top water frogs

[Korea_Bassmaster]

I have fished with a frog all this summer and i wanted to know how i get the bigger bass up and out of the lily pads with out loosing them?

[Ondeck32]

Good question. anybody?  ???

[Max-in-Mn]

I use a muskie rod and 50-80lb test braided for pulling bass out of thick cover. I can still cast a plastic frog just fine with that big setup too.

[Will]

First of all you will need a good solid hook set so count to 2 after the fish blows up before setting the hook. If the fish has the bait he will dive into vegetation so you WILL need to use braided line that will cut through the vegetation and make it possible to drag the fish out. As for braided line I would recomend at least 50 pound test.

[Ondeck32]

How about 20lb Floro? It goes through the thick stuff pretty good still has a small amount of stretch for a small delay so you dont pull the bait out of the fish as often.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I agree with everything above PLUS you'll want to bring a huge bag of luck, maybe some offerings for the gods and a 4-leaf clover, because even if you do everything right, and have all the right gear, you still stand a good chance of not getting them to the boat.  Just the way it is.

[Phishn_Phool]

I have been using 50# Power Pro and a 7 ft heavy flipping rod.  My trouble has not been getting them out cause everything I have caught has been under 2 lbs.  I will keep trying and you all will hear me yell when I horse out that first 10lber

                            CPR ;D

[basswest1]

Very good question.  Frog fish are the one of the hardest fish to land.  Most of the time you are fishing in some nasty lookin vegitaion.  First of all you need a rod that can handle a heavy load.  Go to a heavy, medium action rod.  Long is good no less than  7 feet.  The reason I say you need a medium fast action rod is because when a fish blows up on a frog you react right away, and more often than not you pull the frog away.  Next you need the right line.  Use nothing less than braid.  I use 65lb braid.  Braid cuts through the vegetation, but it has no stretch which is the downside, but you need braid.

best fishes

[ECP1989]

I use 50LB Power Pro and have had no problems getting fish outta the grass. The rod I'm using is a 7' MH rod that I usually use for Spinnerbaits. When you get a fish on a Frog in heavy grass you really gotta put alot of power into it and horse them out.

[Ondeck32]

Whats your favorite frog? I use the Scum Frog

[AceHigh]

Use 50# to 80# superbraid and this thin line will cut the pad stems; I only put about 35 yards on the reel to keep tangles at a minimum as I know I will never cast a frog in the pads any further - most casts are less than 15 yards.  There are dozens of frog brands, use one with a single, large, wide-gap hook.  I have found the frogs with downwad pointing hooks rarely lose a fish as the hook generally catches the tough lip.

2/3s of fish are lost on the hookset.  With a frog ignore the strike (I know its hard) and wait until you feel the weight of the fish to set the hook.  Then keep the line tight.

I use a Abu Barcia 5000D reel which is basically a low speed direct drive winch with no drag.  I prefer a short rod because I know I'm going to have to reach a couple of feet under the water to get 75% of the fish and trying to handle a long rod and all that line is difficult and you will much more likely to give the fish slack so he can get off.

99% of frog fishermen fish the frog too fast - try stopping the frog and counting to ten every time the frog comes to an opening in the pads; you'll find most strikes come after the count of 5 - quick strikes occur most often immediately when the frog hits the water (the impulse strike) or after the frog has been moved over 1/3 of the way back to the boat (you've just given the fish time to get to the bait, zero in and make the decision to eat it).

[Hookhead]

I just bought a Panther Martin Superior Frog and haven't used it yet.  Anyone have any experience with it?

[AceHigh]

Great Choice in frogs!

The Superfrog is THE FROG to use.  Notice the large gap hook with the point down - it flat works better than any other frog ever made.  The little weight on the weed guard make it always run right side up.  35 years ago this frog's legs were flat but it still worked great.

[Ondeck32]

Seems to me with this type of hook you would hook alot of fish in the bottom lip?

[Hookhead]

I'll definately let you know when I haul in the 15 pounder!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I've never thrown one of those, please keep us posted as to your results.  

How well does that weedgaurd work?  The thought of pulling somthing through the pads with the hook pointing down seems impossible to me.

[Gatorbassman]

If that thing is hollow than try filling it with a few pieces of soft plastic to give it a little weight.

[jaylord]

Braid is a must 30#to50# the frog to fish is a Snag

Proof Frog." Bobby Perfect Frog" the color to fish is White or Black on the white one put some small Con the bottom of the frog with a black Sharpie.

And run your Sharpie up your line about 5 ft and put a split ring on it this will make it walk like a Spook. Try to fish it in open water.Good luck.

[Upnorth]

60# power pro and a 7'6" flipping stick with a Sumo Frog on the end.  The best combo I've used, but you'll still bat around .500.  By the way, that superior frog will NOT work in heavy cover, it rides hook down.

[strick9]

A black Popping Scum Frog for me. 50 # Power Pro Braid on a 6 1/2 ft medium heavy rod. Two weeks ago I was 4 for 5 on landing fish, yesterday I was 1 for 3 in the same lily pad bed. It can be frustrating but it is also one of the most exciting ways to catch a bass.

[onebigfish]

The one vivid memory of catching a fish is the time I threw a frog from a 10' Jon boat onto the bank of a small lake...then, I "hopped" the frog off the bank into the water and the water EXPLODED!

I have just recently come back to fishing (with my kids) and cannot wait for the next "memory maker."

Gotta love the frogs!

[Max-in-Mn]

I'm so into frogs right now I am tempted to go out and buy the Loomis Frog rod, made just for throwing frogs...Now I just need to work up $200.. :

[Orabbit]

Best frog I have ever used is the Stanley Lure Ribbit soft plastic (www.fishstanley.com).  I have tried almost all other brands and like many but the Ribbit is one of the best baits (IMO) to have come along in a long time.  It combines the sound and action of a buzzbait, the features of soft plastic and the weedless ability of a frog.  You can fish it in weeds, pads, open water, timber, rocks.  I have caught pike, large mouth, andsmall mouth on this bait.   Last evening in 3 hours I had 13 largemouth in the boat ranging in size from 14 to 20 inches all caught on Ribbits.

[AceHigh]

The Superfrog is not hollow, its a foam that floats so that just the top 1/3 of the frog is out of water (like a real frog).  The downward pointing hook has an excellent weed guard and it rarely gets hung up.

[p-funk]

Any of you guys ever tried replacing the factory hooks on some of these frogs?  If so, did you notice any better results of keeping them hooked?  I lost a pretty good one yesterday on a popping scum frog.  Gave it plenty of time to take it before I set the hook, thought I had a good hookset and she came out of the water and spit it out on me.  I went and ordered some Owner replacement hooks as soon as I got home.  Just curious as to if this will make any difference.

Also, has anyone tried rigging up a third hook that runs in the middle of the other two hooks to help with hookups?  I've got something rigged up that I think may help and I'll post back with results after I give it a shot.