Cajun Caster

I have the exact same setup as you which I use for my frog rod. It's not afraid of 65lb braid and I loaded up on the bass 2 weeks ago at Toledo Bend with this setup. I also have 4 other Carrot Stix w/ Curados that I have set up for: plastics/T-rigs, Carolina rigs, flipping and cranks. I'm using the 6'9" parabolic action for cranks but it's a little longer than I care for, especially for top water. Their 6'6" is a little too stiff for cranks. That's the one that I find ideal for plastics.

I don't understand the concept of counter rotating blades. Only the top blade turns. The second, or tandem blade doesn't turn. So what does counter rotaing mean? I use Booyah exclusively, mostly the Tux and Tails for MY waters, and I catch a lot. I have used the counter rotating blade model and have caught with that too. I just don't understand why they call it counter rotating. My understanding of counter rotating would be one blade turning in one direction and the other blade turning in an opposite direction. But, if one blade is on a swivel and the other is on a stirrup, only one blade is turning. Go figure.

My box has 90% black Horny Toads and 10% white Horny Toads.

While there is no actual standard for the toad / frog labels, most refer to the solid body types as swimming toads or frogs and the hollow body types as floating frogs or toads. However, these are 2 distinct and different lures and a lot of fishermen new to these lures get their purposes mixed up. Again, there are no standards of operation, so to speak, but the floating frogs are mostly used for fishing on slop or on top of weed beds, etc, while the swimming frogs are usually fished in water that is pretty much void of vegetation that would upset the action as the hook acts as a keel and slop or vegetation would turn the lure over. That said, I have fished both in all types of water. I get a lot of opportunities to fish frogs in south Louisiana and I have 2 frog rods set up, one for each of the above mentioned lures. These are my favorite topwater lures. I have fished Big Sam with just one rod on deck, a frog rod (swimming frog), while hanging out all day in the hydrilla beds.

I have been using the Skip Gap hooks since January - got em from Bass Pro. I use the 4/0 for plastic frogs and creature baits and the 3/0 for plastic worms. The hooks work just as advertised. It is more evident on the frogs that I continually cast onto slop. Other "frog" hooks end up tearing the plastic after a while while, with the Skip Gap, my Horny Toads last twice as long as on the so-called frog specific hooks. I would also like to see the same hook offered in the thicker gauge Superline hook.

Two pages of replies and I can't believe nobody mentioned the Longshank. Check this out: http://thelongshank.com/ Never use a trailer hook again. And, these don't get hung up like trailer hooks because the hook is always pointing up.

First, swimming (plastic) frogs (horny toads, ribbits, etc.) are completely different lures than floating (hollow) frogs (Spro Bronze eye, Snag Proof, Scum Frog). Swimming frogs are used in open water near stumps, timber, weed edges, THIN duckweed, etc. Floating frogs are used more for slop fishing, like heavy duckweed, grass mats, etc., stuff that would upset the plastic frog because of the way it is rigged with the hook hanging below it. In both types of frogs you want that hook pointing up when the fish takes it. If you're casting and retrieving across both types of scenarios then you can use either, you being the judge as far as which to use. Second, both types of frogs require a MINIMUM of 30 lb. braid. I use 65 lb braid. You don't want to use mono because of the stretch factor which just pulls the lure out of the fish's mouth, acting more like a bungee cord. You have to use a heavy rod with a fast action so you can cast these lures and so you can set the large hook(s) into the roof of the fish's mouth. You just don't want too heavy a rod (broomstick) because your casting distance will fall short. Recommended minimum length should be 7'.

I bought some about a month ago and tried them out to check their action. The only problem is the "frog bite" is still about 5-6 weeks off here in south Louisiana. However, the action of the frogs are about the same as the regular Ribbits. The down side is that they are lighter and don't cast as far. The up side is that they can be stopped in the middle of a retrieve, like around stumps, and floated for as long as you like. Also, because of the type of foam-styled plastic that is used, the point of the hook won't tear up the lure as much as a regular type of plastic.

The most important requirement for hooking up hollow body frogs is braid (I use 65#) and a heavy action rod. If you're using mono you might as well use a bungee cord. You can't set the hook(s) on a hollow body if there's any stretch in your line. While some use flippin' rods for frogs, you want to have some action so you can cast the frog a decent distance. This is where the Spro became popular because you can cast them further than any other brand. And, they remain upright more consistently than the other, which is what you want so that the hooks are in optimum position when the fish takes the bait. I use Spro, Snag Proof and Scum Fogs for my floating frogs. For my swimming frogs I use Horny Toads and Ribbits.

I have been using the new Gamakatsu Skip Gap hooks for my plastics. I've been getting more mileage out of my plastics and the hooks hook up just as good as their other wide gaps.

I ordered 2 Bigfoots several weeks ago from Bass Pro and cast them several times over clear water and slop. I was very impressed with their action. The wake that the feet create is almost indentical to that of the Ribbit. Of course the top water bite is not on now and we're going to have to wait a little while longer to see how they hook up. I have only used Spro Bronze Eyes up to now for my slop fishing and if they come out with a paddle foot I will definitely give that a try also. As noted, the Scum Frog has larger openings that will let water in but It takes several casts before the action is affected and you can shake the water out every couple of casts.

I will echo Squid: Bass Master, Bassin and FLW

"Will the exposed bend in the hook take away from the weedless application at all? " No. I've been using these hooks (3/0 for worms and creature baits, 4/0 for plastic frogs) and these things are working "as advertised". I've been casting into weed beds and slop and the plastic is lasting a lot longer. The reason is, as stated above, the extra bend not only keeps the plastic from sliding down, but it also puts pressure on the plastic and this keeps the point from moving around and enlarging the hole in the business end of the hook and plastic.

Global Morning: The Myth The same pseudo scientists that are screaming about global warming (always in need of a trendy hysterical cause) are the same suspects that were screaming about the coming of the new ice age not too long ago. A lot of you younger members will not remember this. It was the hot topic in Time magazine and all the other fake, phony, fraudulent media. As mentioned above, one volcanic eruption will undo billions of dollars that American taxpayers are paying to "save the enviroment". Not the world nations, just America. The socialists in this country, the biggest perpetrators of global warming, are more than happy to make America pay, and pay, and pay...

I also use the Gerber multi-tool. I have at least 10 different pairs of pliers, including the Rapala, the Staal in stainless steel and the Browning. I have used all extensively and I always came back to the Gerber. I will not use or buy any others. (Sounds like and oath. LOL) Maybe I should have a yard sale.

Van Damm is not using Norman Speed Clips. He and others are using the Duolock Snaps. (Sp) The problem with the Norman Speed Clips is, if you cast a crank bait and hit something hard like a tree, stump, rip rap, etc., the lure pops out of the clip.

"competicion"?

When my subscription to Bass Times expires, I will not renew it. I'm sick and tired of reading the editor Matt Vincent injecting his politics into everything he writes. He no doubt is a puppet of ESPN but he can still make points without his subtle, and sometimes blatant remarks. I subscribe to a fishing magazine for fishing information, not some fool's agenda-based political opinions.

Down here we have a dual industry where the rice farmers are also crawfish farmers, raising crawfish in the rice fields. And, I'm talking thousands and thousands of acres. Well, all our roads down here (southwest Louisiana, aka Acadiana) have ditches along the side for water runoff during heavy rains. When the rain comes down fast and heavy, all the crawfish fields run over and thousands of crawfish overflow into the ditches. These ditches are fair game, and everybody gets out there with their sacks and load up. I wish that was the same for every time one of my neighbor's black angus wanders down the road : )

Crawfish, crawfish Boil 'em red Pinch da tails and suck the heads.

If you see a lot of gar where you are fishing, you are seeing long nose gar. Long nose gar never get to the size that can prey on adult bass. It's the larger aligator gar that can eat a bass. But aligator gar travel alone and are not in the numbers that could hurt the bass population. If you are asking if the large numbers of long nose gar keep the bass away due to feeding competition for their food, that's another question. I would say it seems so from my experience in my home waters here in the Atchafalaya Basin and surrounding bayous.