Topwater Frogs

[Brand0n]

Im new to using them. I fish a local lake and not sure what color frog to try out. Theres two lakes. One runs into the other through a dam. The first one is super shallow all the way through it. Full of matted weeds and some pockets. Stained and some areas clear. The other, is stained full of blugill and I wanted to try something new here. Whats a good frog to try out and whats a good basic color?

[Punkinseedfyretailz]

dark colors. spro, koppers, mad maxx. doesn't matter just make sure you're going dark. go with braided line, and anyone one of those and you'll be fine. work them slow with a walk the dog retrieve and stop them on top of a pad every once in a while, or get a rage toad or something similar and burn them to you. youtube videos are also a good resource for such things

[j0k3r]

Two types of frogs: hollow body and plastic. Hollow bodies are more expensive, but more durable as well. They offer a different presentation (walk the dog) and can be fished as fast or as slow as you want. They come pre-rigged with hooks. A bonus is that they float well. plastic frogs are cheaper but less durable, you have to get hooks for them as well (most common 4/0 EWG). The action is provided by the bait you just cast and retrieve. Not as good for fishing super slow, most frogs tend to sink and they dont look all that real once the bass gets a good look. Also they can get caught up in weeds at times since the hook is below the bait. Brands to consider: hollow - spro, river2sea, koppers, scum frog, sumo frog. Plastic - yum, zoom, stanley ribbit. Number 1 protip: wait for the weight before setting the hook. You're just not going to hookup with the first half dozen fish once you start fishing a frog for the first time because you will pull the bait away. It's an super exciting way to fish as bass will often slam the lure. You have to wait for 3-4 seconds and feel a weight before you set the hook. Good luck!

[Brand0n]

could i use flouro or mono line with frogs? ill mostly be using it in open water. ill use something else for the weeds.

[Scorcher214]

could i use flouro or mono line with frogs? ill mostly be using it in open water. ill use something else for the weeds.

Yep. As for "something else", use braid, obviously. I would suggest #50 braid. Has the same diameter as 12lb mono.

[brushhoggin]

i like buzzfrogs better than hollowbodies but they don't always want that presentation. color doesn't matter with buzzfrogs as much as hollowbodies since its more of a reaction hit most times. white or silver bellies is what i aim for in hollowbodies. there's a split second moment when you get a hit where you have to observe weather or not he got it in his mouth. once you realize he didn't swing and miss, set the hook. do not wait! one key to assuring hook up is setting the hook on taut line. good luck bud and get ready to become addicted!

[basser89]

In my opinion, you only need 2-3 colors when it comes to top water since the majority of the time, the bass are only seeing the belly of the bait. I've limited my frog/toads (Spro Bronze Eye and Strike King Rage Tail Toads are my go to's) to white and black (thinking about adding a yellow or chart to round it out). In a pinch, I've used mono in the one lake I fish that gets loaded with hydrilla and have had no issues. Around pads and such, I'll switch up and throw braid.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I buy white Rage Toads and sometimes alter with JJ's or Sharpie markers.

[j0k3r]

I guess you could use fluoro or mono but with the long casts that you're going to making the hookset won't be as powerful given stretch. I'd reserve fluoro for finesse and other presentations, plus you don't really want 30 lb + fluoro theres not much point. The fish never see the line there's no reason not to use braid no matter what water you're fishing.

[hatrix]

What punkinseed said but I like koppers now more then spro for the fact that koppers are way softer and I think I get better hook ups. I think they both cost the same also $10 or koppers might be a couple bucks more. Either way they are both great frogs and will catch fish what ever you choose. +1 on rage toads also those are really good for burning over pads. Just make sure you get some kind of twist lock hook so you can get more life out of them.

[Fat-G]

Getcha a couple Spro frogs. Learn to walk them, pop them, etc.

One thing I would highly recommend is twitching it twice, letting it sit for a couple seconds, then twitch it really fast like the frog saw the fish and is trying to get away.

[dhami013]

My best friend uses white Ribbits floating frogs, he's caught some HUGE bass in all types of water. Stained, clear, etc. He's caught them on really hot clear skied days, in the evening, and really just at any time.

He also has some silver bottom, black backed ones with chart. legs but has had better luck on white frogs. He reels them in pretty fast too. It's awesome to watch. He uses 20lb green fire line braid. It really is the best for top water, there's no stretch.

[Brand0n]

i picked up a mad maxx @ my local sporting goods store for $7 in black with red markings. looks killer for where i fish. ill know what its like next week!

 

[dhami013]

After reading this post I decided to throw my Spro today. It's yellow and green. I bought it last year and got blow ups but no hook ups. Well today was awesome. It was overcast and real muggy here. And top water was on.

I was hopping it up and down in the water by twitching my rod tip quickly then letting it sit a couple seconds. My rule of thumb for top water is to count to 3 then set the hook. That or wait til you can't see the bait, once it goes too deep I let it rip. I nearly ripped a dink's face off today.

Good luck.

[piscicidal]

Some good info here...I fish frogs alot but there are four basic frogs which I have kind of settled on.

If the fish are in the mood to chase, I like to burn plastic frogs to cover water. The two brands I have settled on are the zoom horny toad and the rage frog. The rage frog has a lot of leg action, almost like a buzz bait. I like to use this if it's kind of windy or if the fish are very aggressive. I use the horny toad probably the most often. I really like this frog because you can cast it a long way. The legs tuck in on the cast and there are no extraneous features to create drag. I like burning this frog early morning making long casts to cover maximum amount of water. You have to move it fairly quickly to get good action on it, but that's my intention anyway when doing this type of fishing. Without a doubt, my favorite way to fish.

I also use the spro bronzeye and popper. I like to use these when fishing a little slower or fishing specific targets. The Popper is great for eliciting strikes on fish who are not in the mood to chase. Fat G in the post above described the action very well that you want to achieve. Cast it out, twitch it a little it, let it sit for a moment, then give 3-4 short bursts. I've seen this panic action elicit a response strike on fish unwilling to

chase.

[TouchTooMuch]

I like to use the spro frog jr and spro frog popper, both in midnight walker. The black is easier for the fish to see on the top, the spro frog has become my go to bait when i cant work anything right, I would recommend it to anybody!

Tight Lines!

[TouchTooMuch]

Also, on the spro frog I like to shorten the skirts (dont know f they are acually reffered to as skirts, but they are the legs on the spro). Sometimes it seems they will take the frog and then spit it out cause the skirts bothered it, i trimmed them down a bit and havent had one spit it out yet!

[endless]

On 7/28/2011 at 10:48 PM, TouchTooMuch said:

Also, on the spro frog I like to shorten the skirts (dont know f they are acually reffered to as skirts, but they are the legs on the spro). Sometimes it seems they will take the frog and then spit it out cause the skirts bothered it, i trimmed them down a bit and havent had one spit it out yet!

From what I heard about shrinking the skirt it was for walking purposes but your logic could be good as well.

Which to the original thread starter if want to know about this as well there is videos on youtube, Glenn can explain as well, plus many others. They claim Kopper's frog you don't need to trim it walks fine out the pack.

I need to get the Midnight walker.

[Bigbarge50]

Great info guys......

Glenn..... those videos made me want to jump up from work here (lunch time haha) and hit the water this second.

I know a lot of people catch em on black and white....... I have had a lot of luck with frogs and it has always been a green frog. I tend to stay natural (I have not frogged at night though, so would think black for sure then)

I have always loved the original snag proof frog....... been great to me over the years. My most successful frog

The moss master I have had forever, and not as good to me as the original. Do not love how the hooks sit on the frog.

Just got this one.....I see so many brown toads around the water's edges that I figured it was time to go with a brown one, and spro is the brand to go with right? Walking the dog is very easy.

So now go make my own video right? haha.

[bassin is addicting]

a suggestion...if it fits.. those hi dollar frogs are great don't get me wrong..

but you can also use a Scum frog (for about $4) and have some good luck too... imho

warning******you will become addicted...