Focus on Frogging, The start of a long journey...

When I started throwing frogs for largemouth bass, I was under the impression that if I matched the local forage I would be in a position to give the fish what they were feeding on the most in the region that I was fishing in. Here in central Ontario, most bass feed on leopard frogs which are either green or brown on the topside and usually white on the bottom. Some bass would eat bullfrogs on occasion which were green with a yellow coloured belly. Really, it came down to what was found on the body of water I was fishing.

So when it came time to buy my frogs, I focused on green leopard frog patterns that came with a white/yellow type of belly. I rounded out my selection based on what frog fishing guru Dean Rojas stated during one of his many interviews, selecting a couple of all black and all white frogs. Every hollow bodied frog purchased was one of the Spro Bronzeye family. Little did I know how important those selections would be.

Over the last few days I found myself in swamp after swamp, searching for some big largemouth to inhale my green leopard frog patterned lures. I saw the frogs hopping around everywhere, so I was pretty sure I could convince the fish to eat what I was throwing. It started well and I was catching fish on numerous casts but nothing over 1lbs in size. Believing that I was throwing the right lure as I was getting bites, I continued using this frog the next day…but while the numbers were there, the size was lacking. So I decided to make a switch. I looked through my box of topwater lures and decided to tie on an all black frog. I threw the new colour into the same water with the same retrieve that I used on the leopard frog patterned lure, only this time the fish were all over it and were bigger in size. Suddenly I was connecting with fish in the 2-3lbs range and nothing smaller which made me one happy camper. The weather was a mix, with the sun being out sometimes and overcast at others. The fish were relating to lily pads and dock edges with lead in cover. I know that time will tell if this pattern of larger fish liking black frogs will hold up, but for now, I’m definitely a convert and believer that black frogs catch more and bigger fish than the classic leopard patterned ones.

As many of you know I’m a devout Daiwa product user, but this time I wanted a change. Working at Bass Pro, I want to make sure that I was using gear that other anglers had expressed an interest in so that I could provide them with feedback on its performance. After speaking with Canadian frogman Pete Garnier about rod selection, he outlined the benefits of the Quantum Smoke 7’ MHF action rod and the success he had found with it while frog fishing here in Canadian waters. I matched the rod with a Team KVD left handed bait casting reel with a 7.0:1 gear ratio and an amazing 16lbs of drag behind it. After loading it with 65lbs timber brown Power Pro Super 8 Slick, I felt confident that I could horse big fish out of the slop I was expecting to fish and this combo didn’t disappoint.

Below are two fish, showing the difference in size when it came to fishing the two different coloured frogs.

Cheers, and sorry for the long write up but I really wanted to share my experience on this the start of my hollow bodied frog journey. I was mentioning to a friend that I’ll probably have a whole box devoted to frogs by the end of the summer…and that’s not such a bad idea I think.

A larger fish that went for the black frog.

Top notch post, Attila.

I'm very thankful for this as I'm in the hunt for a new Frog Rod and after reading so many opinions on the internet, I was still left unsure of which rod to get. But then I came across this detailed post and felt much at ease.

I will surely be looking into this rod and hopefully get one before seasons' end

Agreed good write up. Those darker frogs cast a better silhouette in certain times of the day/lighting conditions. I need to stock up again lol.

If you are looking for a frogging rod going up to a 7'4 or 7'6 it makes a difference. Little more whip in the tip to get some more distance. More distance is always better when fan casting or working large areas of lillies/slop. Longer the cast more time for fish to hone in on the wake/disturbance. Plus the more water you cover the better.

I've run lews tournament 7'4 1/2-2oz and currently running a Daiwa tatula 7'6 1/2oz-1 1/2oz heavy fast and it bombs frogs out there. The new model cronos is the same blank as the old tatula. X45 makes for a great flipping/pitching stick too for the heavy stuff.

I was sold long ago in only carrying black and white frogs(Spro for me). Just like Senkos where I will only fish the all black or all white. Doesn't matter where I am.

Fantastic write up, I greatly appreciated reading this. I am currently ordering some new frogs.

Thanks for all the positive feedback on the post, I do appreciate it and all the comments that everyone has made.

The main reason I went with the Quantum Smoke rod is due to the parabolic bend that is built into the rod. It simply means that the rod is both aiding you in driving the hooks home when the fish takes your frog into the heavy cover where it came from while at the same time helping you get said fish out of the heavy cover which you find yourself fishing in.

Rod length is really a matter of personal preference. I am shore bound and can cast a 5/8oz frog pretty far once I have the settings on my reel dialed in the way I want them to be. I also tend to favour a one piece rod as the straight through blank does matter in the application it's being used for. The large fish above was slung over a thickly bushed shoreline and the rod/reel/line had no issues with it whatsoever.

It also helps casting distance when you use one of the thinnest diameter braids on the market too. I prefer Power Pro Super 8 Slick because it allows for greater casting distance while at the same time providing the zero stretch I'm looking for when catching fish on either a longer cast or a short flip just past the end of a dock.

I was Suggesting to the dude looking for a new setup. Either way you take the same reel with the same settings/ setup the longer rod with a bit more tip will give you more distance. 5/8 frogs go and the 3/4s go better no matter what length rod.

As for braid and one piece if you aren't running those you shouldn't be slop fishing lol

This post has been edited by Bapsie on Jul 05, 2017 - 05:14 am

I agree, a longer rod and a heavier lure will help some with casting distance.

Lately I've gotten away from longer rods, focusing on ones that are 7' long or shorter as the majority of baits that I throw are done so in close quarters along shorelines or around other anglers. I also find I can control where I'm casting a lot easier with a shorter rod....but that's just me.

Ya, braid and a one piece rod are definite must haves for slop fishing! lol

Thanks for sharing your findings, I've only caught a few fish on a frog so far this year but they were both small and on the lepord frog style I'll have to give the black frog a try

Great write up!

I love frogging! it is possibly my favorite way to fish. I love seeing big fish smash those frogs on top of the water.

Glad you both liked the write up, hope that it helps ya catch a few more bass.