Frustrating Frogs

[Bassmaster2008]

I was messin around with some frogs today at spenser lake in mason for about an hour. I had 3 strikes that were pretty agressive. No fish in the boat. From the past I remember frogs always were a problem in the area of hook-up percentage. Any tips to increase hookups?

[kzoo]

Plastic frogs can be very frustrating on the hook ratio. I use to throw a plastic worm or a jig in the hole that the fish created after a strike. If they expose themselves, they're there, you just need to work them out.

[skeeter bassin]

Not sure which frog you are using. I have had the same problem with SPRO and other similiar frogs with long legs. I started to trim the legs very short in an attempt to eliminate short strikes on the legs. While this has not completely solved the missed hook set problem, I have noticed an increase in the number of hook ups. Make sure whatever frogs you are using are very soft (most likely you already are), this will allow the frog to compress and expose the hooks better. I tend not to try and use frogs in heavy cover for the simple reason that I have to beef up my rod/line combo which creates a negative effect on the hook set. Ideally you want a fast action tip and the stretch of mono to delay the hookset like you would on topwater. Good luck getting a heavy bass up and out of cover with this set up. Because of this I have started using frogs in open water. This way i can use a crankbait rod and mono. When I do fish heavy cover I use one of my flippin rods with braid, and do my best to tell myself to WAIT to set the hook.

[Silent Angler]

I like YUM's Buzzfrog and they work well in a heavy cover such as lily pads. It seems to me that when I reel it more faster and I would get more bites.

When you see a bass strikes your frog, you just need to wait for a second or two to ensure that the bass engulfs the whole frog...before you set it really hard.


PS.
The topwater actions are finally ON!!!
I caught 5 largemouth bass last nite with Lucky Craft's Sammy 100.

[kickerfish]

I have fished frogs for over 5 years and haver done very well with them. I fish them in all kinds of heavy cover. I use a 7'6" heavy action baitcaster with braid. The trick is not to set right away. You will feel the bass pull the line or swim with it, then you should set. When I get many short strikes I have put trailer hooks on the frog and it has increased hook up. The only thing about trailer hooks is you have to work the bait slower to insure you keep it free from snags. I recommend a SPRO bronze-eyed frog in black or white. Best day I ever had fishing was in NC with a frog, caught 5 fish for 27lbs including an 8lb kicker. Braid is necessary to get them out of the slop. Once the hook is set, reel like crazy to try to keep them from diving deep. Hope this helps.

[Bassmaster2008]

Thanks for the tips. My frog has a bunch of rubber strands as the legs and has 2 connected hooks that go around the body and face up, the body is bright green and hollow and every 5 casts I have to squeeze some water out of it. It's called the snag proof tournament frog or something.



Yea last night the fast twerks seemed to do the trick rather than the slow methodical movements. I'd just pause as I hit a pocket and then they'd strike usually. Makes my heart jump though on those top water strikes! I love em. I read in an article on bassresource.com that a lot of the initial strikes by bass are designed to stun or injure the frog. Then they come back later to eat the frog. Anybody experience anything like this?

[EastsideRedneck]

I've been experiementing with different retrieval techniques and can't seem to get any action. Do you guys have any tips or techniques you are willing to share?

[Bassmaster2008]

Maybe you're lure isn't that appetizing of a frog. I have this other frog they just look at and go away. What time and what kind of weeds are you fishing?

[Nik]

Try a Stanley Ribbit. They're cheap and almost completely weedless when rigged right, and the unique legs create a bubbling, gurgling effect that I've found to be as effective as a buzzbait. The only downside is that they tear up easy, especially in the head area.

[Bigbass Dez]

Okay iv only found one frog on the market that works for me i chose not release the name due too me being limited to one store that sells them and i have never seen more than two on shelf ..However if your frog gets strikes your okay in area(frogs are frogs) .. I Best thing i can suggest to you when fishing these frogs is to be very patient ..I will say this again BE PATIENT .. most stricks happens when that frog is not moving .. and there is a way to increase your hook ups . The biggest problem must anglers have is "being to quick on the hook set" ...It is soooo hard not to set the hook after an ammazing strick that frog produces , but if you sloww down let the srtick happen wait till you see your line runs before setting the hook (that way you dont take the bait away from him).. understand this, bass are attempting to Kill that bait period .. and the way he goes about is what make the strick so explosive .. a bass will jump up sometimes even out the water to attack that frog .. sometimes he will use his tail but most cases his mouth and TAKE A HARD SLAPP ON THAT FROG . he is tring to injure or stunt that frog before he eats him...the reason they blow up so much on the top of the water is only to get that frog back down under the water "his terrirory" @ that point is where he will eat your frog ..How hard is it to watch a big bass explode on your frog and do absoluty nothing (very LOL), you have to get yourself to the point where your not focused on the strick but mainly on your line "kind of like fishing with a worm" DONT SET THE HOOK UNTILL YOUR LINE STARTS TO MOVE .. iv found that sometimes that doesnt take place untill about 5-8 seconds after the explosion ... once you get good at this you will look forward to fighting that fish out the pads more so than been blown away with the stricks .... frog fishing is a true test of a anglers patience , and keep in mind the even the good pro on tour still struggle with this so dont kick yourself if continue to miss fish ...If nothing else i hope this at least helps you get a better understanding frog fishing ...BBD

[jake campbell]

Don't get too excited on the strike wait utill you feel the full weitght of the fish on the line then give the hookset all you've got.