Addicted to top water frogs!

[A.Do?]

Went out with some friends last weekend to a local pond during the evening and had a blast on top water. I was throwing a black SPRO frog and I missed soooo many strikes I started to doubt the way I was working them. I tried chugging and walking them with the best results coming from starting the retrieve right when the lure hit the water.

This was the biggest of them, coming close to 3lbs and my biggest fish on topwater yet! ;D

A few questions:

I've heard of people putting trailer hooks on their frogs but does this get hung up a lot? Is it also okay to not use a leader for top water lures and tie directly to braid?

[jivey]

I wouldn't use a trailer hook on a frog.  The most important thing is to let that fish take the bait and give until a count of maybe 2 before setting the hook.  As far as a leader, I never use one.

[roadwarrior]

Nice pic!

I think the low hook-up ratio is probably from being too quick.

When you get a strike, lower your rod tip and reel down until

you feel the fish before setting the hook.

 8-)

[A.Do?]

Thanks RW! I tried to refrain from setting the hook until I felt pressure on my rod but sometimes it was too hard to resist! There were also a lot of instances where the fish would strike once, I would pause then continue the retrieve, and the fish wouldn't hit it again.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Andrew, I know you normally carry multiple rods. One thing I need to start remembering to do when the topwater bite is like this and you are missing strikes is to have your follow up lure ready.

I just read an article out of this months FLW magazine and it said that a lot of the guys on tour have some type of creature bait rigged up with a small tungsten sinker like 1/16 to 1/8oz. The reason is because of the way these things fall through the water. You will still get a nice slow fall but it will be quick enough to manage some reaction strikes. They recommended one of the sweet beaver type baits with a large tail. Also a sinking worm works well. Alot of guys are now switching to that powerbait sinking minnow lure as oppossed to other stick bait type worms.

They are expecting the "food" to still be in the area after they hit it the first time. They are essentially trying to kill the bait and or injure it as they consider anything on the topwater like a frog to be a "rodent" (duck, bird, small mammal) type meal. Some of the strikes are so aggressive though that they do try and gulp that thing down in one swoop.

Biggest thing is just to always be in contact with the lure. Topwater is definately addicting once you've started catching fish like that big one you got there. Good job out there.

[A.Do?]

I wouldn't use a trailer hook on a frog.  The most important thing is to let that fish take the bait and give until a count of maybe 2 before setting the hook.  As far as a leader, I never use one.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep at it and try to pause before setting the hook.

Andrew, I know you normally carry multiple rods. One thing I need to start remembering to do when the topwater bite is like this and you are missing strikes is to have your follow up lure ready.

I just read an article out of this months FLW magazine and it said that a lot of the guys on tour have some type of creature bait rigged up with a small tungsten sinker like 1/16 to 1/8oz. The reason is because of the way these things fall through the water. You will still get a nice slow fall but it will be quick enough to manage some reaction strikes. They recommended one of the sweet beaver type baits with a large tail. Also a sinking worm works well. Alot of guys are now switching to that powerbait sinking minnow lure as oppossed to other stick bait type worms.

They are expecting the "food" to still be in the area after they hit it the first time. They are essentially trying to kill the bait and or injure it as they consider anything on the topwater like a frog to be a "rodent" (duck, bird, small mammal) type meal. Some of the strikes are so aggressive though that they do try and gulp that thing down in one swoop.

Biggest thing is just to always be in contact with the lure. Topwater is definately addicting once you've started catching fish like that big one you got there. Good job out there.

I have started to carry multiple rods, usually a spinning and a baitcaster, but that day I had to pack light.  This was two sundays ago during the storms (explains the trash bag poncho) I promised a friend that we'd go out and try topwater in the evening so we did. I only had my baitcaster but next time I'll give that a shot. Thanks!

[Big-O]

Hey Skip, we have all worn trash bags at one time or another and glad we did. Great pics and keep up the good fishin'

Big O

[rondef]

Andrew, I am also addicted to the frog bite lately.  That has been my primary bait for the last few weeks.  The strikes are awesome and the fights even better.  I have really good luck with the ragetail frogs, you should try them out.  I have a better hookup ratio with them than any other frog.

[A.Do?]

Andrew, I am also addicted to the frog bite lately. That has been my primary bait for the last few weeks. The strikes are awesome and the fights even better. I have really good luck with the ragetail frogs, you should try them out. I have a better hookup ratio with them than any other frog.

I've tried these on a few outtings with a few blowups. Someone told me it doesn't matter if they run upside down but it happens to me often and it just irks me I have them in watermelon/red and green/white with the later being the only one I've had any success with.

Do you just retrieve fast enough for the legs to kick or do you vary it?

[rondef]

I throw them into the slop and retrieve them quickly so the legs are kicking up some water.  However I do stop them on the lily pads occasionally.  I recently bought a few more new packs and have not had the problem with the frog running upside down with the newer frogs.  I don't know why that is as I do not see any major difference in them.   The legs look just a little bit different in the new frogs when I place them side by side.  By the way nice bass in the picture.  

[Daniel My Brother]

Great fish. I miss a lot of bass on frogs, too. It happens.

Sometimes the stupid fish just misses the bait...at least that what I keep telling myself.

[Muddy]

I'm feeling you Andrew. I am locking in until I can get a hook up

Quote from Ghoti: Topwater froggin is the most fun a guy can have with his clothes on!"

[A.Do?]

I'm feeling you Andrew. I am locking in until I can get a hook up

Quote from Ghoti: Topwater froggin is the most fun a guy can have with his clothes on!"

Awesome quote.

[Mepps]

Whoa just saw this! Nice fish buddy! I have a similar picture From where I was, you looked like a pro out there fighting that fish,.

[JShrock07]

Great looking fish!!!! 8-)

BTW I would not put a trailer hook on the frog. Another way to rig them is to take a weedless hoko and rig it regular and take the weed guard and clip it onto the hook. This way I have caught more fish then trying to yank the hook through the bait.

Just my 2 cents

[A.Do?]

Great looking fish!!!! 8-)

BTW I would not put a trailer hook on the frog. Another way to rig them is to take a weedless hoko and rig it regular and take the weed guard and clip it onto the hook. This way I have caught more fish then trying to yank the hook through the bait.

Just my 2 cents

Thanks Nitro but I'm assuming this is for lures like rage toads? Trying to see how that works on a SPRO and can't figure it out :-/ ...

Mepps#3, Thanks buddy! I just got the pix and was amazed at how dark it really was out there. Let me know when you're free again so we can try topwater without the lightning. ;D

[NEbassMaster]

This is my first season Froggn.  Then again I just started fishing after a decade break.

Any way, Froggn is a blast.  Lately the SPRO or the Rage Tail Shad/Toad are tied on.  I've got 30lb test braid and just cast them into the lilies and wait for the bass to hammer them.

[rondef]

And hammer them they will.  I have spent 90% of my time in the last six weeks throwing ragetail toads and shad because they catch bass.  I love them because they come through the slop without any problems when retrieving them.

[Big-O]

Here is some info that might help on most if not all buzz style frogs.

1) Bigger hooks are most always better, 5/0 EWG heavy wire would be a minimum for me and I prefer 6/0 myself on a Rage Toad. 2) Buzz frogs are made to buzz at a med/slow to quick pace, but to be able to stop them and let them fall in pockets etc. is often the ticket for more finicky fish, and the faster they fall the better in most cases. This will often draw a reaction strike because the fish sees the bait buzzing overhead and is sometimes hesitant thinking "should I or shouldn't I", then suddenly the bait stops buzzing and drops in the basses living room at a medium pace so that the bass says to himself.. "MISTAKE" and BAM! I find that this style of presentation is best achieved with the keel weighted swimbait hook. Some use a 3/16 oz, but I prefer 1/8 oz. You can view details on my website Toad product page.

Toad info

http://ragetail.com/ragetailtoad.htm

When you use a light keel weighted hook you can throw'em a mile and follow the hooking procedures as noted on the Rage Shad page to insert keel weight hook without boring out nose.

Shad info

http://ragetail.com/ragetailshad.htmll

The weight also helps baits to land upright 100% of the time and allows swimbait or wake bait action below the surface. Versatility is everything in my book, and with a light swimbait hook I can get it with this presentation.

Hope this info helps someone get more strikes on buzz frogs because it is now my favorite presentation for'em,  and that's a "Good Thang"  

Big O

[slomoe]

WTG dude!

[JShrock07]

Yes I am talking about a larger frog. I like to use the frog made by ***, a ribbit frog or a rage tail frog.

But I have always found it to work for me. I haven't fished any spro frogs so I do not know how they work.

[Castamasta]

caught my first on a frog not to long ago. I LOVE IT!

[NEbassMaster]

And hammer them they will. I have spent 90% of my time in the last six weeks throwing ragetail toads and shad because they catch bass. I love them because they come through the slop without any problems when retrieving them.

HERE! HERE! I used the Rage Shad all evening and landed a nice whopper...however, my hook up ratio is still real low. I had so many hits on the Rage Shad I was getting frustrated unable to land them and a few were monsters.

It's my fault, I don't pause before setting the hook or I'm not rippn the pole back enough to set it.

No luck with my SPRO Frog though, then again I didn't use it long before I was missing the excitement with the Rage Shad.

[rondef]

I find that there are times when the bass are only biting the tail of the ragetail products.  I belive the reason for this is the bass are trying to disable what they think is fleeing bait.  Once they disable it they plan to come back to eat it.  My hook up ratio is only about 40 to 50 percent but it is the most fun I can have fishing.  I love the top water explosions, it is an addiction to me as this is how I am spending the majority of my time fishing lately.  I love the ragetail products because it always help me find the fish.  I keep a second rod set to follow up with another bait in case they miss the ragetail.

[Big-O]

Rondef, when the fish strikes any frog and not just buzz style, and quickly you can tell that they don't have it in their mouth, just short, light, quick twitches under the surface like it's wounded and trying to surface or get away from the fish is usually all it takes for'em to grab it again. Now this is when you get two great strikes for the price of one.

Big O