Frog bait proves alluring to bass

Froggie went a’courtin’ in recent weeks, and he has provided a great deal of exciting large-mouth bass action.

It’s frog season for anglers here in Northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Look on the front deck of most any bass boat from spawning season on through the summer, and you are likely to spy a plastic amphibian tied on at least one of the outfits.

Frogs’ busy months coincide with the growth of aquatic vegetation. As the weeds sprout, the tadpoles morph into adult frogs and become prey for prowling bass. Once the greenery tops out to form mats on the surface, the bigmouths become conditioned to lurk under the canopies and attack anything that makes noise overhead.

Often that noise is made by a frog looking for a good place to await flying insects. Weeds, therefore, are the common denominator for the bugs, the frogs and the bass.

Thus it makes sense to pop and waddle a bait over and around summer’s lush weed beds.

Plastic frogs are not only productive this time of year, they are downright exciting. Rarely is a bass’s strike subtle when a frog bait is involved. They often are splashy explosions of water and weeds as the predator fish attacks with intent to kill.

Frog fishing requires stout gear and supreme patience.

Bass may be able to see great in the water, but they can swing and miss on lures dancing on the surface. It’s not unusual for them to strike at a plastic frog and miss it altogether, so anglers are advised to make sure the fish actually has the bait before jerking.

That’s easier said than done, considering the adrenalin rush the angler experiences when a big ol’ bucketmouth attacks.

Experienced froggers have ice water in their veins. They have learned to wait after the strike until they actually feel the bass tugging before they set the hook. That moment of hesitation makes all the difference in the world when it comes to the hookup-to-strike ratio.

But the job is only half-done once the fish is hooked. Then the challenge is to get the fish to the boat.

The best froggers use heavy- action casting rods measuring at least 7 feet, with bait-casting reels featuring strong gears and spooled with braided superlines in the 50- to 65-pound test class.

Because the habitat where frogs work best is a gnarly combination of thick weeds such as lily pads, milfoil or coontail and fallen trees, brush and stumps, the heavy gear is required to get the bass’ heads up and turn them toward the boat quickly to avoid letting them wrap up in the trash.

Some great frog baits are on the market, providing anglers with terrific options. The venerable Snagproof frog is still a great producer, and the Spro Bronzeye Frog is one of the best newcomers. Both are hollow-body lures that can be cast long distances and bobbed enticingly around the heavy cover.

Another good choice is the solid-body “toad” baits that have become popular in recent years. Examples include the Zoom Horny Toad, Seismic Toad and Stanley Ribbit. They must be reeled to impart the leg-kicking action that makes them effective.

All frog bait — hollow or solid-body — are most effective when the hook set is strong. Because frog baits are bulky, braided lines and heavy-action rods generate the power that is necessary to drive the hooks through the baits and into the fishes’ mouths.

If you haven’t let froggie go a’courtin’ yet this summer, time’s a’wasting. Go find a weed mat and drag your favorite frog bait over the top. Beware, however, that the first strike can lead to a lifelong addiction.

jack@innismaggiore.com