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Matching the Hatch - What Type of Frog is This?

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Caught (snagged apparently) this frog this morning on a spinnerbait (how does that happen?).  I don't recognize the color scheme, but since it is native to my nearby lake, I'd like to know what it is so that I can "match-the-hatch" with an appropriate hollow frog bait.  Thanks in advance for your help.

IMG_0394_sm.jpg

  • Author
7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bullfrog 

 

leopard frog would be my other guess but it seems big for that 

Thanks, could be a bullfrog - those are common in NorCal. But this color scheme is not typical. They are usually more green and less brown and not as prominently speckled, but most of the ones I've seen have been in the San Joaquin County delta system and not up here.

  • Author

Thanks everyone, mystery solved!  The other mystery though - how does a big frog get snagged in the foot by a spinnerbait?  They are relatively snag free in normal use!  In fact, I don't think I've ever snagged any aquatic creature using a spinnerbait - just the usual fish hits (largemouth, stripers, crappie, bluegills, catfish, and more).

Bullfrog. 

Most frog can change colors a little depending on their mood. That is a distress coloration on one. 

Can't tell if it a male or female from the picture.

Males will have a yellow throat and the ear drums are bigger than the eyes. Females will normally have that coloration with ears the same size as their eyes.

  • Super User

Is the question how do I match the frog I have in front of me? Like size, color, shape?... [confused imogie thingy]

  • Author
1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

Is the question how do I match the frog I have in front of me? Like size, color, shape?... [confused imogie thingy]

I can match the present scheme if anyone makes that, but I'd prefer to match them as they are when they are the size of a 1/4 oz hollow frog, which requires some biology research.

  • Super User
Just now, QED said:

I can match the present scheme if anyone makes that, but I'd prefer to match them as they are when they are the size of a 1/4 oz hollow frog, which requires some biology research.

Now I'm really confused.

  • Author
1 minute ago, Deleted account said:

Now I'm really confused.

Frogs go through metamorphosis so they are dramatically different looking depending on where they are in their life cycle.  I mostly use light/UL fishing gear, so I only throw 1/4 oz hollow frogs.  So the problem is to figure out how they might look when they are post tadpole phase, but only about 1-1/2" long from nose to vent.

  • Super User
53 minutes ago, QED said:

Frogs go through metamorphosis so they are dramatically different looking depending on where they are in their life cycle.  I mostly use light/UL fishing gear, so I only throw 1/4 oz hollow frogs.  So the problem is to figure out how they might look when they are post tadpole phase, but only about 1-1/2" long from nose to vent.

You must be fun at a bike fit... :) 

 

  • Author
13 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

You must be fun at a bike fit... :) 

 

I do my own now. I have measured and documented all the cockpit dimensions referenced off the bottom bracket. I've assembled and configured all but one of my bikes from frame and components and have built the wheels on the first few back when that was a thing. But if you are telling me that I am overly meticulous, yes guilty as charged! ?

  • Super User
2 minutes ago, QED said:

I do my own now. I have measured and documented all the cockpit dimensions referenced off the bottom bracket. I've assembled and configured all but one of my bikes from frame and components and have built the wheels on the first few back when that was a thing. But if you are telling me that I am overly meticulous, yes guilty as charged! ?

Lol. And for those looking for some DI2, or a new DC reel...

 

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/international/2021/10/22/shimano-warns-clearance-web-store-fake#.YX8Jep7MLIU

 

  • Author

BTW, I'm a foodie so I am especially fond of French food, so I love me some escargot or grenouille but the toxic algae bloom put an end to eating the latter.  The frog has a sore foot but should be fine otherwise.

6 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Sorry, I've been in the minority bike component camp as a Campy fan, though Shimano makes great fishing gear.  ?  My only non-Italian bike is a Ritchey titanium/carbon travel bike (though it does have Campy SR components) so I know nothing of Shimano bike gear.

  • Super User
3 hours ago, QED said:

Caught (snagged apparently) this frog this morning on a spinnerbait (how does that happen?).  I don't recognize the color scheme, but since it is native to my nearby lake, I'd like to know what it is so that I can "match-the-hatch" with an appropriate hollow frog bait.  Thanks in advance for your help.

IMG_0394_sm.jpg

 

   Be careful; you might catch more snakes than you do fish!         jj

  • Global Moderator

Not many bass eating big bullfrogs it doesn't seem like. I tried a lot when I was a kid and never did catch a bass (or even many catfish), with them. They seemed to much prefer leopard frogs. 

How do you match that frog with a hollow bellied one?  You use a white one.  The belly of that frog is most likely white and all the bass would see anyways.  I've always been a fan of either a dark topwater or a white topwater and color really doesn't matter except to the fisherman.

  • Author
2 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

How do you match that frog with a hollow bellied one?  You use a white one.  The belly of that frog is most likely white and all the bass would see anyways.  I've always been a fan of either a dark topwater or a white topwater and color really doesn't matter except to the fisherman.

I am a big fan of black frogs but like to keep some natural colors on hand as well. The color scheme on the frogs I use tend to extend below the water line, so on the margin, I would think it can improve the hit rate.  And it doesn't cost anything extra to select the closest matching available color scheme.  BTW, Booyah, Spro, LiveTarget, and Castaic all make fine <= 1/4 oz hollow body frogs (some in popper form) for those who like to use lighter tackle.

  • Global Moderator

I'm beginning to think color matters more with frogs than we'd like to think. Maybe not subtle differences, but I got it handed to me by my buddy once while I was fishing an all white frog and he was fishing a Booyah Cricket frog, which is a white belly with brown/tan sides and back. Maybe because we fish more open water pockets between grass than we do mats here where we're walking the frog a lot so it has a chance to roll and show the sides more. 

Put me in the paint scheme doesn't matter camp.   Whatever's painted on the back of the frog is to catch the fisherman.  Pretty sure I even have one lying around somewhere that say's "eat me" painted on the back. 

  • Author

Booyah Pad Crasher 2" 1/4oz in Cricket Frog scheme.  They have a Bullfrog scheme also, but this one has a bit more brown/bronze hue.

Booyah Cricket Frog.JPG

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