ANGLR
  • Home
  • Fishing App
  • Fishing Trackers
  • Community
    • ANGLR Experts
    • Never Stop Improving
    • Resource Center
    • Bass Fishing
    • Saltwater Fishing
    • Fishing Intelligence Blog
    • Fishing Intelligence Podcast
    • ANGLR Tour
  • Shop
  • Log In/Signup
  • Search
  • Menu

Springtime Frog Fishing – Throwing Topwater Frogs to Get Big Bites

Published: 08/30/18

Article by ANGLR Expert, Jef Nelson

If you’re like me, when it comes to fishing for bass you have that one technique that you love to do more than anything else. For me it’s not a jig, not a jerkbait or a spinnerbait…  it is springtime hollow body frog fishing! Not a lot of people think of throwing a frog that early in the year, but if you do and stick with it, you will be amazed at the aggressive strikes and big bass you’ll encounter! Nothing in the world pumps the adrenaline more than big ol’ mister green and nasty choking on a frog!

Getting the Conditions Right

When the water temperature is in the low 50’s big largemouth will chase down a frog with fierce and pure aggression. Some of my biggest bass in that 5 to 7 pound range have choked down on a frog in the spring, and I don’t even live on lake or river known for frog fishing.

It’s all about knowing the conditions. When it starts to warm up in the spring, the largemouth begin their move to the shallows where they stage to spawn. They’ll pull up to the banks and stage around lay-downs, overhanging bushes, and other forms of cover. The best combination is the spot that provides both structure and cover as it allows the bass to feel safe, shaded, and sets up as a good ambush spot.

Those days in the spring where the sun is beating down and those water temperatures are on the rapid incline… those are the days to break out your frog and go to work!

Springtime Frog Fishing Gear

The gear I use for throwing a frog this early in the year might surprise you! What I don’t use is the standard 65 pound braid or a rod over 7 foot in length, the reason for that is that the weeds are not up to the surface and I don’t have to worry about them burying up in it after they get a hook in em. I use a 7 foot Heavy Duckett Micro Magic Pro paired with a Lew’s Super Duty 8.0:1 reel spooled with 50 pound Sunline FX 2 braided line. The 50 pound braid is critical when you are in open or semi open water, because it still floats well and being so thin it really lets the frog work well.

Frog Fishing (4.)

I like the 7 foot heavy action Duckett Micro Magic Pro for a few reasons.

First, you think it would be overkill but the tip on this rod is so limber that when fishing open and semi open water the back bone really drives those big frog hooks home and the tip gives the fish time to really inhale it before you jack him up!.

The type of frog I choose is also imperative. I like small frogs and none are better than the River2Sea Bully WA 55 and the SPRO Bronzeye 60 JR. The colors I prefer are natural looking like greens and browns on bright sunny days and plain old black when it’s overcast.

Frog Fishing (5.)

I use the two models of frogs in totally different ways from one another.

The colors I like in the Bully WA, is the armed forces color for all around appeal. It just looks so natural as with the SPRO Leopard frog color and if it is overcast you cannot beat a black one in either company’s colors. I like “walking the dog” similar to how you work a spook when fishing the SPRO and since the Bully WA has a keel on it, I like to pop it back and forth.

The walk the dog with SPRO just means it glides better and the pop of the Bully WA just means it almost walks in place which is better for stick ups, overhangs, trees and cover. While on the subject of frog characteristics the Bully WA will chug like a popper too, so you really get two different looks from the same lure and sometimes mixing up the two is just what the doctor ordered. It will spit better than most poppers’ in my opinion.

catch more bass fishing app banner 1

Where to Target when Springtime Frog Fishing

The places I target are those staging and pre-spawn areas of the lake. Types’ being rocky, gravel bottom flats and deep rocky shorelines with overhangs and trees in the water. The flats I mentioned are usually no deeper than 12 foot, but I like them to have rocky or gravel bottoms and some emergent weed growth. By that I mean, emergent weed growth as it is just starting to grow so it will be around 6 inches to 2 foot long.

Water clarity isn’t a real big factor when casting a frog in the spring but the way you rig it is. If I am throwing it in a little dingier water I like to add some noise to it, a couple of bb’s or even one of those tube rattles can make a huge difference. Also, I like to fan cast the flat in search of those bass willing to travel for a meal, and if it has stick ups or any other form of structure emerging from the water pay extra close attention to those areas.

When throwing up against those steep rocky banks or bluff walls, look for little indentations that create a little secondary point or a very small cut in the bank. If there is an overhanging bush or tree in the water, make multiple casts to both sides of the bush or tree from different angles and directions. I can’t count how many times I had to cast to a tree to aggravate a fish into biting.

Frog Fishing (6)

For example, last year I made 19 different casts with two different frog actions on the same tree before a fish took my offering.

That’s an extreme case, but it can happen!

So the next time you’re having trouble getting a bite in the early spring and the water temperature is right, think outside the box and do what I do – throw that little frog!

So quit wish’n and let’s get fish’n!

This article was contributed by an ANGLR Expert

Become an ANGLR Expert and apply here.

ABOUT JEF:

I have been tournament fishing since I was 16 years old. Since then, I was an original faculty advisor for the Penn State Bass Fishing team, I‘ve been a Scoutmaster for 6 years. I am a Vigil Member at Monaken lodge 103, I am on the Lews consumer advisory panel, a regional Pro Staff for Duckett Fishing LLC and apart of the Liquid Mayhem field staff program. I love helping other’s put fish in the boat and learn new ways to land big fish!

Follow Jef on:

ANGLR Expert, Jef Nelson

Check out ANGLR’s free fishing app. It’s private by default. Create your free fishing profile, track your trips from start to finish, log your catches, drop waypoints, share only what you want with who you want.

FREE FISHING APP
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join the  Community

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
or Use Email

By signing up for ANGLR, you agree to the
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Free Download
App Store
Free Download
Google Play
Create Your Free Profile

Why We Exist:

To empower fishing intelligence through measurement, learning, and collaboration so that avid anglers can constantly improve and find more enjoyment in their sport.

Made in USA

 

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Expert Program
  • Quick Start Guides
  • We’re Hiring!
  • Warranty
  • Terms & Privacy
 

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
 

Your Privacy

Unlike most fishing apps, we take your privacy seriously. Everything you put into ANGLR is yours, completely accessible to you, and private by default.

Your data, your spots. Our responsibility.

Terms & Privacy

Copyright 2018 ANGLR Labs Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Female Fishing in College Tournaments – Focus on Positivity and Impro... Female Fishing Ned Rig (4) The Past, Present, & Future of the Infamous Ned Rig
Scroll to top