I love to buzz horny toads and buzzfrogs across the top of the water and get lots of blowups from bass but rarely catch them, how can I improve hookups? I always hesitate a second then set the hook but still have problems.

I noticed that you fish ky lake, so do I and I have been catching alot of bass on toads lately. I always use BRAID for one. Hold your rod at 11 o'clock, that way you have to drop the tip and get your slack before you set the hook, that gives them time to get it most of the time, and alot of times i will wait till i feel them before i set the hook, they won't hardly turn lose of the frog when they bite it.  And set the hook HARD.  But you are going to miss several fish when fishing a toad, at best you will have around a 70% hook up ratio.  

Heavy rod and Braid!  

I have problem with hookups on the floating frogs like a Spro at times, but have never have problem with a buzzing frog or toad.  I have never set the hook either.  Just keep reeling and wait for the pressure.  

What size hook are you using?  I wouldn't go any smaller than 4/0.  

I really *** you getting to fish Kentucky Lake.  I almost took a job in Murray, KY one time just to be close to the lake.

I have not heard of anyone ever having to high of hook up percentage with frogs or toads and I fall into that catagory as well. I do use braid and I dont set the hook until I feel the fish tug my line and I will say it took alot of misses for me to get used to waiting on that tug.

What size hook are you using?  I wouldn't go any smaller than 4/0.  

I really *** you getting to fish Kentucky Lake.  I almost took a job in Murray, KY one time just to be close to the lake.

I usually use a 4/0 Gammy

This is one subject in bass fishing that I actually feel like I know something about.  I fish Horny Toads a lot and have gotten to the point where hook-ups are no longer a problem for me.  

First of all, I think a major reason people don't get hookups with HTs is because they use a hook that's too small.  4/0 and smaller, IMO, is too small.  I just dont see enough point protrusion to get reliable hookups.  Using the right sized hook will increase your hookups.  

Second, I think folks try and set the hook too early.  When there's a blow-up on one of my HTs, I wait a second before setting the hook.  This gives enough time for the bass to get it in his mouth, but not enough time for it to spit the HT back out (usually).

There are several way to rig a HT.  Here are four of my favorites - and all work:

From left to right:

1) HT rigged with a 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook.  This is pretty much the standard, but the least reliable in terms of hookups in my experience.  It is very weedless, though.

2) HT rigged with Zoom Horny Toad hook.  This hook has about the same profile as the Gamy 5/0 EWG.  But for some reason, hookups for me are easier than with the Gamy.  It might have to do with the fact that the hook does not have the same resistence at the front as the Gamy since the Zoom hook is attached at the front end by a twist lock.  This rig is just as weedless as the Gamy rig.

3)  HT rigged with a Matzuo 5/0 long shank worm hook.  The frog is initially rigged like with the Gamy, but the hook point is not pushed through the body, but rather brought up between the legs to the rear of the body with the point lightly stuck in the back.   This rig will give the best results with respect to hookups.  The rig is less weedless than with the Gamy as occassionally the hookpoint will get knocked out when casting into weeds.  But I've had bass actually hook themselves with this rig.

4)  The last one has made people laugh at me, but has proven extremely reliable.  It's a HT with an Eagle Claw weedless hook.  I actually like this rig the best when I'm fishing in more open water.  Hookups are easy and the hook acts like a keel and keeps the frog right side up.  You can buzz it through water.  It's a great rig.   In slop, you can rig it with the point going up, and its pretty weedless, but doesn't act right in open water.

I agree with every one else......

1. Heavy Rod

2. Braided Line

3. Be patient...wait for the load up only takes a split second usually

4. 4/0 hook or larger EWG with a hitch hiker to attach the bait (like the Horny toad hook) is my favorite  

   hook set up

5. Be prepared to miss fish....it is gonna happen any time you use a top water just make sure to use a                  follow up cast and get him the second time

My brother and I fished together about a month ago and the only thing the fish would bite on was a ribbits frog, similar to the toad. I watched him miss fish after fish on a fast tipped rod and monofiliment line while I was practically catching every fish that would bite on the above mentioned set up. If we had not been fishing for fun I would have kicked him out of the boat for missing so many fish  

Harshman

It also helps to have a spinning rod handy rigged with a senko so you can cast to the area where the miss occurred.  You know a fish is there and they just can't resist the temptation of a fluttering senko. (Caught some nis fish this way...)

Tight lines.

s

It also helps to have a spinning rod handy rigged with a senko so you can cast to the area where the miss occurred. You know a fish is there and they just can't resist the temptation of a fluttering senko. (Caught some nis fish this way...)

Tight lines.

s

Generally good advice, however the areas I fish a toad in I would be scared to drop a senko on spinning gear into. I'd never get the fish out of there. Also, the senko would probably not even get into the water to flutter down.  I prefer to use a texas rigged tube with a 3/4 oz. or heavier bullet.  This penetrates the cover nicely.

To answer the original question, braid and a heavy rod will help tremendously. I would go no smaller than a 5/0 hook with a hitch hiker. I like 6/0 personally. You must have a heavy wire hook as well.

My hook up % is in the 90's these days.

B

Skychimp,

I have been experimenting with different hooks and #4 set up has been most effective for me.

I was buying the Zoom hooks and I probably only had a 30% hook up rate.

If it works, everyone will use it, but wont admit it.

I don't use the Horney Toad hook anymore because of the low hookup rate. Try rigging a Toad with a Gammie 5/0 but pull the eye of the hook into the body of the Toad far enough so the point of the hook can be hooked into one of the legs. Only go back about half of the leg then push through and skin hook it. This setup will still have the same action but will increase your hook ups 2X.

Another rig I will try is to rig with the Horny Toad hook but add a Gammie G-Stinger trailer hook in one of the legs. The cord that connects the G-Stinger should let the legs move freely and not hamper the action of the Toad.

I'll post after I get a chance to try it out.

I don't use the Horney Toad hook anymore because of the low hookup rate. Try rigging a Toad with a Gammie 5/0 but pull the eye of the hook into the body of the Toad far enough so the point of the hook can be hooked into one of the legs. Only go back about half of the leg then push through and skin hook it. This setup will still have the same action but will increase your hook ups 2X.

I've heard of that but never tried.  The Matzuo rig in my picture puts the hook point far back (not as far as the legs).  Hook ups with that rig are pretty easy - much easier than with the Gamy or Horny hook.  I rarely miss a hook-up with the Matzuo rig and the Eagle Claw weedless rig.