How To Fish A Frog Lure? Tips From A Pro Angler

If you’re a fishing enthusiast, you know that different lures are used to catch different fish. One type of lure that has become increasingly popular among anglers is the frog lure.

Because it imitates the movement and appearance of a real frog, it’s effective in attracting carnivorous fish such as bass and pike. However, like any other fishing technique, using a frog lure requires proper knowledge and skill to maximize your success rate.

“Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.” – Herbert Hoover

This is where pro angler tips come in handy. Learning how to properly fish a frog lure involves understanding factors such as water depth, visibility, and even weather conditions. Not to mention, figuring out which techniques work best, be it frog hopping or dead sticking.

With expert advice from seasoned fishermen however, catching those elusive bass becomes easier. From casting techniques to retrieving styles, these tips can make all the difference in ensuring a fruitful day on the water. So if you want to learn how to use a frog lure effectively, read on for pro tips from some of the most experienced anglers around!

Understanding Frog Lures

Frog fishing has rapidly grown in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s exciting, challenging, and also productive. To help you become a better angler, we’ll first discuss the anatomy of a frog lure. We’ll then move on to explore different fishing conditions that call for a frog lure and types of frog lures.

The Anatomy of a Frog Lure

The design and construction of a frog lure play a crucial role in its success or failure. Let us dissect and examine the parts that make up this lure:

• Body: The body is usually made out of soft plastic with detailed imprints that resemble frogs in coloration, shape, texture, and movement. Some models may have real fur or feathers attached to them, giving an irresistible lifelike appeal to fish.
• Hook: One or two hooks are embedded into the belly and/or back of the bait. Preferred hook size ranges from 4/0 to 5/0 depending on the manufacturer.
• Legs: Most frog lures come equipped with long rubber legs that extend beyond the length of the bait and flutter enticingly upon retrieval creating disturbance and generating sound waves mimicking live prey movement.
• Eyes: Diametrically opposite protruding eyes in eyelets on top add to the visual realism of these baits drawing reactionary response from pursuing fish.
• Weedguard: A weedless design is incorporated into most modern-day frog lures because they’re meant to be fished around dense cover where predators hideout. A flexible one-piece silicone skirt over a wire weedguard prevents the lure from getting snagged up in weeds, tree limbs and other types of structure.

Fishing Conditions That Call for a Frog Lure

The best times to use frog lures are when there’s plenty of cover or vegetation along the water’s edge. They’re intended to be fished in shallow water or on top of aquatic plants in weedy areas where frogs are abundant. Let’s examine the conditions that favor this technique:

• Weather: The ideal weather for frog fishing is partly cloudy with moderate temperatures – not too hot or cold. When the sun comes out full blast or during overcast skies, it signals an optimal time for bass to go into feeding mode near dense cover waiting for prey.
• Water Clarity: Murky waters impair fish vision causing them to rely more on their sense of hearing and vibration detection. In these situations, a noisy green water frog may work better than others by producing splashing sounds as it jumps over pads.
• Structure: Docks, logs, riprap, grass mats, lily pads, emergent reeds are all structures that harbor prey species such as bluegill, crayfish, rodents and insects which form a significant part of bass diet. By tossing a frog at these spots, you’ll increase your chances of drawing explosive strikes.

Types of Frog Lures

Different styles and techniques of frog fishing have inspired manufacturers to design innovative versions of frog lures to suit anglers’ specific needs. It’s important to understand each type and category to help you choose the one that works best under satisfactory conditions.

• Traditional: This design has been around for years and remains a go-to lure in most fishermen’s boxes due to its simplicity and effectiveness. It comprises a hollow-bodied bait with double hooks secured at the firmest part of the belly, positioning the hook points directly upward or downward creating better hookup ratios.
• Walking Frogs: These frogs have two or more legs that are v-shaped mounted close together providing a zig-zagging swimming gait movement when pulled using a steady retrieve. Their versatility allows them to be fished by snapping action on slack line walking them across various lures types such as spinnerbaits or buzzbaits.
• Popping Frogs: These frog variations feature concave mouths that produce loud popping sounds while reeling them towards you. The empty cavity also creates irresistible spitting water currents adding attraction and drawing predatory fish from long distances.
• Frog soft body: As name suggests this design involves having rubber appendages and body parts similar to a traditional frog designs, but instead of being hollow, they’ve solid bodies made up of silicone or another pliable material that bass cannot resist eating.
• Hollow Body: They form an essential innovation with a collapsible exterior allowing the hook point to launch out and move without interference from hard body parts. Best suited for use around matted aquatic vegetation where heavier cover means greater chances of snags. The compact nature makes it entice opportunistic strikes generating favorable hook penetration often leading to victories over formerly uncaught trophy specimens

“Fishing is much more than fish. It’s about seeing new sights and experiencing new adventures.” -Unknown

With frog fishing, your success depends on how well you understand the anatomy of a frog lure and how you deploy it in various fishing conditions. Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently explore different types of frog lures to capture your trophy bass.

Choosing The Right Equipment

Rod and Reel Selection

When it comes to fishing a frog lure, your rod and reel are crucial components for success. You’ll need to choose a rod with sufficient power and length to move the lure through vegetation and set the hook when necessary.

A medium-heavy or heavy-action spinning or baitcasting rod will provide the backbone you need to haul in big fish while also being sensitive enough to feel subtle strikes. A longer rod around 7 feet in length will help to cast further and keep the line above the water’s surface for better control over the frog’s movements.

Your choice of reel should match the type of rod you are using, ensuring that the two work together seamlessly. Baitcasting reels can be more accurate, but also require more skill and practice to use effectively. If you’re new to frog fishing, a spinning reel may be a more forgiving option as it is easier to use and less likely to cause tangles in your line.

Line Selection

The right fishing line will also play an important role in how well you can fish a frog lure. Braided line is ideal for this style of fishing because of its strength and ability to cut through aquatic vegetation without breaking. Look for braided line with a test weight of at least 30 pounds to give you the necessary power and durability.

You’ll also want to select a color of line that blends in with the environment where you’ll be fishing. Green, brown, or yellow tones can all be effective depending on the conditions. Avoid bright colors like white or pink which can spook fish and make them hesitant to take the bait.

Other Essential Equipment

Aside from your rod, reel, and line, there are a few other pieces of equipment that are essential when fishing with a frog lure:

• Fishing pliers: These will help you to extract the hooks from fish more easily and safely.
• Sunscreen: Protect your skin from harmful UV rays while enjoying a day on the water.
• Polarized sunglasses: These will reduce glare on the water’s surface, making it easier to see where fish are congregating.
• A hat: This will keep the sun off your face and neck and can also be helpful for reducing reflections in the water.

Properly equipping yourself with these items will not only make your frog fishing experience more enjoyable but also safer and more successful overall.

Locating The Best Fishing Spots

Fishing requires patience and the right techniques. Experienced anglers know the importance of finding the best fishing spots to increase their chances of catching fish. To fish a frog lure, it is important to locate a water body with shallow areas where frogs are known to live.

Identifying Frog Habitats

Frog lures mimic the movement of real frogs in the water, which makes them attractive to predator fish like bass. Therefore, it is vital to identify the habitats of these amphibians before heading out on your fishing trip. One common habitat for frogs is around structures like rocks, logs, or weed beds. These features provide shelter for both young and adult frogs and attract small fish, which serve as food for larger predatory fish.

Another way to identify frog habitats is through their calls. Frogs produce distinctive sounds that can help you locate their position. Different species have specific croaks, making it easier to find them even if they are hidden under thick vegetation. You may also look for signs of frog activity, such as egg masses or tadpoles, to locate their habitat.

Using Maps and Technology to Find Frog Hotspots

In today’s digital world, technology can be an angler’s best friend when searching for fishing locations. Many online resources exist to help you discover prime frog fishing sites. Websites like Fishidy, Navionics, Google Earth, or MyTopo offer maps covering various bodies of water and give information about depth, structure, and contour lines. This allows you to pinpoint ideal frog habitats that could potentially lead to a successful day of fishing.

You can also use your smartphone or tablet during your fishing trip to locate hotspots. There many apps available to assist anglers, including those designed explicitly for frog fishing. These apps use GPS technology and satellite imagery to provide real-time information on water temperatures, weather conditions, and fish movements.

Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fishing Spot

Finding the perfect spot to fish a frog lure involves more than just identifying frog habitats. You must also consider other factors such as water clarity, time of day, and temperature. Clear water is better for sight fishing but could make it harder to fool wary bass into biting your bait. On the other hand, murky water makes it more challenging for fish to detect humans and allows frogs to hide within cover undetected.

The best times to fish frog lures are early in the morning or late at night when predatory fish are most active. As the sun rises, bass tend to move deeper underwater where frog lures are not very effective. Similarly, extreme temperatures can alter fish behavior, so avoid fishing during midday when the water is too warm.

Reading the Water for Best Results

Finally, understanding how to read bodies of water can help you locate fishing spots before casting your line. Look for clues like moving water, current breaks, riffles, and eddies that indicate areas where fish gather to feed. Insects and tiny crustaceans gather around these features, which, in turn, attracts small fish and predators looking for their next meal.

Use your frog lure in these areas by retrieving it in a stop-and-go motion to simulate the way a frog swims through the water. This mimics the way a real frog moves, attracting bass and other predator species waiting to strike. Be patient and keep experimenting with different techniques until you find what works best for the type of water body you’re fishing.

“The right mix of location, patience, and technique will increase your chances of catching fish.” -Unknown

Finding the best fishing spots involves more than just choosing a random location and throwing out your line. By identifying frog habitats, using technology and maps, considering other factors such as water clarity and temperature, reading bodies of water, and perfecting your technique, you are well on your way to becoming a successful angler for frog lure fishing.

Techniques For Fishing A Frog Lure

Fishing with a frog lure can be exhilarating. The topwater action of these lures as you retrieve them often make bass think they’re seeing real frogs, and that’s why they tend to strike hard at frog lures more than other types of baits.

Topwater Techniques for Frog Lures

The topwater technique is one of the most thrilling techniques when using frog lures. In this technique, the bait stays on the surface of the water throughout the retrieval process.

To achieve the topwater technique, cast your frog near any structure such as lily pads, sunken logs, or weed beds where fish may be hiding. Let it sit there for some time without moving the bait. After some time has passed, start slowly reeling in the line. As the bait moves across the water’s surface, it will create a disturbance in the water mimicking a live frog.

“A slow-paced walk-the-dog type retrieve works best… Don’t overwork it. Give it little tugs like you would work a rubber worm.” -Gerald Swindle

When fishing with the topwater technique, remember patience pays off. The slower and natural motion of the bait attracts fish if given enough time. Always watch the bait while retrieving it because strikes happen so quickly you do not want to miss them. Be prepared to feel the hit and set the hook immediately.

Retrieve Techniques For Frog Lures

The retrieve method you choose for your frog can impact how successful your catch rate is. There are two primary retrieve methods: Walking the Frog and Hopping the Frog.

i) Walking the Frog: This type of retrieve resembles the movement of a real frog trying to escape predators. Reel in the line slowly, and then pause while lowering your rod tip until you hear the clicking sound indicating the legs of the frog are hitting the surface. Repeat this motion until you get the desired distance or retrieve speed.

“I look for places close to deep water where vegetation extends all the way up into shallow water… I cast parallel to the bank so that my frog is on top of the veg mats.” -Shaw Grigsby Jr

ii) Hopping the Frog: The hopping method involves moving the bait more quickly than walking it. Cast your lure and let it land, hop two to three times, stop briefly, and repeat the process.

The hops create water disturbance resulting in noise that imitates frogs as they swim across the water. It will undoubtedly attract bass that could be hiding under any nearby structures around you. So, vary between these methods to find what works best for the area and conditions you’re fishing in.

How To Set The Hook And Land The Fish

Setting the hook correctly when using a frog lure can make the difference between a successful catch, or the fish getting away with your lure. Unlike other baits, the hook set-up for a frog lure is different thanks to its design—it’s attached to the back of the bait.

To set the hook correctly, wait until you feel the weight of the hit before raising your rod upwards powerfully like you would do to set the hook. Give enough force to penetrate the hook into the fishes mouth but not too much as it results in jumping off from their teeth.

“Don’t move the bait too fast—let the fish take it well below the surface of the water before setting the hook.” -Mark Zona

Also, after hooking the bass, reel in quickly so that it doesn’t have enough time to flop around and loosen the fish. You do not want to give any slack on a hooked fish as they tend to jump much higher while flapping nearby the boat which increases chances of getting rid of your frog lure.

If you follow these techniques for fishing with a frog lure, then your next trip out on the water is guaranteed to be successful!

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Dealing with Snags and Tangles

Fishing a frog lure can be an effective method for catching bass, but it’s important to know how to deal with snags and tangles while doing so. One way to prevent this is to use braided fishing line instead of monofilament line. Braided line is stronger and more resistant to breaking when snagged on objects like weeds or underwater structures.

If you do get tangled up, try carefully pulling the line in the opposite direction of the snag. This may help dislodge the lure without causing too much damage. If that doesn’t work, try gently shaking the line back and forth to loosen the hook from the obstruction. It may take patience and persistence, but with some effort, you should be able to free your lure and continue fishing.

How to Handle Missed Strikes

Missing strikes with a frog lure can be frustrating, especially if you’re using proper technique and the conditions seem ideal for catching fish. However, don’t give up hope just yet. First, make sure you’re setting the hook correctly when you feel a bite. Wait until you feel constant pressure on the line before giving it a firm tug upwards. If you strike too soon, you risk pulling the lure away from the fish.

If you’ve tried adjusting your hook-setting technique and are still having trouble, consider trying a different color or style of frog bait. Bass can be picky eaters at times, so a change in appearance may entice them to bite. Additionally, it’s possible that the fish simply aren’t interested in what you have to offer. Experiment with different retrieval speeds and patterns to find a presentation that works best in your particular fishing location.

“When a fish misses your lure, don’t give up. Try again with the same or a similar one.” – Roland Martin

By following these tips for dealing with snags and tangles, as well as learning how to handle missed strikes effectively, you can increase your chances of success when fishing with a frog lure. Don’t forget to have patience and persistence, as often the key to catching fish is simply being willing to keep trying.

Frequently Asked Questions