Top Tips from Frog Experts

Slow retrieves work, too. “Look for signs of fish—weeds moving or blow-holes where the fish have attacked something earlier,” Barrack recommends. “Cast to the back edge of the mat and inch the frog across, until you get to the area you think the fish is holding. It can take five minutes to finish a cast. And I sometimes deadstick a frog directly over a fish I know is there.”

Hooksets and Conversion

Barrack and Rojas feel the hookset is the most important thing in converting strikes to hooked fish. “My clients often have problems with their hookset,” Barrack says. “They’ve been told that when fishing topwaters to wait for the line to come tight before setting the hook. With frogs, that often doesn’t work.

“As soon as you see the frog disappear, set the hook hard with an upward swing while reeling at the same time,” he says. “If the fish swims towards you under the grass, you’ll never feel the line tighten up.”

“But you must wait for the bait to disappear before setting the hook,” Rojas adds. “Anglers must be prepared and stay collected to avoid jerking the lure away from an attacking bass. For better visibility, I choose brighter colors, especially when fishing thick cover.”

Frog experts also have back-up plans for converting missed strikes. “I keep four rods on deck,” Barrack says. “Three have frogs and the other has a 5-inch Boom Boom tube, a Sweet Beaver, or a Doc Waters Helix Fat Stick worm. In open water, I rig the Helix worm wacky-style with a Reaction Innovations W.W. Wacky hook. In heavy cover, follow up with a tube or Texas-rigged Sweet Beaver with a 3/8- to 3/4-ounce bullet weight.

“Hit the hole where the fish blew up and let the lure drop a couple of feet,” he advises. “Bass often hit it before it gets to the bottom. If nothing happens, I’ll draw the lure up to the top of the canopy and hold it there.”

“If I get a blow-up and the fish misses, I usually cast back to the same spot with a frog and work the bait slower,” Rojas says. “If the fish won’t hit the frog again, I use a tube or a plastic craw to convert.”

Casting Accuracy

In many situations, casting accuracy is important. “At times, bass in weedmats have large strike zones but bigger fish typically react in a small area and don’t chase baits,” Barrack says. “If you hit that spot perfectly on the first cast, you’re almost guaranteed a strike if a fish is there.

“You can convert a bad cast into a good one,” he adds. “If you cast to a perfect little spot but your frog wraps on a tule, don’t tear the bait loose and make another cast. Try to finesse it off the grass so it falls into the water softly. That sort of natural entry is deadly.”

According to Rojas, “Every angler should learn to skip frogs under docks and overhanging limbs. You need to do it accurately the first time.”

Fake frogs have made impacts on tournament trails across the U. S. and Canada by producing big fish from spots where few other lures can be used. With these tips from top frog fishermen, your catch and your excitement level are sure to rise fast.

*Terry Battisti, Idaho Falls, Idaho, is an avid bass angler and has contributed to In-Fisherman and Bass Guide.