Jigging Frog

[tonyjor]

Two years in a row now my first Northern of the ice season has had a partially digested frog in its stomach. I know frogs hibernate in the bottom mud during winter so I'm wondering if these pike are sifting through the bottom to find them or what? Also, I was wondering if anyone knows of a frog type lure that you could jig under the ice that might entice these fish.

[CrappieJohn]

Mr.Twister, Culprit, heck....there are a ton of good top-water frogs that can be taken down on a fairly light jighead.

As for the fish sifting thru bottom contents, I'd venture a guess that these frogs had died and were floating just under the ice. With the colder water temp, decomp would be slowed way down and the gases that bloat a critter would take a considerable time to develope enough to float a frog.

[J Smith]

Frog colored pig n jig!

[Bulldoggr]

One time i was in about 25 feet of water. I was using a Jigging rap. A very large nothern came in. the whole time he was methodicly was using his nose and digging up the bottom of the lake.

Never really even paid any mind to the rapala at all.

[fisherking01]

I'd venture to guess that the frogs were alive. I have seen many frogs cross the bottom of my hole in the winter as well as caught many frogs in minnow traps in the winter. I have a spearing decoy that resembles a frog, when bounced on the bottom to make a cloud of sand, mud, pike become very enticed. I have had them pound the decoy and drive it into the bottom for several seconds, then back off and look at it and on occasion hit it again. If you fish shallow water with soft bottom you will find frogs in the stomachs of pike as well as walleye and bass.

One thing about pike, some of the oddest things work. show em something they haven't seen and it may well work. Good luck fishing, Brent

[Northlander]

Yup I have seen Northerns and perch sifting threw the bottom. Kind of cool to watch.

[tonyjor]

Thanks for all the replies. I've looked at the frog lures in the stores and only a few look like they may work. I was fishing in 12 FOW right near a sand bar so I guess that's where the fish got the frog.