Frogging tip...

[bshaner]

Over the past season I have Joshimoto to blame for making me a die hard frogger.  With this new found obsession came both excitement and utter frustration.

The excitement of course comes from a hawg blowing up on your toads when you least expect it.  This is not for the faint of heart due to the potential of either stroking out or having a nervous breakdown in anticipation.

Then there is the frustration.  There is nothing worse than seeing that explosion and patiently waiting it out for the weight of that lunker before setting the hook and coming up with nothing but air.  You assure yourself that your timing and delivery were perfect.  There was nothing more you could have done.  It's just the price of the frogging business.  Unfortunately there are alot of anglers who just resign themselves to the fact that the frogging hookup percentage is just the nature of the beast.

This is where I differ.  I just cant sit and let something like that defeat me.  I couldn't stand it.  Through trial and error I came up with a system that, when I explain it you'll say, "yup I've heard of that."  In reality I had never heard of this or even seen anything like it until I came up with it and proudly proclaimed my success to Joshimoto, only to have him a week later point the article out in BASSMASTERS magazine.

Here's what I came up with.  Get yourself a pack of trailer hooks - size depending on  your frogging hook size preference.  Now I know the first thing you are going to say is there's no stinking way I'm putting an exposed trailer hook on a frog and ripping it through slop and pads.  Brian has finally gone insane!!  Oh but I haven't!!  I use the screw/spring system of rigging my frog with an EWG 5/0 heavy hook with the spring that attaches to the eyelet and screws into the nose of the frog.

First thing you do is screw the hook into the nose of the frog.  Next you slide the trailer hook over the EWG with the hook point facing up the same direction as the EWG.  Throw away that plastic crap that you use with spinnerbait trailers, dont use it.  You want the trailer hook swinging freely on the rig.  Next you push the EWG through the body of the frog and skin hook it to the top.  Now what you have is a trailer hook swinging freely right between the legs of the frog.  This will also serve as a rudder and keep your frog upright in the water.  I dont know about the rest of you but I have issues with my frog flipping on it's back.

Ok I know there may be skeptics about this trailer hook thing.  I'll tell you my experience.  My hookup percentages have gone up to nearly perfect.  I throw this rig in pads and slop with no problems snagging.  The legs of the frog act as weedguards and the hook stays upright.  The free swinging ability of the hook creates better hook ups and cushion when the hawg tries to throw the hook.  I started seeing that a majority of my hookups were on the trailer hook with the main EWG never being touched.  I contribute this to the fact that most of the misses, if not all on the traditional rig are because the bass has the legs in his mouth and rips them off on the hookset.

I have yet to see any downside to this rig and the benefits to me have been invaluable.  I hope you try this rig and have the success with it that I have.

B

[fowlmouth]

If you have a problem with your frogs doin' the backstroke I'd wager a guess you're using yum buzzfrogs.

[fowlmouth]

... oh yeah! thanks for the tip, I have seen people peg a trailer into one or both of the legs about half way back. The guy that put it in one leg just made it roll over every 2-3 ft, the other snagged everything in sight. I'm gonna have to try the 5-hole setup though!

[Ryan]

Thanks for the tip.  I have also had trouble with hookups using frogs and this sounds like a pretty good setup, I will definitely have to try it out.  One question though, when using the trailer hook, do you still hesitate a second or two before the hookset or slam it home right away?

Thanks!
-Ryan

[bshaner]

As with ANY topwater presentation the key is to wait for the weight of the fish before setting the hook.  Some people count to a certain number, others just hesitate and sadly some just swing away when they see the blow up.  The only thing that matters is feeling the weight of the fish.  You know you dont have to feel for a bite or a tap tap.  Let the rod load up on the fish then set the hook.  If you never feel the weight then he missed or only got some of the toad and didnt hold onto it.  You set the hook you spook them.  Let it go and continue your retrieve.  Make another pass or flip a jig or something into the area of the blow up.

B

[fiker]

thanks for the tip B.

When/where do you usually use a frog set up? 


I tried the Yum frog last year.  I hated it.  Itd kept rolling over no matter how I tried using the advice from this board and hooking it the way they said. 
When I fished with a friend of mine, he was usuing a zoom horny toad.  He didn't have the problems I have with the yum. 

[bshaner]

The Yums definately tend to roll more.  I primarily use the Zoom horny toad.  Joshimoto and I are going to try and pour our own frogs.

I will frog anywhere.  Primarily in pads and over slop but I'll tell you a frog works just as well as a buzz bait over dense submerged weeds that just tip the surface.  I dont know if you or anyone else is familiar with Michigan Center Lake but it's about 4 foot deep throughout the entire lake with thick weeds and stumps.  I spent an 8 hour day frogging the entire lake and lost count how many fish I caught.

You can frog anywhere.  If you are in topwater alley you can have success with a frog. 

As for rolling over, the wider the gap on the EWG the better.  It acts like a rudder.  Now, with the trailer hook it can really suck when the frog rolls but that doesnt happen much for me.  IF for some reason I'm not using a trailer hook then I really dont care that much if the frog rolls over.  I always skin hook the main hook so it's weedless and the legs still paddle even when it's on it's back.

Another tip I'll share is to let those frogs sit out in the sun all day and soften up.  For some reason they stay soft even after hitting the water and those EWG's penetrate the frog like a knife through butter.

B

[Savage]

I was shocked last year how fun and easy those frogs are to fish.  They work almost anywhere on the lake, but I think I have the best luck if the water is flat calm.  Seems like a calm shoreline with some deep water nearby is about a sure thing for a bite...

You guys ever try super gluing the frog onto the hook?

[bshaner]

I've tried superglue but it just crusts up at the hook and rips easier in my opinion, then you are left with glue and plastic crusted up all over your hook.  It creates a hard jagged surface on the hook that tears up the frog.

B

[smbassman]

I haven't had any issues with the frogs since I started using the Z bend offset hooks.  No need for super glue.  I also curl the nose up when I stick the hook through the front of the frog.  It keeps the nose bent up so it swims upright, stays on top at slower speeds and comes over weeds and pads better.  I ruined a lot of frogs trying to get it rigged the way I wanted, but it works a lot better. 

Also, in everything but pads, I use 15-20# mono and Med Hvy rod to give some stretch.  I miss very few fish since I stopped using braid and Hvy flipping rod.  But in pads, I think braid is the only way to go to cut the stems and get the fish to the boat.  I'd rather miss a fish in pads than stick them with mono and have them wrap me up and come off.

[bshaner]

Using the springs/screws in the nose of the frog accomplishes the same thing and makes the frog last much longer.  I cant for the lfie of me remember the name of those things.  I'll have to check my tackle when I get home.  Joshimoto might be able to help me out on this.  He's the one who got me using them.

B

[fiker]

Hey, weren't the last (and only) DK opens won on frogs in shallow water?

[bshaner]

Yes and not by me.  It was the only day of the year that I didnt frog.  Go figure.  I wont make that mistake again.

B

[fiker]

I threw frogs, but didn't catch anything. 
Musta been on the wrong side of the lake.
It couldn't be my technique.   lol