Frog Fishing 101
Who should throw the frog?
Every bass angler should throw a frog. If its not the most fun style of fishing it is certainly near the top of anyone’s list. It is a great way to catch big fish and during most of the year it is a great way to catch lots of fish. Even on days without tons of fish, the anticipation of that giant bass explosion makes the time pass relatively fast between fish.
When should you throw a frog?
It really depends on where you are fishing but, once the fish have migrated to shallow water. This is generally speaking when the water temperature climbs to around 50 to 52 degrees. This is when a frog can become effective. In Nor-Cal this is generally early to mid March. The frog season will extend through late September or early October, again generally when the water drops to about the 52 degree mark.
How much should you throw a frog? This is based on water temperature (see graph below). When the water hits the 52 degree mark on the rise I start throwing it wherever looks good and for only a minimal amount of time. As the water pushes towards 70 degrees I throw the frog more and more. I rarely ever throw the frog all day as I often, punch or flip a jig in the same areas I previously covered with the frog.
Where should you fish a frog? Again this is based on water temperature. As the water temperature rises the shady areas produce better. With the cooler water temperature the frog can be effective in sunny areas or no nothing looking banks.
Key Areas:
Shade: Under docks and under overhanging trees.
Slop: When fishing “slop” I look for areas with at least a foot of water underneath the “slop”. Typically I can find, the deeper the water underneath the slop the better the fishing.
Open water/cooler Water Temps: Roots underwater from trees that are on the bank offer great holding spots for bass.
Tules: Tules that are knocked down or horizontal to the water surface are another great area.
Walls: Sea-walls that cast a shadow for part of the day are good areas as well.
Spawning banks: Banks where fish are spawning are effective. Stay back as far as possible and throw the frog over the top of the bedding bass for best results.
What equipment and what frog is best? Use the right equipment for the job. There are many styles of frog fishing, from open water to the thickest of slop and if you don’t have the right equipment you’ll be limiting your success.
Rods:
Under or around trees, docks or other structure with little or no “slop” – 6’10 H
Open Water – In the open water = 7’6” MH
Thick open water “slop” – 7’6” H
Large flats with sparse weeds – 6’10” H
Reels: Any Baitcaster
I use a Quantum Energy 7:1 reel
Line: 65 lb Braid
I prefer Sufix braid because it is not coated in wax. Wax coating on braided line creates slippage
in simple knots. I generally use a simple Palomar knot with and leave a ½ inch tag end.
Frogs:
Open Water where the fishing line not interfered with by tree branches etc – Snagproof Tournament Series Frog
Open Water where the fishing line IS interfered with by tree branches, dock lines, weeds, tules etc – In the open water = River2Sea Step Wa (80%) or Deps Basirisky (20%)
Thick open water “slop” – Snagproof Tournament Series Frog
Large flats with sparse weeds – Soft Frogs. Personally I use the Xcite Baits Turbo Frog or a Sizmic Toad Junior or Sizmic Propwash Toad.
Other Tips:
- Walking the frog in open water is the #1 most important thing to catching open water frog bass.
- Checker your braided line using a Sharpie or other marker.
- Add weights to the frog for the thickest stuff
- Add bells to the frog in open water.
- Replace the stock legs in the frog with thinner rubber legs.
- Paint the belly of the frog to make it look more realistic.
- Mix up the cadence of your retrieves. Some days the fish want the frog moving fast. Other days, they want it paused.
- If the spot looks good, believe in it. Make the same cast 2, 3 even 4 times before giving up on that spot.
Interested in modifying your frog – see the video at MonserFishingTackle.com Frog Fishing
Tags: Bass Frog Fishing
other than big baits frogs are maybe the most addictive lures to throw…don’t sleep on the rabbit fur shhhhh…..
Want – Put the bells inside the frog. Gives them a little more noise – kinda like a rattle in a spook or Sammy.
Pro Source – Keep throwing them and definitely work on walking the frog – Its 10 fish to 1 walking it vs. sliding it across the water.
Catch some giants!
I agree: Frog fishing is a good time. However you got me. Bells on frogs for open water? I’m stumped. What do you mean? Sounds very interesting. (BTW, the video doesn’t come up through this site for me.)
Fantastic blog Leo! I’ve fished a frog probably 5 times in my life and while I have seen blowups on them they are few and far between. I usually just popped it over weeds, never really thought to “walk” the frog especially in open water. I also like the checkering braided line idea, it makes sense. Great vid too, now I want to frog fish!