3 Key Topwater Froggin Tips Most Anglers Won't Tell You

April 11, 2017

I don't know about you, but to me top-water froggin' is one of the most exciting ways to catch bass.

Not only can you have heart-stopping explosions on the surface when the bass annihilates your bait, it also allows you to fish thick cover that you normally couldn't with other types of tackle.

Having said that, it's also a technique that requires a little more skill, and I have a number of buddies that can't seem to catch anything when they're out froggin'.

As a result, I wanted to share a couple of tips that have worked well for me in the past.

1. The Setup & Gear

In terms of gear, I always recommend using a frog rod (7'3 to 7'6) with a good backbone, and a bit of limber tip, to allow you to throw this typically lighter bait further.

I recommend pairing it up with baitcast reel with heavy braided line (eg. at least 60 lbs test braid).

Anything less than this, and you risk having the bass break it off when they go back under the heavy cover after grabbing the bait.

2. The Frog

In terms of frogs, there's plenty on the market and most of them work really well. It goes without saying that we recommend our Bass Smasher Topwater Frogs, which are really life-like, supple, and has the ultimate hook-set for when the bass actually strikes.

Having said that, there are others on the market that do well also.

3. The Location & Technique

The best places use the frog is in lily-pads (which is coincidentally also the natural habit of the frog).

After casting it out over the lily-pads, you want to keep your rod tip up during the retrieve so that the nose of the frog rides up a bit and it moves more easily over the lily pads.

Then you want to move your rod in a twitch-twitch-twitch rhythm so that the frog walks across the lily-pads and water in a classic "walk the dog motion".

Once you cross some open pockets between the lilys, you might want to give it a 2-3 second pause. This is key and will give the bass sufficient time, and therefore usually when most strikes occur.

Once the bass strikes, you should give it a second before setting the hook, so that the fish has time turn back down with the bait in its mouth after striking the bait.

This will allow you to set the hook hard, bring it back to the top of the pads, and reel it in. You don't want to allow it to go back down and get burry itself in the vegetation as it will be hard to get out.