forth along the moss line and I thought to myself this is going to be tough. I tried to yank her up before she hit the moss and I pulled and pulled but I couldn't get her up on top. She then got herself (with my help) deep in the moss and she couldn't get out. I couldn't see her and it didn't occur to me she is in only 3ft of water go GET HER!! Then I yanked to hard and the line broke :'(! I was so mad and yet happy that I had that great moment. I'm now in the market for some braided line and a heavier rod .

The one thing I regret is I didn't take photos. I love photos and I was too lazy today plus I was alone. I now regret it and wish I had. I recommend everybody take photos because they are even better then fish stories.

[Denea]

Great read, hopefully she'll still be there when you get your braided, and heavier rod.

[Simp]

Great read, hopefully she'll still be there when you get your braided, and heavier rod.

She certainly has the frog and 5/0 Gamakatsu hook LOL.

[Daniel My Brother]

Sorry about your biggun'...but a good story just the same.

Don't give up on the baitcaster with the Ribbit. Even without a weighted hook you should be able to cast 'em pretty far. If you're looking for a heavier frog to cast, the Rage Tail frogs have good action.

Again, congrats on a good day.

(Where were you fishing?)

[Simp]

Sorry about your biggun'...but a good story just the same.

Don't give up on the baitcaster with the Ribbit. Even without a weighted hook you should be able to cast 'em pretty far. If you're looking for a heavier frog to cast, the Rage Tail frogs have good action.

Again, congrats on a good day.

(Where were you fishing?)

I was fishing in the Crab Orchard Wildlife refuge that has several ponds. I've been to 3 diffrent ponds in the refuge and I've caught good bass in each. As far the baitcaster goes with the frog. I can certainly cast it but i just can't get much distance with it. I plan on going by walmart before I go out today to pick up some weighted hooks for some distance. I see bass attacking shad in the morning out in the middle of this large pond. So I'd like to get some distance on my casts because I'm sure in this situation it is helping me catch more fish.

[Davis]

Great story. That is why I'm in the market for a high speed reel and a heavy frog rod. Especially in this one lake/pond I fish in the summer. Very very mossy. Last year I tried froggin with a spinning rod and 8lb line. Didn't work out well. I didn't have a PB on my line but I did loose fish in the slop because of not being able to turn there heads and drag them out. I NEED MY STIMULUS CHECK GW!!!!!    ;D

[Daniel My Brother]

Simp,

My apologies. I didn't mean to challenge your baitcasting skills, and I do understand that sometimes when you're fishing from the bank you really do need every bit of casting distance you can get.

You guys in Southern Illinois are really blessed with a lot of great water to fish. I've only fished Visitor Pond in the Crab Orchard refuge, but the whole area is beautiful.

Take care and good luck!

Dan

[.dsaavedra.]

that was a cool story.

i really hope next time you can get her again and TAKE PICTURES!

[Simp]

that was a cool story.

i really hope next time you can get her again and TAKE PICTURES!

Well I went back yesterday morning, but this time my Pops wanted in on the action. We had a cold front that came threw over night and slowed down the fish a little, but they came alive around 7am instead of sunrise. Here are the pics of each our big fish of the day.

This is me with a 3 1/2lb bass.

This my dad with a 4 1/2lb bass. I know it doesn't look like it in the photo but I weighed it with a good scale.

So it seems the larger fish are feeding because I have yet to see a single dink the last couple trips. Now my fishing partner and my nephew want to go out tomorrow morning. So it went from me having a good fishing trip to then me and my dad, and now there will be 4 of us tomorrow morning. I guess this is how "the word" gets out about a spot ;D!

[Basshole18]

Good story, NICE fish too! It's really warming up in my neck of the woods,(Cape Cod, MA)  it's been 85-89 degrees the last 3 days and they are startin' to really "blow up" on those froggys. Just a suggestion on the baitcaster/frog problem;  try a Spro bronzeye frog. Or really any hollow rubber frog. They really get thru the slop and they cast a country mile. I know it's not the same buzzin' action of the ribbits but they work awesome especially for HAWGS! And I saw someone else mention the Strike King Rage Tail Frog---UNBELIEVABLE action/bait. They really chug,  bubble,  and gargle.

Good luck on getting that big girl again. Thanx for the good ol' fishin' story! Tight lines!!

[skillet]

Bought a package of Ribbits late last Summer and haven't given them the chance I should have. Maybe your post will help me get off my butt with them ...

                                  As Ever,

                                   skillet

[fishinfiend]

Nice fish. It is always great to fish with the ol' man.