Help with hook-ups on Ribbit frog

[mike304]

hey guys,

  I've started using stanley Ribbit frogs recently. I like the action but am having a hard time hooking up. Am I not waiting long enough? When retrieved over the slop I got some hellacious hits the other night and couldn't hook up.

Help!

[J Francho]

1st off, is your hook big enough?  Wait until you feel the fish on the line, then use the same hookset you would on any other t-rig plastic: reel down, and swing hard.  One thing I do, is lube up the frog and the hook with Megastrike.  I think the fish holds longer, and the bait slide off the hook easier with the lube.

[GonzoFishing]

I had the same problem but do like J Francho says and wait until you feel the weight of the fish and then set the hook. Seemed to work for me!  

[DINK WHISPERER]

When one hits my frog i will drop the rod and give it some slack than as i feel the tension i hit it like i want to break the rod!!! Also, use the biggest hook you can fit.

[Koop]

when a lunker hits my frog I usually drop my beer and feint, falling into the water.

[Marty]

If you're not already doing so, I'd use at least a 4/0 extra wide gap. Also make sure your rod has enough backbone for this type of fishing.

[LCpointerKILLA]

If you are waiting and feeling their weight and still nothing, try megastrike. Using megastrike on frogs is a huge help for several reasons. I always put it on my frogs now. Also make sure you are texposing or texposing with the hook tip barely buried.

[mike304]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

I have been using a St Croix premier 6" 6" med heavy rod, fast action, with 40lb braid.

Would I be better off with my 6'8" Powell Max Heavy, fast action w/50lb braid?

I was using a 3/0 owner twistlock, and I switched to a stanley swimmax weighted hook, I believe 4/0. Neither seemed to make a difference. I guess I'm not waiting long enough. Should you really count to 3 slowly?

I'll also try the Megastrike, since I have some.

[Koop]

I like a Gama 5/O superline EWG for frogs.

[Paul Roberts]

It can be hard to wait! That explosion can cause an instant hook-set reaction lol. Really good advice above, but sometimes (a lot of times if mat is dense) the fish just plain miss. Sometimes they come back sometimes they don't. It almost seems like the strike scares them too!

[Chris W]

It can be hard to wait! That explosion can cause an instant hook-set reaction lol. Really good advice above, but sometimes (a lot of times if mat is dense) the fish just plain miss. Sometimes they come back sometimes they don't. It almost seems like the strike scares them too!

X2 also you can use a 5/0 Hook in the Ribbits after I switched to a Owner 5/0 twistlock (started with a 4/0) my hooking percentage jumped significantly.  

[Koop]

It can be hard to wait! That explosion can cause an instant hook-set reaction lol. Really good advice above, but sometimes (a lot of times if mat is dense) the fish just plain miss. Sometimes they come back sometimes they don't. It almost seems like the strike scares them too!

X2 also you can use a 5/0 Hook in the Ribbits after I switched to a Owner 5/0 twistlock (started with a 4/0) my hooking percentage jumped significantly.

Yeah brand isn't as big of a deal.  I like Owner or Gama.  I use a Gama 5/O, Owner 5/O would be just as good.  I do recommend getting the "Superline EWG" though.  

[RoLo]

It's estimated that bass miss about one out of every three topwater targets they seize (with no angler in the equation).

That being the case, if you get a hookup on two out of three topwater strikes, you're batting "1000".

To maximize hookups, use "braided line" and at least a "4/0 hook"

With the Stanley Ribbit Floater, I use the Horny Toad Hook which is 5/0.

Lastly, waste a little time before setting the hook. This is the most important point, but is also the most difficult to do.

I've been doing this for 50 years and still have a strong tendency to react to primal instinct.

Although most anglers recommend waiting until you feel the weight of the fish, I've never found that to be necessary.

Instead, I give the bass a slack line for about one full-second (that's a long time), then cross-his-eyes.

When retrieving frogs and toads I hold the rod around the 1 o'clock position (gradually lowered as lure approaches boat).

During a blowup, my first move is to the lower the rod-tip to the water,

which takes all pressure off the lure and also kills the clock.

Roger

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Explained well Roger! This is also the same way to fish with a worm. You don't really have to wait.If you drop the rod and reel the slack then set that is all the time you need.It also keeps the fish from feeling you and spitting.

I also second the notion that sometimes they just plain out miss them.A bunch. It also depends on the day.Some days they will choke it and some they just swat at it.Welcome to topwater fishing.

[mike304]

Thanks for all the tips guys. RoLo, great explanation. I think maybe I'm not giving them enough time and slack, so they feel the resistance and let go.

Now hopefully i get enough time this week to put the advice to practical use.

[Bass Junkie]

  I don't think its yor rod or line at all. The rig I use 99.9% of the time is a 7ft. 1pc. ML rod and 30lb power pro. My best advise would be to go to wally world, get say 2 of the three pack clam shells with the hook included, one in the catalpa floater and one in the baby bass or watermelon pearl red flake. While your there pick up some el-chepo trailer hooks. When you get to the lake, open one of the three packs, pull out the color of choice, and tie on the bait. If your fishin' weedlines or sparser cover, pull the point out of the froggy but DON'T unscrew the bait. Slide on one of the trailer points so when rigged again the point is up. Re rig. Cast and use a steady, slow retreive, and when the bass hits, pause 1 second and slam back. Almost fool proof. I speak from experiance, as I've used Stanley ribbit frogs alot and consider them top notch. Hope this helps!!!!!