ChrisD46

Smaller finesse jigs (1/8th oz. - 3/16th oz.) using a small TRD as a trailer are great on a medium spinning braid + FC leader set up . The new micro bait cast set ups would be fun for this technique as well .

I am faster tying and more comfortable tying a double Uni (versus Alberto) knot for braid to FC leader at this time . I had an Alberto knot slip on me before but never the double Uni knot . Curious if one is proven to be stronger than the other ? If thd Albrrto knot is stronger then I will practice tying it more and give it another try … Your thoughts and experiences between the double Uni and the Alberto knots ?

Great tip from Tom !! This hook is an awesome split shot rig hook … The modern version I use is no split shot - but instead a 1/16th oz. tungsten bullet weight separated by a rubber bobber stop in front of the bullet weight and one behind the bullet weight snugged up tight . As required you can slide the bullet weight up or down the line but usually 18” to 24” from the soft plastic is a hood starting point .

I like #15 lb. braid to #10 lb. FC leader so you can get a good reel hook set then lean into them good . Key is to reel up the slack line first before you lean into the bass as braid can snap if you set the hook on slack line . Some guys use #10 lb. braid for shakey head but I reserve #10 braid for a Ned Rig main line .

OP here : I should have worded : “Who uses a smaller / junior size hollow body frog and which are your favorite brands and conditions you use them in” ?

I only became interested in deviating away from the larger , standard size frog after watching Bass Pro Kyle Welcher do a video throwing a smaller , downsized hollow body frog for specific techniques , situations , etc. where he believed the smaller frog would look more natural , match the hatch better and ultimately generate more bites than the larger , standard size hollow body frog . *In my limited research I've learned you need to be real careful with downsized , smaller hollow body frogs as the hooks used and the design of the smaller frog size need to be carefully considered ! ... Otherwise , hook up percentage can drop significantly .

I have a 7' HF Abu Garcia rod I bought on clearance for $65 ... I only use it for frog fishing with #50 lb. to #65 lb. braid with a 7:1 bait cast reel . This same set up would also work for flipping heavy mats with a senko or creature bait .

Whether it be a full size hollow body frog (standard *Pad Crasher , *Spro Bronze Eye 65 ) or the smaller size hollow body frog (*Pad Crasher Jr. , *Spro Bronze Eye 60) - are you more apt to throw the larger hollow body frog or the smaller , junior size hollow body frog ? If you throw the smaller body size hollow body frog - what is your line , rod and reel set up ? *It can be another hollow body frog brand - I simply listed Booyah and Spro for comparison size examples .

A pretty good chance is the above three colors should cover you for any conditions (maybe swapping out the bluegill color with a green frog color as conditions dictate) ...

No shad where I now fish , so looking to refine my frog colors where bluegill , perch , aquatic creatures , small reptiles and baby birds may be on the menu .

I understand your situation being a shore fisherman and the water conditions you face . Consider dropping back to #20 lb. braid and drop back on your leader size to #12 lb. Yozuri Hybrid come-poly line . It’s stronger than you think and you will gain casting distance as well (10+ more yards) .

*I'll go ahead and say it : That's a good looking braid that checks a lot of boxes !! For one , I can see it for frog fishing . What other applications do you believe such a camo line would be good for ?

Bass Pro , Tackle Warehouse , Omnia , etc. - think of stores where there is a lot of inventory turnover .

* I wanted to like the Berkley Swamp Lord frog - until I saw the "entire history of Berkley" written on the underside of the frog ... What's up with that ? I hate a bunch of writing on undersides of lures big time !! You can say "it doesn't matter to pea size brain bass" but it matters to me , so if I lack confidence in a lure for any reason - then I won't buy it .

Use #8 lb. to #10 lb. braid to #6 lb. FC leader.

I am going to buy one each of a new Booyah Popp'n Pad Crasher color and one new color of the original Pad Crasher to check the claims that the hooks and plastic body recipe have been changed to cheapen the frog (as compared to the original Booyah frog hooks and body composition) .

I believe I have a better suggestion - forget the circle hooks and try these single in-line hooks from Owner if you don't like crank bait treble hooks : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Single_Replacement_Hook_X_Strong/descpage-OSRH.html

I was formally in the "match the trailer with the jig color" bass fisherman but lately I have been trying for example a black & blue jig with a green pumpkin trailer or a green pumpkin jig color with a black & blue trailer. Sometimes having a contrast like the above between jig and trailer colors can work out for you plus it shows the bass a little something different . Lastly , as AJ pointed out - it's important to feel confident in your selection of jig and trailer colors as part of the successful equation in catching bass !

In the past I’ve been acBooyah Pad Crasher / Pop’n Pad Crasher user . However of late it appears Booyah changed out the hooks and the body material is different - both seem cheaper made to me now . That said , I’m going to try the Spro Bronze Eye and the the JT Kenney designed Scum Frogs to find a new favorite . What are your current frogs you are doing well with ?

^^This^^ Use Yum 5" stick worm with VMC Drop Dead weighted EWG Hook (3/0 or 4/0 3/32nd oz. ). For wacky rig use VMC wacky weedless jig head in 1/16th oz or 1/8th oz. *Yum 4" and 5" stick worms are lighter weight with less action than a Yamamoto senko - thus work better with weighted hook options I listed above which helps the Yum stick worms "come alive" !

It could be that the Max General is a little thinner diameter than a Yammy Senko , Big Bite Baits Trick Stick , etc. so the advice is good to drop down to a #6 or #5 VMC Cross Over Rings to tighten that fit up a bit .

As always , thanks Tom for input (along with others who replied) ... My Dobyns 733c MH may fill the bill nicely for a rod closer to MF or M Mod Fast with a bit more casting distance than my shorter MF jerk bait rod .

I noticed a potential hole in my bait cast rods line up whereby my only MF action rod is a 6'7" jerk bait rod , then my next rod up is a 7'3" MHF Dobyns Sierra bait cast rod . *Anybody use a 7' ~ 7'3" MF bait cast rod to cover a few different (utility) applications ? If , what brand / series are you using ?

I have a new H20 bladed swim jig (chatter bait) style lure I bought on sale from Academy but before I could even fish it - reviews said it was terrible . Academy no longer even offers this or any other vibrating jig now . In the package it looks nice , not sure what the issues were with the H2) vibrating jig ?