Having Trouble Staying Hooked Up With Hollow Body Frogs!

[lou304]

Hey guys need some input. I was on a 4 day fishing trip last week and spent a lot of time throwing hollow bodied frogs into the slop. I was having a lot of problems staying hooked up, and lost a couple of nice fish. I would wait the obligatory time, set the hook, and feel the weight of the fish. Then they would burrow into the slop and come unbuttoned.

I'm using a Dobyns DX704c Heavy Action, Quantum Smoke reel and 50lb Sufix 832. Used a few different frogs so I'm not thinking that's the problem.

Am I not setting the hook hard enough? It was pretty frustrating.

I posted this on another forum also.

[tmier]

You're not setting beyond the barb so you could try pinching it down a little or all the way. If I felt the fish heavy after the set I wouldn't give him an inch. You got heavy line and gear so pull that cow out! My problem is always the hookset. When I get bit I don't focus enough on setting the hook like a boss.

[Nitrofreak]

Hey guys need some input. I was on a 4 day fishing trip last week and spent a lot of time throwing hollow bodied frogs into the slop. I was having a lot of problems staying hooked up, and lost a couple of nice fish. I would wait the obligatory time, set the hook, and feel the weight of the fish. Then they would burrow into the slop and come unbuttoned.

I'm using a Dobyns DX704c Heavy Action, Quantum Smoke reel and 50lb Sufix 832. Used a few different frogs so I'm not thinking that's the problem.

Am I not setting the hook hard enough? It was pretty frustrating.

I posted this on another forum also.

You should feel the weight of the fish and then set the hook with a strong upward motion.

[J Francho]

I NEVER wait to feel the fish. If I don't see the frog, then I set the hook. Bass are inhale predators, and should totally engulf the bait. The longer you wait, the more time the bass has to decide that it isn't a food item and spits it out. If you're not getting the hooks in the fish, some part of the system is failing. Either the rod is not stout enough, you're not using low stretch line like braid, or the hook set is too weak. Something is not right, so look closely at what you're using and doing.

[hatrix]

Maybe its just me but sometimes I try to double set a hook. I will do my normal set and then sometimes give it another one to really drive it home. I really only do it when the fish are in some serious junk or I think some how it might get off. It can be difficult some times for me to get a good hook set when they are in really think stuff and if I really pull to hard it might just rip it out of there mouth.

[J Francho]

I've done that too, when they head for the slop.

[gobig]

I NEVER wait to feel the fish. If I don't see the frog, then I set the hook. Bass are inhale predators, and should totally engulf the bait. The longer you wait, the more time the bass has to decide that it isn't a food item and spits it out. If you're not getting the hooks in the fish, some part of the system is failing. Either the rod is not stout enough, you're not using low stretch line like braid, or the hook set is too weak. Something is not right, so look closely at what you're using and doing.

I am on the same page as J. The only other thing I can think of to add is once you hook up don't try to play the fish. Wench them to the boat/bank.

[Senkoman12]

you the same guy i saw who posted on ny bass

[J Francho]

I'm jfrancho or J Francho all over the web.

[Sam]

Take a pliers and bend the hook's barbs open about an 1/8th of an inch.

Do what J says to do. Wait until you don't see the frog and CROSS HER EYES over your head with your hook set.

Then start reeling in any slack as fast as you can with the rod tip right above your head.

Keep line tight and NEVER point the rod tip at the fish. Move the rod to the right or left when fighting the animal.

Read all you can about frog fishing and visit YouTube to see what they have to say.

Try this site, too:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&template=video.cfm&k=Fishing%20Tips&connectionSpeed=broadband&videoID=456&startRow=0&videoType=prodcutdemo&option=2&cmid=OLPHVIDEO_456_HIGH

And Google frog fishing and read, read, read!!!!

[J Francho]

Horny Toads/Ribbits is what gets people crossed up, with those, you want to give it a second, as you reel down to set the hook, like a T-rigged worm or creature. Totally different style than a hollow body frog/rat.

[brushhoggin]

Really? i set the hook in the same manner with similar results. when you know the fish didn't miss, set it. it only takes a human brain half a second to determine this. if you wanna call that waiting then more power to you. second, I'm curious as to how stiff this rod really is. its rated H, extra fast but i've held rods with that rating that were too limber for fishing a frog in heavy slop. look for a rod with the rating "broomstick". Also, did you get the 7.0:1 or the 6.3:1 Quantam? i just know that bass know what to do if they get caught in the pads. and a high speed reel on your side cam kake all the difference in the world. its like they are trained to wrap the line around the stem so that you set the hook on vegetation instead of her face. wait and you're screwed

[J Francho]

Really?

Really. Ideally, you are giving them a moment to turn away from you, and get better penetration with a wide gap hook on the toad style plastic. It's got nothing to do with letting them eat it, just a different hook. It isn't necessary to wait with a hollow body. If you "pull" the bait free, you either had a small fish on, or the bite was apprehensive, and try changing colors, size, or frog.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

River2Sea Frog...no issues.

Sometimes a fish will miss, but otherwise I let them load up

and they are mine.

http://www.bing.com/shopping/river2sea-bully-wa-frog/p/2EA100D7B838233F5020?q=river2sea+frog&lpq=river2sea%20frog&FORM=HURE

[Shane Procell]

On a plastic frog, As soon as I hear or see the hit ..I try to break the rod...I don't wait for anything!

[Bass Junkie]

I NEVER wait to feel the fish. If I don't see the frog, then I set the hook. Bass are inhale predators, and should totally engulf the bait. The longer you wait, the more time the bass has to decide that it isn't a food item and spits it out. If you're not getting the hooks in the fish, some part of the system is failing. Either the rod is not stout enough, you're not using low stretch line like braid, or the hook set is too weak. Something is not right, so look closely at what you're using and doing.

This is gold right here. I honestly have no clue why people say wait for the weight. I fish frogs often, and have a pretty decent hook up ratio (75%+). I never wait for the weight. If I can feel the fish, he can feel me, and that means hes no longer my fish. When the strike comes, reel down quickly, give it a second, maybe, and whack 'em like there's no tomorrow. And Spros are the frogs to throw.... Great hook up ratio on those things. Make sure that your rod has a good stiff tip, as this was my problem for almost a year.......

[breezy]

If you're fishing in heavy slop you probably need to upgrade to a 735 or even 736. I do fish frogs on my 734 but usually ribbits/horny toads and only in light cover. IMO the 4 power is too light for frogs in thick stuff.

[gobig]

All of the frogs I own get modified. The most important modification is to the hooks. Any frog that does not come with Gamakatsu EWG frog hooks... get's them. The reason is simple... hook gap. I truly believe the Gami's hook up that much better and I don't have to bend out hooks to increase the hook up ratio.

Here is a owner frog hook

Here is the Gami

The next thing I do to the hook is wrap the shank with braid. This takes some of the flex out of the hook and really seems to drive the hooks in on the set. Here is how I do it.

First I tie a strand of braid to the eyelet. This is going to help in getting the hook back in place.

Next pull the hook threw the body of the frog until fully removed.

Cut the hook off the braid so its easier to work with. Leave the strand of braid in the body of the frog. The strand is what you will use to feed the hook back threw. Now I take the braid and with a series of half hitches attach it to the shank near the eye. Then sequentially wrap the braid down the shank towards the hook point. Secure it with another series of half hitches. Add a few drops of super glue and its done. Finished product should look like this.

Re-attach the braid that is still in the frog to the hook eye and use it to help feed the hook back threw. Once the hook is wrapped you will see how it really tightens things up.

This is the best I could do trying to take pics myself while doing something that takes two hands. Hope this helps.

[BassThumb]

Good tips in here... Never wait to feel weight, second hooksets, rods with stiff tips, rod power upgrade, etc.

[pitchinthejig]

your not really on slack line to much when frogging over the slop so you will fill the fish quick I love frogging and do it as much as I can and IMO Im very good with a frog... when the strike happens the moment I feel the fish I stick the heck out of him I use 65# Daiwa braid and a Steez XBD Frog rod on one rod I have a Zillion Type R on the other XBD I have a Super Tuned Steez, Drags buttoned down and bust them hard, your not going to break that heavy braid unless theres a line issue some where between you and the fish... so you can stick them hard, those frog hooks are thick and most have long points so you gotta move the hook a good ways before you pass the barb.... also dont set the hook off to the side stick her pulling the rod straight up and dont back off or give her an inch keep all you got on her till you pull her loose, the more you give the more you will get pulled down in the trash... the longer you wait to set the hook the more she will get you down in the junk because she hits it and swims right back down... so the faster you can stick her the better just dont stick to quick or you miss her its a fine line and what makes a good frog guy.

If you arent hooking 85% or your hits theres a issue and if you are landing 90% of your hookups theres a problem, frogging isnt tons of missed and lost fish like some people make it out to believe.

[Chaz Hickcox]

All of the above is awesome, but one more thing to add is downsize your frog to a Bronzeye Jr. I get hit on the big ones all the time, but rarely hook up. When fishing the Jr, my hookups are 80%+. They seem to be able to take it better. Don't be discouraged from the small size either. My best fish of the year came off a Jr.

[redboat]

I had that same problem, could NEVER get a hook set no matter how hard I tried! I finally decided to try a trailer hook, a small Owner weedless. Used a small swivel and split ring to attach it to the main hook. Now I hook up almost every time, and always on the trailer. The small weedless Owner doesn't hang up or inhibit the frog's action too much (I throw mainly Ribbits).

[Dan:]

My bet would be that the hookset isn't hard enough.