Strike King Rage Toad

[jigginlow]

I watched an infomercial recently on these Strike King topwater jerk-baits and, of course, they reeled in the biggest big mouths I've ever laid eyes on. So I had to go out and buy a bag of the Rage Toads and rigged them up weedless with some Gamakatsu #4 offsets hooks. I've never purposely targeted bass, but I just decided recently that I need to expand my opportunities, given that I sometimes suck at the walleye thing. I'm wondering if anybody out there has personal experience with frogs/toads such as I describe or other topwater offerings for bass that I might try in the abundant lily pads in MN? I also picked up some plugs called Spooks-looking forward to trying them as well. Oooooh, I can't wait to get my puddle jumper out!! Thanks in advance, guys.

[mainbutter]

some guys have great luck with frogs, both live and artificial, but I never figured out how/where/when to fish them I guess because the couple I have tried have not been good producers.

[jigginlow]

Mainbutter,

Both you and I will wait in anticipation of someone with experience to reply. Does anyone have personal experience with this tactic that they could share with some ambitious fellow fishermen? Thanks for sharing.

[LoonState]

I personaly have had a great experience with the Rage shad and the Rage frog. If you rig them up right they are totally weedless, just make sure u have good line on so u can pull them out of the thick stuff once u hook them. I have caught them thru the whole summer with this method.

[delmuts]

I don't have any experience with the rage products, but have been abusing other guys ( from the back of thier boat! ) using the berkley batwing frog! These get rigged on a 5/0 wide gap gam. hook. Skin hooking the pt. makes it very weedless. ( I fish alot of areas that have northerns, and they love them too, so i run mine on a flouro leader with a split ring to keep it weedless).You can fish them like a buzz bait around brush,weeds, pads, or over/around any type of cover that holds fish. Let them sink into holes or down a ledge. Only your imagination determines how, and where to fish these.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Topwater frogs can be a blast.. Fish them around heavy weeds. Some days they like em burned across the surface, others they want it slow. You just have to try different things till you start getting bit, and then repeat! I wouldnt get my hopes to high till the mid part of june as the topwater bite doesnt get really good till the water warms.

Try asking this question in the bass forum, and you just may get more replies.

Good luck this season chasing bass..

[Wayne Ek]

I have had great success with both the Rage Shad and Rage Toad. I think the Shad throws as much water as some buzz-baits.

[Daze Off]

Topwater frogs are an excellent bait to skip under docks and/or overhangs. Bass can't stand it! Need stout string to pull them out though. I always fish frogs with braid and it is important to remember that you should not set the hook until you feel the weight of the fish. Lots of fish are missed when the hook is set when fish explodes on the bait.

You can go extreme with the Rage tails or more subtle with the Zoom or Yum frogs.

[Stick in Mud]

I've always had my best topwater frog fishing in the fall after the lily pads start to die down...wait until September and start throwing them then. And hang on!

[Katman]

I don't use the Rage..but I do and ONLY use the Stanley Ribbit Frog. I have a guys selling me them for 1.25 a pack. I buy them in a big bulk! They have paddled feet so they kick up water. They sound a lot like a buzz bait. VERY Awesome for upper st. croix canoe trips! I just bought 30 packs a few days ago. That usually last me through the season...unless I'm fishing with my buddies! Top water would be my prefer way to fish....because it's the most fun. Give it a go mid to late summer and you'll be hooked. Good luck!