Nothing gets the heart racing more than tossing a frog for largemouth bass. Surface strikes can range from nary a slurp to a massive splash, with the constant anticipation making this tactic extremely exciting.
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| Wait two seconds after the initial strike before setting the hook — your hooking percentage will increase dramatically. |
Want to catch more fish on a frog this season? Take heed of these rules.
Hit the thickest cover. Big bass love snag-infested homes. Don't shy from heavy cover. Bomb frogs across the thickest snarls you can find, including slop, pads and wood.
Beef up your tackle. Heavy action rods, that are specifically made for tossing frogs, get the edge. You need backbone, and a limber tip, both to cast frogs and haul fish from and through the thick stuff. Matching your tackle to the conditions you will face is key.
Make it braid. There is only once choice for line when working frogs: braid. Mono won't cut it for pulling fish from heavy cover. Stick with 50- to 65-pound test braid. Your fishing net will thank you.
The two-second rule. Never set the hook on the initial strike. Chances are you will pull the lure from the fish. Allow the fish to fully engulf your frog and turn — then drive the hooks home hard. It can be tough to wait those two crucial seconds, but your hooking percentage will increase dramatically if you do.
Tie direct. Tie your line directly to your frog. Swivels and snaps only offer one more weak spot to fail, but more importantly, they can ruin the action of your bait and hang up on weeds during the retrieve.
Change up your retrieve. Fish will dictate what they want. Some days it may be a constant retrieve; others a pause and jerk style. Vary the cadence until you figure it out. If a fish misses your frog entirely, keep cool and let the frog sit still. Let a good 10 or 15 seconds go by, then give it a small jerk. Chances are that hot fish will slam it hard.
Heads up. The best way to ensure a hooked fish makes it in the boat is to keep its head up. Get it on top of the slop or weeds quickly and "surf" it across. Give it any slack and it will do its best to wrap itself in the heavy vegetation, often ending in a lost fish for you.
Follow these tips for a more rewarding frog fishing season. It may just become your favorite tactic out on the lake.
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