i was fishing relatively clear water and i saw what i imagined was a frog (it was small, could have been a beetle).  it was kicking itself thru water down deep.   in frog plentiful habitat, wouldnt a texas rigged soft body frog like bait be something to try?  you all ever try sinking a frog with weights?

no need to sink one.  Just texas rig a rage menace, zman goatz, a solid body toad, or any number of frog looking plastics.  It might not look exactly like a frog but its close enough to make a bass say 'food'.

I have a friend who does well with a weightless horny toad or uses a weighted screw lock hook. He fishes it like a senko

In regard to frogs, yes they swim down in the water column, I have a Koi pond at back, as a defense mechanism when spooked they'll dive down a couple of feet.   

The Rebel Craw crankbaits are a very productive bait. They have a Wee Frog crankbait that works as well. A few frog colors. Don’t know if they are recognized as a frog, they have the same type of action to them as the craws. Good reaction bait for river smallies. 

I think if a bass sees a frog underwater, all it will think is “food”. Frog lures aren't exactly realistic imitations of live frogs either. Although I don’t believe bass enjoy consuming real frogs, that won’t stop them from striking. 

There is a diving frog lure out there.  I used to fish the berkley realistix soft plastic frogs when everyone hated on that bait because it was a terrible toad lure.  I fished mine line a subsurface frog and got bit quite well.  Didn't really understand toad lures at the time so I caught fish with this "bad" bait the "wrong" way.  I should start doing that again.  There is also a fishlab frog soft plastic creature bait that would look good on a light texas rig.

if that was the right size, i bet that would get smoked repeatedly if we punched that into thick mats.

5 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

There is also a fishlab frog soft plastic creature bait that would look good on a light texas rig.

 

Yo that looks so good.

 

Only need to watch the first minute...

 

I'm only sharing this because I now have a big stash of these.   They get chomped

Get yourself some toads.  I'll fish them from time to time and let them sink.  Though, they typically work better retrieved quickly across the surface.  But they're versatile enough that you can fish them either way on the same cast.  Just unlike a frog, you can't let it sit there and expect it to float.