Ribbit Frog - lots of hits, no fish landed!

[golf n fish]

I started fishing with the Ribbit frog by Stanley this past week.  I got quite a few hits in Lilly Pads when nothing else was working, but I couldn't seem to set the hook on any of them.  What's the deal?  Anybody else have this problem?

David

[soccplayer07]

takes some practice. I would use either a 4/0, 5/0 EWG or a frog type hook with a screw lock. The most important part is waiting a minimum of 2 seconds before setting the hook. I usually like to wait until I feel the weight of the fish on my line.

[Raul]

Bass can be quite stoopid when it comes to striking a topwater bait like a frog, you see the blast and actually the fish missed the bait in reality, it never mouthed it; so when it comes to topwaters you have to wait until you feel the fish on your line before setting the hook.

[NewAngler]

Two words: TRAILER HOOK

And a 4/0 twistlock hook, I like the owner.

[Paul Roberts]

Ditto above and what will follow -this is not a new problem.

But there are some days that this is especially maddening. The only thing new I've heard on this is in this thread:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1253405865/13#13

I think this explains at least some of those most maddening days.

[golf n fish]

I think I was setting the hook to early in the beginning.  Then I started waiting until I felt the fish (which is very difficult) and I still couldn't get them hooked.  I know the bass were missing it the first time because I could see my frog the whole time if I was watching close enough.  

Is there a better frog to use?

David

[chubaka]

try retrieving a little slower

[CHEVYRIDAZ]

Get some of the floating Ribbits so they have a little extra time to take it in!

[RoLo]

I think I was setting the hook to early in the beginning. Then I started waiting until I felt the fish (which is very difficult) and I still couldn't get them hooked. I know the bass were missing it the first time because I could see my frog the whole time if I was watching close enough.

Is there a better frog to use?

David

The Ribbit, which is a "solid toad", generally offers better hook-ups than a "hollow frog".

I have to wonder if there are any gar in your waters (Florida is loaded with them).

If you're dealing with gar, even a delayed hook-set won't improve your hook-up ratio.

Roger

[golf n fish]

Lots of Gar here in north AL.  I guess that could be the problem.

[Andy Nuyen]

I throw the Bull Ribbits quite a bit and find a 5/0-6/0 Superline EWG skin hooked with braid works the best.  

As far as hook up ratio, sometimes the fish hit it so hard all you have to do is lean back and apply pressure, when they slurp it down you may have to wait and feel the weight before setting the hook.  If new to frog fishing, try and look somewhere else when retrieving the bait so you don't jerk it away from the fish.  May sound dumb but it helps until you get used to the pause.

[Koop]

I use a 5/O owner centerpin twistlock hook.  Best hook I have found for solid frogs, I generally throw a horny toad though.  Even the best top water fishermen miss fish, its the nature of the beast.  Topwater is high risk high reward, keep practicing, as others have said follow the rules, see the splash, wait, generally a few seconds is enough.  It's a great feeling though when your rod loads up on a nice hog off a solid toad.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

The Ribbits are a pretty large toad with a lot of plastic that can get in the way of the hook, try a smaller toad and see if that helps.

When the fish splashes keep reeling slowly until you feel the weight.  When I was first told to wait on the hookset I stood there and waited without reeling which was just as bad as setting the hook immediately.  Reel slowly so the line stays tight.