"Batting" at Frogs

[Maximum12]

I have a question on some weird behavior (weird to me at least).

Several times while casting frogs into the slop, I'll have boils at the frog - but no hit. It's almost like the bass are batting or slapping at the bait. Often it's barely moving or not at all, so I don't think it's misses. It also happens in spurts, i.e. several times in one outing (mid-summer twice last year & last weekend this year) on one lake. What the heck might this be?

[Lunker]

I haven't had this problem with frogs, but I've had occasions using other topwaters where the bass will actually skim the surface and run at my bait only to not attack at the last second. I knew it was bass cause after a few false attempts they actually hit. Although I do not know why they act strangly some time, I would suggest you have a second line rigged up as a backup, like with missed hits. Throw a softplastic, senko, tube, etc where they fish came up to and missed, or boiled at your lure. They may hit this instead.

[SCUMFROG]

What they are doing is trying to stun the frog so it wont get away. When this happens STOP! Wait a bit, 5,10 seconds. Then ever so softly move the frog. What will happen next will be so much fun. They "slap" the frog then turn around and wait for it to move again before hitting it so hard it almost made me fall out of the boat. This happens in heavy cover most of the time, cause the bass have just of a hard time pushing though it as we do from the other side. So they need to stop the frog then zero in and eat it. Try and get your frog to the edge of a pad after the slap it.

[river rat316]

Scum frog hit it right on the head! Ive had smallies pop my torpedoes a foot out of the water then attack it 5 seconds later, there goal is to stun the bait so it wont get away!

[Maximum12]

Cool! I usually either spastically try to set the hook (the completely wrong thing to do, I know, I know) or just keep the bait moving evenly hoping they'll swat at it again. Neither works. I'll try this.

Lunker, that's a good idea too, although I'm usually lazy enough that I only have one pole rigged for bass & one for northern (I have a really small boat & more than two rods inevitably causes trouble).

Thanks!

[SCUMFROG]

If you do leave the frog out there and cast some thing else out, keep your foot on the other rod. I have done this and almost lost my rod when the bass came back and slamed the frog and took off.

[basssmasher*]

scum isnt that illegal ?? then u have 2 lines in the water right???

[SCUMFROG]

I'm not sure on that.

I would think so. I'll find out..

[SCUMFROG]

I e-mailed the DNR so I'll let you know when I hear for them.

[Mark Christianson]

110% illegal, IF you are talking Minnesota waters. No need to even ask for MN DNR clarification on that one, if you are talking here.

2 lines in the water, is 2 lines in the water. Doesnt matter if you are holding it in your hand or holding it down with your foot.

[ZOKU]

This has occurred several times while using my frog. I have paused for a couple of seconds - but perhaps, not long enough. I've only managed to land one bass this year while using my topwater trophy scum series frog... and he came outta nowhere.

[JPSavage]

I have had smallmouth do this same thing.....Once a nice smalliie jumped completly over the top of my popper(in very clear weedfree water)...I simply waited and several seconds later ...SMASH , the smallie ate the lure!......I am convinced after seeing this happen with both smallies and largemouth that they are trying to stun the prey and then eat it seconds later........It is not that they couldn't have hit the lure or missed it they just are stunning or disorienting the prey only to eat it seconds later.....SO, I ALWAYS wait and let the lure set totally still....Yes, it is nerve wracking, but, a real rush when they come back and just blast your lure.

[SCUMFROG]

Yes, using 2 lines in that way is illegal. I just heard from the DNR, just to make sure.