Problem With Zoom Horny Toad

[Floridabassking352]

2 Problems:

1. I fished two weeks ago with a white Zoom Horny Toad during the day (it was very cool outside and a slight chop on the water) over hydrilla mats. I kept getting massive explosions from bass as I reeled the toad over open patches of water in between the hydrilla. But every single time the bass missed! I swear I had at least 25 missed strikes and it really got me frustrated. What was the problem? My Dad landed a bass on the toad but I couldn't. I think maybe I was reeling too fast, but you can't really retrieve a Zoom Horny Toad very slow without the legs stopping to kick. I think if I had a Spro Tournament Frog on (which is completely topwater and floats on the surface when motionless) I would have landed all those fish because I could have reeled it at a snails pace. What do you guys think? Btw, I was fishing a natural lake in Florida in about 8-10ft of water (Lake Lochloosa to be exact).

2. I would say about 85% of the time my Zoom Horny Toad ends up turning upside down when I retrieve it. This is very annoying. Are there any remedies?

[Micro]

The type and size of hook, as well as how you are rigging it would be helpful.

For me, the setup with the best hookups is a  5/0 Matzuo extra long worm hook.  I rig it with the point going up around the crotch (between the legs) and skinning the tip in the back.  

I have rigged mine several ways.  Here is a pci of some of the ways I've tried, all being successful in keeping the frog upright and giving good hookups.  The trick to keeping the frog upright is keeeling the bait by keeping the weight well beneath it.

The first rig is a Gamakatsu 5/0 EWG.

The second is a Horny Toad hook with a spiral lock.

The third of the Matzuo rig described above.

The forth is a little more unorthodox.  It's an Eagle Claw weedless hook (5/0 I think).  It actually keels the bait very well and hookups are very good.  It's not all that great over lilypads, but does great in more open water.  

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Another thing I like to do is rig with a 1/32-1/16 screw in weight on the front and let it drop into holes.The added weight causes more disturbance in the veggies also.

Some days you just can't hook them on a toad, period.Other times they will choke it down before you can even set up.

Try slowing down and using a spro bronzeye or dropping a texas rigged bait or senko type into the holes where they miss.Also try to get a hold of some floating buzz frogs such as a floating ribbit or gambler cane toad.In my experience these can make a huge difference on those short striking days.

Try changing colors if they won't commit.

All toads turn upside down and zoom is the worst.

[fivesixone]

Wait a good second or two (or three, or until you can actually feel the fish) before you set that hook! Like Bassin_Fin@tic said though, sometimes you just can't hook 'em. Frogs are a pain sometimes, but then again there are times when they can't be beat.  

[Chris at Tech]

Wait a good second or two (or three, or until you can actually feel the fish) before you set that hook! Like Bassin_Fin@tic said though, sometimes you just can't hook 'em. Frogs are a pain sometimes, but then again there are times when they can't be beat.  

Exactly...

I know from experience...it's hard as heck to not set the hook immediately, but do your best to give the bass a few seconds to get the bait in his mouth.  Then cross his eyes

[gatrboy53]

fbk352,i fish lochloosa and orange alot.to answer your Q,i dont think a spro type would of made the difference.there are several factors ,1-there are lots of small bass in the grass right now and the bait is to big (for the most part)im having much better success w/ a zoom ultravibe speed worm buzzed across the top and a producto buzz tail shad .these are smaller profiles but catch big fish. i use wat. red mostly.if you stay w/ the frog change colors, again wat. red is the most versatile color in thiose lakes as is junebug.the ribbit is a smaller profile frog and may result in better hook ups this time of yr.i throw the frog alot but this time of yr. it doesnt produce as well as other times of the yr.the super fluke is doing really good in the hydrilla also.  

[gatorblazer]

Wait a good second or two (or three, or until you can actually feel the fish) before you set that hook! Like Bassin_Fin@tic said though, sometimes you just can't hook 'em. Frogs are a pain sometimes, but then again there are times when they can't be beat.

Thats the reason you are not hooking em.  A frog requires you to be patient on the hookset.  Also, if you miss it, let the frog sit for a little bit and give it a little twitch.  Sometimes they will blowup on a frog and then come back after it once it sits "stunned" for a little while

[farmpond1]

If you are fishing the open areas between the hydrilla, you might be able to add a trailor hook.  Or, perhaps, use a weedless trailor (the kind with a wire that covers the point of the hook).  Just a thought.

[Floridabassking352]

fbk352,i fish lochloosa and orange alot.to answer your Q,i dont think a spro type would of made the difference.there are several factors ,1-there are lots of small bass in the grass right now and the bait is to big (for the most part)im having much better success w/ a zoom ultravibe speed worm buzzed across the top and a producto buzz tail shad .these are smaller profiles but catch big fish. i use wat. red mostly.if you stay w/ the frog change colors, again wat. red is the most versatile color in thiose lakes as is junebug.the ribbit is a smaller profile frog and may result in better hook ups this time of yr.i throw the frog alot but this time of yr. it doesnt produce as well as other times of the yr.the super fluke is doing really good in the hydrilla also.

Gatrboy,

What time of year do you have the most success on Lochloosa and Orange with the topwater frogs? Also, what sections of Lochloosa hold bigger fish this time of year? I was on the far North end of the Lake and to the East of the little Lochloosa creek.

[TournyFish001]

I like fishing those on a carolina rig in open water-

[gatrboy53]

i fish the n. end mostly.call and talk to gary simpson at the tackle box (352-372-1791)he has a weekly fishin report from lochloosa.a report last week said some big fish from the s.e. corner.im goin to orange sat.i had a 5,3,and 3-2+ tues. afternoon on speed worms.i fish the toad yr. round but when the water cools down the bite is spottier.the smaller profile baits do better.the wat, red pearl is a killer color in lochloosa.i fish the horny toad but the ribbit can sometimes in cooler water work better.if you get those slaps but not hook ups go to a speed worm,im tellin you it will put them in the boat.tip:when you feel the bite it will feel like theyre mouthin it ,just quit reelin and let the rod load up before settin the hook.

the zoom ole monster in watermelon has been doin good also. i use it to discourage the dinks but they will still bite it just not as readily.

another bait that works good there is a tiny torpedo.throw it out between the hydrilla patches give it a few short quik jerks and let it sit.

[Floridabassking352]

The type and size of hook, as well as how you are rigging it would be helpful.

For me, the setup with the best hookups is a 5/0 Matzuo extra long worm hook. I rig it with the point going up around the crotch (between the legs) and skinning the tip in the back.

I have rigged mine several ways. Here is a pci of some of the ways I've tried, all being successful in keeping the frog upright and giving good hookups. The trick to keeping the frog upright is keeeling the bait by keeping the weight well beneath it.

The first rig is a Gamakatsu 5/0 EWG.

The second is a Horny Toad hook with a spiral lock.

The third of the Matzuo rig described above.

The forth is a little more unorthodox. It's an Eagle Claw weedless hook (5/0 I think). It actually keels the bait very well and hookups are very good. It's not all that great over lilypads, but does great in more open water.

Micro,

I use a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook in red with my Zoom Horny Toads.

[Micro]

My personal opinion is that the 4/0 EWG is too small.  I know some peole use it and are successful, but I think a bigger hook would help with hook-up ratios.  

[BassFishingMachine]

Buy yourself a pack of Stanley Ribbits. You can fish them pretty slowly, and the legs kick with ease. I never liked the zoom horny toad, rode belly up alot, and I could never get the feet to kick right. Now the stanley ribbit will also ride belly up on OCCASION, but I'd say its about 80% of the time it will ride correctly, and 20% of the time it will ride belly up. I think all frogs do that, only way I've heard to fix this, is to use a weighted hook.

[fivesixone]

Buy yourself a pack of Stanley Ribbits. You can fish them pretty slowly, and the legs kick with ease. I never liked the zoom horny toad, rode belly up alot, and I could never get the feet to kick right. Now the stanley ribbit will also ride belly up on OCCASION, but I'd say its about 80% of the time it will ride correctly, and 20% of the time it will ride belly up. I think all frogs do that, only way I've heard to fix this, is to use a weighted hook.

x2! The Stanley Ribbit is what got me into froggin'!

[Floridabassking352]

i fish the n. end mostly.call and talk to gary simpson at the tackle box (352-372-1791)he has a weekly fishin report from lochloosa.a report last week said some big fish from the s.e. corner.im goin to orange sat.i had a 5,3,and 3-2+ tues. afternoon on speed worms.i fish the toad yr. round but when the water cools down the bite is spottier.the smaller profile baits do better.the wat, red pearl is a killer color in lochloosa.i fish the horny toad but the ribbit can sometimes in cooler water work better.if you get those slaps but not hook ups go to a speed worm,im tellin you it will put them in the boat.tip:when you feel the bite it will feel like theyre mouthin it ,just quit reelin and let the rod load up before settin the hook.

the zoom ole monster in watermelon has been doin good also. i use it to discourage the dinks but they will still bite it just not as readily.

another bait that works good there is a tiny torpedo.throw it out between the hydrilla patches give it a few short quik jerks and let it sit.

Gatrboy,

Thanks for the tips on Lochloosa. I got out there today and caught a nice, chunky 3.5lber on my first cast with the Tiny Torpedo (which I just bought yesterday) in the hydrilla. I couldn't get any Ultravibe Speed Worms but tried the Ultravibe Speedcraw but no luck with that today. The t-rigged worms were workin today too.

[Wayne P.]

Another hook to try is the Gammy G-Mag Oversize. Put the hook into the nose like a Tx rig and them place the hook bend between the legs and skin hook the point on the back. The wider gap and heavier wire makes a better keel than the other hooks mentioned.

Its the top rigging and top hook in the picture.

[gatrboy53]

fbk, you can get the speed worms at any walmart.use a 3/0 ewg gammy.i have one rod weightless that i buzz it on top like a frog and another that i put a large swivel on about 18'' of line and swim it thru the grass slowly.

glad you caught a nice chunk on the tiny torpedo,thats alot of fun on top.

i thought about goin to lochlossa sat, but too many speck fisherman.may get over there this week.

we went to orange and caught over 40 bass but only two over 15'' slot.i heard of some big uns caught rippin traps thru the grass in macintosh bay.

as for the frogs.a5/0 gammy ewg superline hook is best but a 4/0 will work just fine.in most instances the horny toad will catch as many bass as a ribbitt,but its good to have and use both.an inherent problem w/ plastic toads is it wants to flip upside down ,but if you just give it a little pull and then let it rest a sec. it will right itself.w/ a little practice it wont be a issue.if your not usein braid for toads you need to.that will increase your hook ups and you'll put more in ther boat.if they get you down in the hydrilla mono wont get them out unless you go to em.

if i have bass slappin at the toad i always follow up w/ the torpedo,most times it will get short strikers.as does the speedworm.