Choking at the moment of truth

[Lals]

In the last couple weeks, I have had some really good shots at some big bass on a frog. In one case, as I was working the frog I saw something move from another lily pad close by and it created a large wake as it got behind my bait and then I heard a sound that was like a industrial strength vacuum cleaner (never heard a slurp that loud), I waited to feel some weight never felt anything and there was my frog just bobbing on top of the water and I never set the hook -- with a "slurp" like that the fish must of taken it -- jeez I think it swallowed a couple of lily pads. Then on Saturday, I had 3 large bass come out of the water take my frog down, I didn't feel anything but I set the hook anyway and I had them on for a couple of seconds and they came unbuttoned. Dang! One issue it that they typically hit at the end of cast and the way the wind was blowing there was a large bow in the line. Of course, I should have reeled down and felt the fish and then set the hook... choking at the moment of truth!! I got an itchy "trigger finger"...

Watching the Forest Wood Cup (FLW Championship) this weekend, the winning pattern was frog fishing. It seem to me that those guys waited a good second or 2 before they set the hook. Man that takes discipline. It happens so fast, it is hard to keep your cool and reel down and feel them and set the hook. I have this mental picture that the bass hit it and spit it right away... which was reinforced by the first one I mentioned. I wonder how long they will typically hold onto a frog before they spit it?

One thing I would say is that walking the frog is good top water tactic right now. I have caught several fish, I have been catching the smaller ones and losing the big one but they are going for it! Jigs with a rage craw (last week got a 19.5" and 21.25") and the frog have been the best for me.

[CHM]

Decaf

I usually fish a frog tip high. When they inhale it I drop the rod tip, reel up the slack and hit them hard. I usually use 30# PP or 65# if in really heavy slop. Frogs are fun!

[Pherris]

When I fish frogs or any topwater I wait until the I feel the load of the fish before setting the hook. Many times they miss the first time and the lure floats back to the top. If the fish is aggressive in many cases it will strike agiain with a twitch or two. It takes practice of patience but ounce you get used to waiting the success of hook ups will be greater. Now with that said even the best frog fisherman are only sucessful about 50% of the time on blow ups.

Good Fishing!

[skocsuhs]

i do a ton of froggin and i'm one of the few that doesn't wait seconds or until i feel the fish, bass can spit stuff in milliseconds...they blowup on it, i do a super fast reel down or none at all and set them hooks home...50-65# braid on either a 7H or 7'3" XH and i rarely miss fish...

the 3 frogs i use solely are the spro popper, booyah pad crusher & koppers...

[RumRiverRat]

Decaf

I usually fish a frog tip high. When they inhale it I drop the rod tip, reel up the slack and hit them hard. I usually use 30# PP or 65# if in really heavy slop. Frogs are fun!

Agreed. My frog rod has 50 pound Western Filaments Tuff Line. I have switched completely away from PP except for a couple rods that will be switched next season.

[CHM]

I've seen that line but never tried it. What do you like about it?

You guys ever try Swamp Donkey frogs?

[RK]

Frogs and spoons are always tough to hook fish with. You miss half of them no matter what you do. I do the same as CHM - keep the rod tip high and drop it before I set. I have a friend who actually sits down on his butt seat before he sets the hook just to force himself to give it a second. A lot of the time the commotion you see on the surface isn't them actually eating the bait but just the final rush before they actually make contact. I have a lot of practice from muskie fishing with being patient with topwaters so that helps some. I sometimes overcorrect and wait *too* long though.

Tuff line is good stuff. Used it for muskies for years and still have it on a few reels. I like the TUFF Line XP a lot too.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Like RK said, its really not a high percentage way of fishing. Its fun, but can be very frustration for sure. It sounds like you are doing it right, I am a firm believer in using a frog that is bright in color. Not so that the fish can see it, but so I can see it. I usually dont set till I know the frog is gone.

[CHM]

...I am a firm believer in using a frog that is bright in color. Not so that the fish can see it, but so I can see it. I usually dont set till I know the frog is gone.

Very good point!

[CHM]

I've tried almost every frog on the market. I have to say that some are really nice to cast and fish, but I did really well one summer on this guy. A Scum Frog Bassrat

[BTL]

I've seen that line but never tried it. What do you like about it?

You guys ever try Swamp Donkey frogs?

Yes, and I like them a lot.

Didn't they quit making em?

[BTL]

I am a firm believer in using a frog that is bright in color. Not so that the fish can see it, but so I can see it.

Couldn't agree more. I don't think the fish care much anyway.

[CHM]

Yes, they stopped production years ago but they're coming back soon. I have 5 on pre-order and rumor is they're coming sometime this month. Do a search for SWAMP DONKEY PRE-ORDER

[Lals]

Chuck, funny comment about the Decaf. I do think I had about 3 extra cups of coffee in me at the time. No joke!! I was coming from a fun event. Your suggestion about the tip up, that was how Randle Tharp was working his frog when he won the Forest Wood cup. Need to give that a try.

I agree with Skocsuhs about the Spro Popper and the Booyah Pad Crusher. Funny thing about the Spro Popper, is it is actually easy to walk the dog with it and it provides the extra splash. Also, I found the Booyah Pad Crusher is softer for better hook ups (wasn't using this one last Sat!). Need to try the koppers (something for Christmas, I get for myself if you know what I mean!)

Good input everyone, it is very helpful. Thanks

[RumRiverRat]

I use the yum money frog a lot.

I have great hookup ratios with it.

At least 80 to 90 percent.

[RumRiverRat]

I've seen that line but never tried it. What do you like about it?

You guys ever try Swamp Donkey frogs?

Much drier line than power pro, not as much body as PP.

Swamp Donkey frogs are awesome, excited they are coming back.

[thatoneguy]

Like RK said, its really not a high percentage way of fishing. Its fun, but can be very frustration for sure. It sounds like you are doing it right, I am a firm believer in using a frog that is bright in color. Not so that the fish can see it, but so I can see it. I usually dont set till I know the frog is gone.

I use three colors of frog: black/red, all black, and black/red (in that order). For whatever reason I see the dark frog better than bright colors, and I get far more strikes on the dark ones. I know, I'm weird.

[RumRiverRat]

I also use dark frogs.

Solid Black is what I use most often.

I fish a lot of stained waters, so I like the black frog to provide a good silhouette.

On clearer lakes a frog with a clear or translucent belly is what I want when I throw a hollow body frog.

If I throw a Money Frog on a clearer lake I use white.

[grab the net]

I like a longer rod for frogs, 7-6 or better, favorite being a 7-10 Duckett XH. 50lb Sunline, with a Koppers or a Bobby's Perfect Frog. Color - light or dark bottom, the top just catches us. I am on the opposite end when it comes to working my frog. I like rod tip down, especially if I am walking it. Only time rod tip is up is in the pads. Once they start on a frog it is just so hard to put it down, no funnier way to catch em, buzz bait is close second, but then again having em knock slack in your line on a jig bite is cool to. Then there are swim jigs, chatter baits, but no, definitely frogs 1st.

[bucketmouth64]

I've tried almost every frog on the market. I have to say that some are really nice to cast and fish, but I did really well one summer on this guy. A Scum Frog Bassrat

This is my go to bait in the pads. I've tried others, but no success like the scum frog. Great fun when fish explode the water. I have good hook ups, key is patience and wait for a couple seconds when setting hook. The last fish I caught the entire fish came out of the water while inhaling the lure, I wish I had a video of that, it was classic. Fish was a 3#.

[Phantasy_Fishing]

That's how topwater fishing is, especially frogs. It sucks loosing fish, but part of the fun is seeing how many different ways they blow up on the frog. Sometimes its a lazy slurp. Sometimes they go airborne. Sometimes its a huge splash. It really is heart breaking loosing a big fish, but I always keep coming back for more.

[Lals]

I got a 19.5" on a frog out of some really thick stuff yesterday. Hooking percentage went up (67% - 6 out of 9) -- I tried to reel down, reduced the coffee, went back to the Booyah Pad Crusher (that has some sharp/good hooks) and it helped. I fought my ichy trigger finger all day -- I would say it was a "draw".

Jig and craw was the best for me yesterday -- I also got a few on a buzz bait, a fluke, skitter walk and no action on the lipless crank (need to work on this one) and a spinner bait.

[EBass]

Fished yesterday and my buddy got a lot of action on a frog. He was 1 for 8 or something but he had his chances. I don't have a topwater rod (thanks Brandon) so I tossed a storm subwart and spinnerbait. I caught 3 small pike otherwise known as -3. Then got rained on. Water temp 64-65.

For fall time lures I really like a jig.

[Raider4ever]

If your pushing it through lilly pads or other heavy weeds, think about going to a smaller size frog (Spro Jr. vs. regular, etc.), and trim up the leg strands a bit. They just hear something moving over the pads. They have no idea what size it is. Also, I think it increases the odds of getting the frog in a more favorable hooking position on the inhale. This year I trimmed an all black Spro Jr. way down with the thinking that they thought it was a mouse, not a frog. Hooking % was through the roof (50+ compared to the usual 25-35). Obviously if you're using them in more open type water, go big but maybe trim the legs a tad.