Frogger

[McCarter]

Savage,

Are his initials JM?  If so, thats the same guy.  He was a very nice guy and fun to fish with.  He just timed everything out wrong.  I only had one fish, a 2.5 lb largemouth.  But as it turned out that one fish would have put me in the top 25 ( if i remember correctly ) and moved me up into the top 20 co anglers for the BFL. 

I talked to a few guys who know him and they said they he thinks i hate him.  Not true.  At the time, i was upset about how things happened.  But i dont hate anyone, and i am far over it.  Sometimes i still bring it up if the conversation allows, but its all in fun. 

It was just bad luck.

PoorBoy himself

[djkimmel]

PB, You get all the best draws!!!!

cheetam - I'm not really letting the secret out - there's only about 230 anglers a day reading stuff on here... At that rate, it will take at least two weeks before anglers in California start calling Wayne to order Emerald Shiner hologram tubes...

[Savage]

PB-  Nope, don't know him personally, just commenting that there seem to be a ton of guys like that out there!  That's good for me, I'm a boater!

[McCarter]

Actually, i consider myself pretty fortunate considering some of the things i have heard from other co anglers.

Like i said, they guy i was with on the grand was a very cool guy, but he was new to tournament fishing as was i and we just didnt plan well.  I dont hold him responsible.  I know he wouldnt intentially do something like that.  It was just bad luck on both our parts. 

Dan, the day you and i fished was one of the best days i had on lsc at that point, especially considering the conditions.  I didnt feel bad for me, i felt bad for you.  I cant imagine how i would feel if my motor fell off.  So i wanted to make sure i did everything i could to help.  I wouldnt want to be left alone in that situation.  But i had a lot of fun that day with the boat ride, then catching fish, then taking a few 3 foot freighter wakes over the back which folded me in half like a melted cheese sandwich.  It is still my #1 most told story and something i will never forget.  I would say we should do it again sometime, but i dont think you want to go through all that again

I try to be a good boater in the ABA.  Anthony said i get the most positive feedback so i guess i am doing something right.  I just want people to feel comfortable and confident when they fish with me.  I have been in that situation and i know how intimidating it can be.  Even if we dont catch fish, i make sure we have fun anyway.

PoorBoy himself

[djkimmel]

Dan, the day you and i fished was one of the best days i had on lsc at that point, especially considering the conditions. I didnt feel bad for me, i felt bad for you. I cant imagine how i would feel if my motor fell off. So i wanted to make sure i did everything i could to help. I wouldnt want to be left alone in that situation. But i had a lot of fun that day with the boat ride, then catching fish, then taking a few 3 foot freighter wakes over the back which folded me in half like a melted cheese sandwich. It is still my #1 most told story and something i will never forget. I would say we should do it again sometime, but i dont think you want to go through all that again

I'm up for it - we'll just use your boat this time !!!

Love the melted cheese sandwich visual!!!

[yukonjack2]

After fishing horny toads for 2 days on the mississippi at last years everstart in Onalaska, I would use nothing but 65 lb braid ( doesn't bird nest and dig into the side of the spool as much as 50 lb), and a 7'6" heavy action rod - it was a blast watching those 4 and 5 lbers blow up though the slop for these baits -

after a tourney day between the boater and myself - had to have 10 bags of wasted horney toads all over the boat - did find a neat trick to keep em lasting a little longer

use a 60 degree gammy jig hook - 5/0 or 6/0 moves the hook back further, and add a corkscrew hitchhiker to the hook eye - keeps the bait from sliding down the hook prematurely, and rides a little nose up to slide thru the slop without hanging up as much.

good luck next summer!

[Savage]

Yukon, thanks for being so specific about those little tricks to make the baits work better, and what line to use!? You mentioned Horny toads (Zoom), is that what you throw?? If so, what colors do you like?? I am partial to Case Soft Plastics myself, they have a version called the Buzzin' Frog.? I like the color that has watermelon on top and a yellow colored belly.? I'll try to attach a pic of the Buzzin' Frogs, they have different legs than most of the baits.

Also, I am going to look into the "Hardnose" baits from Mann's.? They ssem like a good idea, maybe last a bit longer?

[djkimmel]

yukonjack2 - that sounds like it was a blast! I've been doing way too much smallie fishing lately (yeah, I know - terrible problem to have...)

[yukonjack2]

I am partial to white or pearl - sometimes a little chartreuse dip-it on the legs when I get bored - lol.

Not sure color really matters, as its a reaction bite - but don't tell the marketing guys that. So, what did I do?

picked  up a couple bags of watermelon red for KY-lake this spring - if the weather/spawn cooperates, should be awesome to try amoungst the pads.

I have used both Zoom, and Yum, but think the Zoom has a better leg action.

Gonna try the manns hardnose this year as well - anyone know a retailer that carries them locally to SE mi?

[Savage]

I would have thought that the natural colors, like green for example, would work best.  You say you have the best luck with white or pearl?  Maybe because the real frogs bellies are white ?  Something to consider, I was going to order greens.  ANy companies out there with green frogs with white bellies?

[Cheetam]

I would have thought that the natural colors, like green for example, would work best.? You say you have the best luck with white or pearl?? Maybe because the real frogs bellies are white ?? Something to consider, I was going to order greens.? ANy companies out there with green frogs with white bellies?

Yum buzz frog comes in green pumpkin/ pearl belly.

[Savage]

Yum buzz frog comes in green pumpkin/ pearl belly.

Sweeeeeeeet!? Just one more option to try out.? Looks like the mid-michigan bass are gonna see a ton of frogs.? After reading all these responses I guess I've narrowed it down to a few offerings now:

Spro "Bronzeye" frogs in natural green and natural brown

Case "Buzzin frogs" in watermelon/yellow belly

Yum "Buzz frogs" in green pumpkin/pearl belly

Fish it on a stout rod with heavy braided line.

I would use nothing but 65 lb braid ( doesn't bird nest and dig into the side of the spool as much as 50 lb),

on a 5/0 60 degree gamakatsu jig hook with a corkscrew hitchhiker.

use a 60 degree gammy jig hook - 5/0 or 6/0 moves the hook back further, and add a corkscrew hitchhiker to the hook eye - keeps the bait from sliding down the hook prematurely, and rides a little nose up to slide thru the slop without hanging up as much.

? I'll probably add a bit of superglue, too.  Thanks to all who have gave their input so fa, I feel like I have a head start on getting to know these baits!

[Savage]

This is my newest obsession.  This came in the same shipment as Blake's pointers.  Just look at the attitude on this lil' toad!

Anyone else going to buy about 40 of these Bronzeye frogs?

[blakstr1]

http://bassfan.com/reviews_article.asp?ID=77

a good article on Bassfan about the Dean Rojas bronze eye frog...you can't appreicate this bait until you hold it in your hand and give it a good handlin'
(ahhh..if i had a nickel for everytime i heard that )  

it is an awesome bait, Cabela's is backordered 6 to 8 weeks on every color, [REMOVED - see No Links Policy List] still has quite a few though..every color is awesome!

[Savage]

I almost hate to point this out.... but Bassmaster did an article not to long ago about this bait, and Rojas talks about the unique ways he fishes it.  I goota try it!  Me and Blake usually throw complementing baits when we can, but we'll be fighting over who gets to throw this one.  Guess we'll both have to use it....

[blakstr1]

i'm amazed how many fish he catches with it over open water,,,not just for slop..

[frogman]

No need to wait till July -- had good frog success in early June, on canal spawners.?
For a less expensive alternative, try the Mann's swim frog, white or yellow, not as "pretty" as the boze or spro but experience has shown a much higher landing percentage with the Manns.? My pic is showing a 5.9lber caught on Mann's swim frog during a wixom lake event.? Braid a must.? Forget the crap about waiting to "feel" the fish before sitting the hook -- the sucker doesn't have arms!!

[fowlmouth]

anybody using the YUM buzzfrog? I bought a pack and they want to "roll over" repeatedly on the retrieve, I changed hooks, slowed down, put the hook in different, no change. The frog rolls over probably every 6 feet on the retrieve. I have fished the zoom horny toad and had no problems like this. Anybody else experiencing this or am I not holding my mouth right or somethin?

[blakstr1]

i haven't used them but is your line twisting it around? maybe add a barrel swivel so your leader won't have the twist..

[Cheetam]

anybody using the YUM buzzfrog? I bought a pack and they want to "roll over" repeatedly on the retrieve, I changed hooks, slowed down, put the hook in different, no change. The frog rolls over probably every 6 feet on the retrieve. I have fished the zoom horny toad and had no problems like this. Anybody else experiencing this or am I not holding my mouth right or somethin?

I've been experiencing the same thing and only with the buzzfrog...One thing I have done is rigged the frog so there is a slight bend in it.  Instead of putting your hook through the body of the frog so that it is rigged straight, pull the hook through 1/8 of an inch further from the nose so that it creates the bend.