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Author:
Dozer02
Date:
Jul 04, 2014
Subject:
Hollow bodied frogs.
Message:
Greetings folks, I just wanted to share some of my thoughts on one of my favorite post-spawn/summer techniques, those squishy frogs that some of us often forget to deploy when the temps rise in the summer months. I'm a topwater fanatic of all types, there are very few bass techniques that can get my heart racing like the explosion of a fat bass on my surface presentation. I've been using hollow bodied frogs for over 35 years now and the best part is that they keep evolving into more enticing morsels that bass just can't seem to resist! Just after the spawn, I'll always have a hollow frog tied on a heavy action rod spooled with #20 test flourocarbon line in the boat. These baits are at their best when fished in thick, sloppy weedbeds, twisted hydrilla or lilly pad clusters but all too often, they go unused in open water, this is a huge mistake! More often than not, the surface of the water may look like a mirror in the summer but underneath that seemingly open, barren water, there's likely a complex variety of bass holding structure, it doesn't have to be much, a submerged weedbed can hold a ton of big bass, you'll never even know it's there if you can't see it. This is where your electronics help. There are many other forms of structure that can be there as well, like submerged rocks, roadbeds or timber. Weedbeds, both submerged and boyant, provide bass with virtually everything they like/need. Shade, ambush cover, forage and abundant oxygen are the essentials of a bass's survival, weedbeds provide all of the above in excess. When you're plowing your frog or other weedless bait through that slop, remember to keep in mind that those same sloppy weeds are almost always present below the water line as well, it'll seem like you're fishing out in open water to other anglers but you're actually frogging over prime fish holding structure, this also offers the advantage of visibility from the fish's point of view. They'll see your frog a lot better in that "seemingly" open water. Another advantage here is you don't necessarily have to use a weedless bait. Bass have been documented to strike a top water bait from as deep a 40' down! Another point I like to emphasize is retrieve speed & type, we all know to "walk the dog" this is similar to teasing a kitten with a piece of yarn, they'll attack it every time....almost, When I can't get a bite walking a bait, I won't switch lures until I try varying my retrieve, sometimes the bass want a presentation more reminiscent of a buzzbait, just a steady retrieve, that will usually trigger that "reaction strike" that we're all so familiar with. Another retrieve would be the "pop-pop-pause" this can yield some of your biggest topwater strikes of all! That little bait is challenging that monster bass underneath it. That big, often lazy bass will likely just sit & watch that frog zip on by above it on a "normal" retrieve, but when that frog has the nerve to stop & just sit there, that bass usually just can't take it! An explosion is imminent! This most commonly occurs when you target cover, like a fallen tree or a lilly cluster, I like to cast well beyond the strike zone and erratically retrieve the bait right into where I think the bass will be, then just stop! I'll let it sit there for up to 30 seconds before initiating a couple very light twitches, trying not to move it out of the zone and once again, just stop. The largest Ct Largemouth of my life came doing this back in 1984 while fishing in the Ansonia/Derby reservoir. There was a half submerged willow that had fallen a few weeks prior, over a flooded road, I was using a plain green Snag-Proof frog, working the shady cover on the shore, I had a Zebco Deliar analog scale back then and it indicated 9+lbs. That bass was 26" long and almost broke my #12 Berkley Trilene due to an improperly tightened drag! Luckily I was able to loosen it before it snapped! The main thing to remember when using hollow frogs is to not overreact on an explosion, lightning fast reflexes will likely send your frog flying through the air, possibly smacking you in the forehead...yeah I've taken a few frogs to the forehead! (lol) Give that explosion a second or two before slowly bearing down to set the hooks, I like to wait until I feel the fish and then set. Probably 90% of you already knew what I've mentioned here but if I can help out the 10% that may not be familiar with this technique, then that's a good thing! As always, be safe on the water, enjoy the season and remember...Winter is coming.
Author:
RD54
Date:
Jul 05, 2014
Message:
Very nicely written Dozer. Thanks.
Author:
Scorpio
Date:
Jul 11, 2014
Message:
Great explanation, thanks Dozer! I have a question though. I love using my booyah pad crasher but I've had a lot of frustrating hits where the lure just comes flying right out the fish's mouth when I try to set the hook. I've tried to set the hook immediately, I've tried waiting a second or two, and I've even tried a longer pause before the hookset and it still happens far too many times for me to not be doing something wrong. Do you have any advice, tricks, etc to share on that topic? Thanks in advance!!
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