Hey guys,

I've been lurking for a bit, reading and trying to listen and learn before I speak.  I just wanted to thank you guys for all the information!  It paid off this afternoon in the way of a 5 pound bass on a Watermelon Red Horny Toad.  I know he's not going to win me any cookies, but he was a winner to me!

Prior to coming here and reading all about these cool little baits, I'd been fishing "Artemus Clydefrog" (my wife's name for this little creature) without success for a couple weeks.  Repeatedly I'd miss strikes and work myself to death (subpar reel, but the replacement is on the way) getting it to the surface.  Armed with a snub-nosed Toad and larger hooks, the first big strike today didn't get his hookset for 2 seconds, and WHAMMO!  After tugging his tubby butt through 2 miles of hydrilla farm, I had my first Artemus Clydebass.  

Thanks very much for sharing all this info!  I really appreciate it!  I'm now working on learning to Carolina rig.  My favorite lake is very clear, and pretty deep in places, so it seems like a good tactic to learn.

-JC

Great bait and a most excellent color choice. Watermelon red and watermelon black flake are two of my best colors for frogs and flukes. How were you working it? Were you buzzing it across the top or going a little slower and letting it sink down below the surface? Seems like most of my hits on frogs are immediately after landing in the water (boinking them on the head).  

jc-Welcome aboard.  Congrats on your success.

Great c-rig info in the sticky topic above.

Welcome to the board JC, has you have seen the knowledge here is awesome.  

congrats on the catch!!!!!  if i had a cookie i'd give it to ya, a 5lber is a nice fish.

i just bought a pack of the Zoom Horny Toads and will test them out today and many days afterwards i hope.

again, welcome, kick your shoes off and stay awhile,

Alfred

Absolutely!, I love it when a forum is full of information and good folks, and light on the B.S.  Just goes to show what a great bunch fishermen can be.

I was fishing the toad relatively fast across the surface, but just fast enough for the little guy to kick up some water.  As Skewrl stated, it wasn't long at all after the bait hit the water that he'd latched on.  I missed a really good fish shortly thereafter, but I had too much slack in the line and missed 'em.  (He was big enough that when he hit, I saw his head come out of the water...that was cool!) He hit it somewhere around the middle of the retrieve.

I've been studyng the Carolina rig section as well.  I've got a few leaders rigged up and ready to go, so next trip I'll be seeking deep structure and dropoffs for this technique.  I've still got quite a bit of reading to do!

-JC

I've been studyng the Carolina rig section as well. I've got a few leaders rigged up and ready to go, so next trip I'll be seeking deep structure and dropoffs for this technique. I've still got quite a bit of reading to do!

-JC

Hey Jeep,

Like LBH said, the sticky c-rig topic is an excellent resource.  

My $.02:  You might consider checking out some "Carolina Keepers";  Bass Pro has 'em.  They're these cool little clear (or red) cylinder-type jobs that you squeeze with pliers then slide up your line.  They allow you to easily adjust your leader size throughout the day, and they save you two knots.  In my experience, you need 2 of them to reliably make your weight & bead stay put.  Starting with the rod tip and working your way out to the tag end of the line, here's what I do:

1. 1/2 - 3/4oz. brass bullet weight (or egg sinker)

2. Glass bead

3. Variable length leader (whatever the fish tell me is working)

4. Hook

I personally really like Zoom baby brush hogs...green pumpkin/red flake.  Good times.