Swamp Rat

I am not claiming to be an expert, but do have a little experience in throwing frogs...been on Snag Proof Staff for over 10 years, and ALWAYS have at least 2 rods rigged with frogs which I throw all day, every day...so take this for what it is worth. Get a smaller frog of your choice, 1/4 oz Snag Proof Tournament Frog, the small Booyah Pad Crasher, small Live Target, doesn't matter, just whatever one you seem to gravitate to, get a color that YOU like, tie it on 20lb braid on a MH spinning rod, and work it every which way you can think of until the bass tell you how they want it. I have always been a twitch and wait type of guy on small ponds, but a few times I have caught fish over 5lbs reeling the frog back in to make another cast. I guess they wanted fast that day...lol. Frogs are a confidence bait, but you must have confidence in your style, your frog, and your color. I am partial to black, white, and any natural color frog if you want 3 different colors. White is what I use in bright conditions, black in overcast, rain, low sun...and natural just because. You will find your frog nirvana by experimenting, so enjoy the journey, but remember what we say at Snag Proof...Frogs Rule, Bass drool...happy frogging!

You might be noticing a pattern here...watch your line. Plus, I personally prefer fishing my soft plastics almost exclusively on spinning rods, as I feel(pun fully intended) that you have more feel on almost imperceptible takes. My area is the Everglades, so heavy cover is abundant, but my line choices are 6lb mono, 10lb mono, my heavy rigs are 12lb mono or 20lb braid. I run 7ft ML, 7ft M, and 7ft MH rods.

Great boat...I am in the market for a new kayak as well since my sponsorship with Bass Pro Shops ended. I was running the Ascends, and I guess my outlook on seats is a little different as I always find a way to mount a bass boat seat in my yak. Foam cushioning is great for my rear end...lol...especially when on the water for long hours here in the Everglades. Whatever boat you end up with, think outside the box a little and find a way to mount a bass boat seat. I have used different methods, including on top of a cooler and using the seat frame from a Pond Prowler, which of course has me higher in the boat, but that just makes fishing easier. Down side is you are a windsail up there, but so is standing, which I also do.

Apples and oranges is exactly what we are talking about here. The hollow bodied choices are "frogs", and the soft plastic ones are "toads", and I am not trying to be a jerk, but we must use correct terminology if we want to understand "best use" of the myriad of options we have just in those 2 bait categories. Frogs are a topwater bait. Simple. How do you work one to catch fish? However your dear heart desires...and almost any method you try will work at some point. Usually they are worked slow, a lot slower than a toad. Toads are versatile in ways to use, as sometimes I will use them for pitching, swimming under the surface slowly, swimming along the bottom, as well as quickly buzzing them on the surface. My favorite frogs are Snag Proof, but I am on Staff with them...lol. However, I also have a box of other frogs, and favorites are Scum Frog, Booyah, Live Target, Lunker Hunt, and Bogs. My favorite toads are Ribbits, Sezmic, BPS Humping Toads, Zoom Horny Toads, and Gambler Cane Toads.

Davecon is right...well, half right...lol. I use 10" and larger worms a lot, and either run it like Davecon said, or like holeshot said. Fishing a larger worm/snake in the middle of the water column is not best use for that bait. Tantalizingly slow on the bottom or running on the top is the way to go. As to other baits, try Slider fishing...it is my #1 tactic for pure numbers, and have caught bass up to 5lbs on this technique.

Well, MB you have spilled my secret weapon for YEARS...lol. I have been on Staff with Snag Proof for over 10 years, and while I throw the normal inventory of bigger frogs, I usually throw a 1/4oz Tournament frog whenever I can. I have 2 different rigs for this type of frog, a 7' MH spinning rod with 20# braid so I can skip the frog for certain terrain or just for a different type of presentation, and a 7' M baitcaster with 20# braid for normal use. I have experimented with hooks, but usually use the factory hook, not bent upward, but hand filed extremely sharp, and use a sweep set instead of trying to cross their eyes with the hook set. Not very many missed fish...way less than when power fishing with frogs, and it is also a great frog for following up another frog guy. I do agree that not casting too far also helps hookup ratio, and a lot of times I am pitching the frog short distances. Mostly, 40-50' casts, work it, move to another point or unique structure...

Fish out of what you have, wherever you can. Another option is...many years ago I started a bass club, Small Outboard Bassers(SOB's), and our restriction was 50hpMAX...so, we had lots of 12' and 14' jonboats with 10-25hp, and we fished all over southern Florida. Unfortunately, club died when I had to leave the club due to work...still think the concept will work. Ask around, maybe you will be the founder of the new and improved SOB's.

Senko style baits are easy...you NEED 3 basic colors, a dark color, a light color, and a shock color, but you will BUY a jazillion...just sayin'. Dark = black/blue flake, junebug, black/red flake...any one of these will work for your dark color Light = watermelon, watermelon/red flake, watermelon/candy flake, green pumpkin, houdini, baby bass...any of these will work for your light color Shock = bubblegum, pearl white, chartreuse...again, any one of these will work Disclaimer...I run this style bait in 3", 4", 5.5", and 7" and have ALL of the colors listed above plus a few more...like I said, there is NEED and there is WANT...lol.

I wear one all the time, under either a wide brimmed floppy hat, or full outlaw and under a wide brimmed cowboy hat. When in the kayak I wear the long zip off shorts/pants full length tucked into a pair of flats booties, long sleeve shirt, gloves, and the buff/hat combo. You would be surprised how much better you will feel...tomorrow.

Hey everyone, finally found this place, and hope to learn and contribute when and where I can. I have been bass fishing since mid 70's, and recently have been dedicated to fishing from a kayak. As much as I love it, admit to having some boat withdrawls...sold my 20' Storm about 6 years ago...and will be looking at smaller boats as I fish in the Everglades 80% of the time, and on Lake Okeechobee 20%, so smaller is better. Recently was on Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff as one of their 3 Kayak Bass Pro's, but lost my position when I refused to change from a freshwater bass guy to saltwater...so now I am a free agent...except still on Staff with Snag Proof, been with them 10+ years now, so any questions on frog fishing just ask. Ok, time to get into this forum, and look forward to meeting/talking with everyone...till then,