Fishing fake frogs has long been a favorite among bass fisherman. It’s one of the hottest technics today and for good reason. Luckily just about every tackle shop is going to have a decent selection of frogs to choose from. With new frog lures hitting the market every year you really should learn how to use them.
How To Fish For Bass With Frogs
Frogs are easily one of the most exciting top water lures on the market. They’re fun to fish and produce huge top water strikes. Even novice fishermen are jumping on the bandwagon catching a ton of great bass. It doesn’t take a lot of practice to get down the perfect frogging technique.
Frogs vs Toads
In recent years a ton of different frog styles have hit the market. Frogs really are broadly defined and account for a wide variety of products. The one commonality found in all frogs is their top water design that can be easily worked over weeds. Traditional frog designs used a hollow body style that collapses on the hook set, but newer variations have hit the market with solid bodies. His new solid body designs are often called toads to differentiate them from their soft body cousins. These solid bodied “toads” often feature kicking legs that provide a natural movement.
My Favorite Frogs and Toads
There are a ton of great frog lures on the market, but my favorite is easily the Lunkerhunt Lunker Frog. It’s easily one of the most realistic frog lures on the market. It’s available in a ton of different colors and perfectly replicates the action of a frog or bullfrog. At rest the body drops down into the water and gives off a lifelike movement. Booyah’s pad crasher lure is another great option that makes short work of bass. Featuring a super strong double hook, this hollow body frog works its way over weeds and catches a ton of bass.
Toad lures are a little less exciting, but no less effective. If you’re looking for more of a classic design the Strike King Rage Tail Toad offers excellent movement. The Rage Tail Toad has long been one of the best top water frogs on the market. You won’t believe the splash and noise that comes off a Rage Tail.
What Equipment Do You Need?
Hollow body frog’s are easily one of the most exciting Bass fishing lures. With really exciting top water strikes it seriously pound your lure. Violent strikes mean you are going to want heavy equipment. You’re going to want a powerful set up it’s going to drive that thick hook into the fish’s mouth and keep the fish up away from cover. I like to use a 7’3″ heavy power rod with a fast tip. You’re going to want a fast tip so that you can really throw the frog out there. You’re going to want to fan cast over cover . I like to use a 6.3:1 Gear Ratio reel with high drag to really wrench bass out of the weeds. Since you’re going to be working heavy cover choose a heavy weight braided line.
Casting Your Frog
Frogs are by far one of the easiest baits to cast out. There’s very little finesse to it, simply cast out your frog and slap it down. It should look like a frog is simply jumping off the bank hard into the water. In areas where bass are easily spooked cast towards the bank and work your way onto the mat. What you’re looking for is a reaction strike as soon as the frog hits the water. Most of the time I’ll get a bite within two seconds of impact.
In order to entice strikes you’ll really need to work at getting the fishes attention. You’re going to need to work the bait hard enough to attract a strike without scaring him off. On thicker mats you may even need to add a few ounces of weight to your frog to pull it down. Just try not to add so much weight that it throws off the movement.
Where To Work a Frog Bait?
When rigged properly frogs can be thrown just about anywhere. You can throw them into trees, brush, weeds and just about anywhere else. You are going to want to throw a frog into heavy cover which will recover a heavy set up. Typically frogs are going to be worked over grass mats and lily pads. The best thing about a hollow body frog’s is there buoyancy. Almost completely weedless you’ll be able to work through even the densest cover. Work them over mats and pause waiting for a strike. Most of the time I’ll get a strike within a second or two of the frog hitting the water.
When fishing frogs most fishermen are going to want to steer the frog over openings in the grass. Try tossing your toad right on the edge of the underbrush enticing a strike. Since frogs don’t venture too far out from shore you’re going to want to stick close to land. Work the frog anywhere that you would normally work a buzzbait. With it’s completely weedless setup and high noise level toads should be kept moving. As a general rule use a toad for covering water and a frog along grass lines that are sure to hold bass.
When To Fish a Frog?
It’s hard to say the best time to work a frog or toad. No one can really tell you one way or the other, but I like to work at just like any other top water lure. Top water baits are going to be most effective early in the morning and later in the day. Under cloudy skies will be able to work it all day long. You’ll notice some days are great and others you can’t catch a thing.
How To Fix Frog Lures
Due to the hard hitting strikes synonymous with frog fishing frog lures are notoriously prone to leaks and damage. Before you try out your new frog make sure you seal off any openings that can leak water into your frog. You’re going to want to use some form of instant superglue to seal off any openings. Right when you open your package take the superglue and place a drop on the nose and tail where it’s most likely to leak. Once you start to catch a few fish and water starts to affect the movement repeat the process.
Color Selection
Color selection is a matter of serious debate among most fishermen. Unlike color selection with traditional lures there is no right or wrong answer, but there are a few things that seem to work. Since a frog is a top water lure used primarily on top of vegetation color really doesn’t matter all that much. Where you will notice a major difference is going after bass around the edges of cover. Anytime they’re going to get a good look at your frog you really need to focus on color.
Most people are going to want to use either a straight black or plain white frog. Those are by far the most popular colors on the market. Other natural colors are going to be much more popular around the bluegill and shad spawn. Some of the colors or even made to imitate birds that get a little too close to hungry bass.
Frog Fishing Modifications
There are a few different modifications that can be used to adjust the effectiveness of fake frogs. Add a little bit of weight to make a greater splash and promote more strikes in inclement weather. The noise from the rattling weights should attract a few more strikes when the waters choppy. You can even swap out your hooks to increase your biting percentage. Alter sharp wide gap hooks made by Gamakatsu and Owner are perfect replacements for frog lures. Bigger hooks will really increase your hookup ratio when you aren’t getting hard enough strikes.