RipzLipz

Have been having this happen on strip pits right after ice out with jig and craw for the past 2-3 years. My last 2 PB were caught on the initial fall after the cast, the biggest being a female that was holding off a steep ledge, on which there was a male on bed on the shallow side. Yes, we do cast out, make a few hops if no bite on the initial fall and reel back in without fully working the jig back to the boat. This bite will slow way down once the air temp gets over 60° or 65°F.

Check the SK website for the new catalog, in which shows all the colors for the 8.0. TW has it listed for preorder with a $12.99 price tag.

Nope. I'm Tim.

First off, what a rush getting your frog crushed, huh? Letting us know your max. amount will help greatly in suggesting tackle within your budget. Also might want to consider if this investment is going to be a multi purpose rod/reel or only for frogs and the like, which may affect some suggestions. Once you get some tournaments under your belt, you might then wish to invest in more individual purpose rods/reels. To up the odds in your favor. Only reason I say this is that I know from experience how quickly you can spend money on this hobby/sport. We're all going to have our opinions on what is best, but with money in mind, I'd stick to what I can physically put in my hand just to make sure I like the feel and the action of the rod and reel together. Nothing stinks more than ordering online and its just not what you envisioned or you have to return it via mail and find a replacement. Congrats on the intro to the addiction of frogging and good luck with the new outfit.

Yes, has happened to me and my fishing partners several times. The old coal pits i fish are all reclaimed and do not have the typical reservoir shad-based forage - bluegill, small crappie and bass are primary forage with fins. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if your regulations allow it and you really want to go after a large fish, catch some smaller gills for bait, get a shiner or large circle hook and either a balloon or larger foam bobber (adjustable with pegs or slip float variety). Hook the gill through the lips or just behind the dorsal fin, toss it out and see what happens. Try not to wait too long before setting the hook to avoid the gill getting swallowed too deeply. Might take a few times to get the timing down right. Let the toads go to fight another day if you get into any of them. In my home state, we are allowed to catch and use panfish as bait, but you cannot transport what you catch to another lake to use for bait. Use them where you catch them.

I like buzzed's suggestion about keeping it to a conversation and not accusing anyone of anything as well as trying to get involved as a decision maker for the time being. "Found some cig butts in the water, thought as prez and a fellow fisherman you'd wanna know. If you would like help nipping this in the bud, let me know. My only interest is preserving the lake and fishing as best as we can." Two times of bringing it up max before I would consider further discussions. If that goes well, or beforehand, I'd check and see if there are by-laws documented and ask for a copy - tell him you've misplaced yours if you must. If they don't exist, maybe suggest that they should be documented in case of any disputes in the future - try to win over the fisherman in him. If civility and reason do not work and his position is an elected one, then run against him the next time it's up for voting and get the rules documented and agreed by the association, board or whatever. Some work? Yeah, but probably worth it if you plan on living there long term and enjoying the lake. Sticker is good idea if members are paying annual dues (which cover cost of printing them each year).

I believe in addition to Tom's advice, you can feel the top of their tongue and if you feel a rough patch then it's a spot, if completely smooth then it's a largie.

Thanks all!

Night time. Try late hours over the weekend if available to you.

He uses the Berkley products mainly - the Hollow Belly and the Grass Pig (similar to the Swim Senko) for a more subtle vibration. If you're not a fan of Berkley, I'd find something that has a similar body shape with a paddle tail. Feel free to read user's reviews on different online tackle shops if you're not sure which may suit you.

Not to sound corny, but Doug Stange fishes up your way and swears by paddle tail soft plastic swimbaits as trailers in certain situations.

New member here looking to pick up some new tips and share whatever knowledge I might have for others. My main fishing holes have been old coal strip mines in western IN (LM, crappie and bluegill) as well as yearly trips up north (MN, WI, MI) for smallmouth and down south to FL for largemouth. Thanks in advance for having me!

I'm not missing the humidity LOL

I love their Bigfoot frog. Bass annihilate it. Worth mentioning if you're not familiar with frogging...don't set the hook on the strike but rather wait until you feel the fish or count off 2-3 seconds and plow it home. Also, I used to fish mainly spinning tackle but started losing fish on frogs specifically. Changing to casting gear helped tremendously with better hook sets for me.

LM: 3/8oz black/blue Dirty Jigs football jig with Okeechobee Craw Zoom Super Speed Craw trailer SM: 1/4oz lipless crankbait in a gold shad with black back pattern (foil not chrome)

Looks pretty similar to other scum frog type baits. Throw it on scum mats or heavy grass and watch them smack it as you pull, pop and twitch it. Don't be afraid to let it rest for up to a minute either. You might be able to walk the dog with it at the edges too - not sure.

Abnormally mild summer for us here, with an occasional few days of miserable humidity. Still getting lots of pop up storms. Bites are slow, but we're still catching plenty over 3 lbs. I fish smaller, clear lakes and go later in the day (evening or night). I'll throw plastic worms up to 16" and jig and craw while it's still light out, then change to top water before and during dark. If they don't like that, I'll go back to the worm or jig but fish a bit shallower. Also, if you can see the fish, it can see you. Try at night, and hold on tight.

All the above can be true and is sound advice. Something to possibly consider is that when you hear a fisherman tell you what they use or prefer to use during certain times of the year is that they might be meaning it's what they have confidence in throwing. Either they know how to properly present and impose action with some lures better than others or they know how to quickly eliminate unproductive areas using certain lures as search tools...or both. More to consider is the scenario altogether. A tournament, just catching anything that will bite, or hunting for larger fish including those considered trophy sizes bass. What about the prey the bass are feeding upon? if bass are keyed in on frogs for some reason, you probably will not catch much using a jerkbait in open water (but you might). All of the above can influence what and when a fisherman uses a particular lure and what is going to stack the odds in his favor to be successful. Experience, knowing the bass habits and location will help make it easier to choose the proper lure. Not that I know it all, but I'm a big believer in leaving lures at home that i have high confidence in using if I want to learn to fish other lures and how to catch fish with them.

In your area and if fishing a lake, I'd be fishing evening and night first, keeping in mind what's already been mentioned above with techniques and location. If that time isn't possible, then I'd choose early morning. However, if you have the electronics and can find the fish, nothing should stop you from fishing deep offshore structure during the day, as Jrob pointed out. The places I fish, there isn't as much traditional reservoir structure available, so I seek odd structure or deeper breaks, weedbeds or fallen timber in or near deep water by day, and then seek shallower areas near these daytime holding areas for those fish that move in shallow to feed in the evening and later into the night. Soft plastics, jigs (including the pegged weight with skirted soft plastic rigs), and deeper running cranks or maybe slow rolled spinnerbaits by day and during the night I prefer most any top water, jig, soft plastic or slow rolled spinnerbait in the shallower areas or first break.

What sizes of split rings, hooks and eyes do some of you guys prefer and for which size jitterbug? My experience was that the split rings wouldn't completely swing freely when leaving the stock hook hangers on the lure. Thanks!