4 Frog Fishing Tips to Help You Land More Largemouth Bass

Dial in your frog fishing game by following these four simple rules.

The hollow body frog is a tried-and-true bait which works wonders at calling fish to the top. For those who love to bass fish, it has become a staple in our trusty tackle box.

That said, they can be a frustrating lure to toss when you continually fail to connect with those surface-striking fish.

But fear not, frog fishing fanatics. Here are four tips to help you catch more and bigger bass.

Size Does Matter

Largemouth bass can be equally as fussy as us when it comes time to feed. Sometimes we crave a steak, whereas other occasions a simple salad will suffice. For this reason, there are various size options available with hollow-body frogs.

This was a lesson I didn't originally catch onto, but quickly realized its bass fishing merits.

If bass are continually blowing up on your bait but missing it completely, a downsized version might be just the ticket. The same can be said when working pressured water or when bass have a case of the dreaded lock-jaw.

If fishing open water away from cover, I'll often choose a smaller frog. This is especially true if the water is crystal clear. That miniature frog will appear that much more lifelike and real, tempting fish that may be scared off by a big bait splashing loudly overhead.

Small frogs will catch big bass. Think of them as a finesse presentation that have a time and place.

All this to say, if you're fishing extremely heavy cover, go big. The largest frog which will provide the most sound which is needed for bass to locate and track its route. Most outings I'll start with the largest frog I have on hand, and change things up if the mood of the bass dictates it.

Size does matter, especially when largemouth bass fishing.

Equipment Considerations

Don't even think about tossing topwater frogs on spinning gear. Simply put, it's a recipe for disaster.

Baitcast gear is where it's at, and my recommendation is to spend the money on a rod specifically designed for frog fishing. A "frog rod" will allow you to cast baits farther, while also giving you the necessary backbone to winch bass from out of heavy cover. Your catch ratio will instantly increase by making this switch.

Braided line should always be used with a frog. Its no-stretch design will help with driving hooks home, and increased strength will subdue hooked fish from underneath lily pads and heavy cover.

My frog rod reels are all spooled with 65-pound-test braided line.

Ponder the Cover

Slop is not created equally, and some you may come across is simply not ideal for trying to tempt bass with a topwater frog.

If the slop you're fishing is extremely thick, fish will have a hard time connecting with your bait. Its just not feasible for a bass to penetrate overly heavy slop with any sort of accuracy. Sure, you may experience a blow up, but that's about it.

If you have trouble pushing your rod tip through the slop you're fishing, chances are it's best to probe this heavy cover with a vertical bait, such as a soft plastic craw or creature bait rigged weedless with a heavy worm weight.

Seek out the kind of slop that'll give you a chance at hooking fish and leave the super thick stuff to a more viable presentation.

The Waiting Game

Setting the hook at the first sight of a strike is a normal reaction when fishing topwater lures. If you want to hook more largemouth bass, however, you need to play the waiting game.

When a bass hits a frog, it's moving forward. More times than not, setting the hook at this exact moment will send the bait hurtling back through the air directly at you. That's never a good thing.

Wait a second or two when a fish strikes, thus giving it time to inhale the bait, close its mouth and turn. This one simple frog fishing practice will see your catch rate rise dramatically.

It isn't easy to subdue our excitement when the water explodes, but a slight hesitation on your part will mean more big bass in the boat when chucking hollow-body frogs.

Try these frog fishing tips next time you go bass fishing. There's no better feeling than cashing in on a hot frog bite!

Images Courtesy of Justin Hoffman

Did you enjoy this post? CLICK HERE to view more articles by Justin Hoffman. You can also check out his Photography Site Justin Hoffman Outdoors, as well as follow him on Facebook Justin Hoffman Outdoors, Instagram hoffmanoutdoors, Twitter @HoffmanOutdoors, or subscribe to his YouTube channel Justin Hoffman.

NEXT: 4 WAYS TO RIG A SOFT-PLASTIC STICKBAIT FOR BASS

WATCH