Top Waters

[bazzdude]

Well my question is on frogs as well. I have been fishing top water rapallas for yerars now and have tons of luck. I don't have much experience with the frogs. I have two in my box. A black one and one lime/dark green with a lil skirt i think. I am heading out to a lake at sunrise in the morning wich has lots of pads. I have 10lb test and i would just like to try them out. I hear you have to wait till you fill the fish. What does that mean exactily? I mean, do you real it fast after the splash and set the hook after you feel a LIL TUG? I would think if you wait that long they would be down to deep in the pads to get them out quickley. also how do you work them, every 10 feet stop for a few sec., retrieve them fast/slow? I guess it is diff. every time i know that becasue that is how rapallas are, just depends on thier mood. Just hoping for a few tips is all. thanks for your time fellas!:bounce:

[AaronE]

"Feel the fish" means just that - when you feel the fish pulling on the line, then set the hook. You'll see the splash from the attack or you'll see a swirl if the bass just inhales the frog. Don't set the hook at this point - a lot of times bass will hit hard like that and miss it. Keep the line tight and when you feel the tug, set the hook.

If you get a big hit like that and don't feel the tug after a second or two, work the lure back to you quickly - move the frog as if it were in fear for its life. Do that for about 10 feet then stop, let it sit, then twitch it again. You'll get follow-up hits more often than not doing that, especially in vegetation. If you don't get a follow-up hit, throw back to the same spot (cast behind where you got the hit), let the water settle down for a minute, then retrieve it back through the area where you got hit. Chances are good that bass will come back for more.

If you're using 10# test you won't be able to drag them through the pads. Best bet would be to upgrade to heavier line/braid for fishing heavy vegetation, and there's another thread in this forum already about that. The main thing is, you don't want to lose a bass just because it went too deep for you to retrieve it. Use heavier line to keep that happening and horse it out as needed. It'll also save you $ on lures if you plan on fishing the slop a lot.

[BassinBomber]

Good advice Aaron,..yes bazzdude definately purchase some braided line,..it would be a terrible thing to hook on to the "fish-of-a-lifetime" and lose it cuz your line wouldn't hold!

[Gone Fishin]

Aaron is right about the frog thing. Don't set it when you see the splash. Sometimes out of natural instinct you set the hook when you see the splash, I have done it. It takes some practice to wait. At Sprague last year I did this on a very nice bass. I was so mad when the frog came flying back at me because I set the hook immediately, but, I threw it back and he hit it again! Catching a bass on topwater is by far the most fun way to catch them, once you get the hang of it. You will be glad you gave it a shot when you land your first frog bass!

[AaronE]

Aaron is right about the frog thing. Don't set it when you see the splash. Sometimes out of natural instinct you set the hook when you see the splash, I have done it. It takes some practice to wait.

I've practically decapitated myself with flying frogs and buzzbaits from setting the hook too fast hehe There's nothing like seeing a buzzbait coming right for you, being too fascinated by the spinning blade to duck. Thwack.

The thing I *try* to always do when fishing topwater - as soon as there's a hit I say to myself "That's a real big fish" and then set the hook. That usually takes just long enough for the bass to chomp down but not too long for them to realize they've been had.

"This sure beats working" could also be used

[BassinBomber]

Pretty good advice Aaron,..I've wacked myself a few times,..got too excited about the strike,..i like what you do though,..cool!

[Trent Hale]

Burn the frog early morn. Then slow it down as the sun rises.

[BassinBomber]

I concur Trent,..works very well that way!

[ProP-Junkie]

speaking on whacking yourself with your lure I watch a Bill dance show where he did that very thing. The only problem was the lure flew in hook first and embedded itself into Bill's nose... DEEP. Funny as that is, it is dangerous so be careful!


PJ

[AaronE]

speaking on whacking yourself with your lure I watch a Bill dance show where he did that very thing. The only problem was the lure flew in hook first and embedded itself into Bill's nose... DEEP. Funny as that is, it is dangerous so be careful!

That's why I always wear one of these when I fish topwater.

[BassinBomber]

LMAO @ Aaron,..that's too funny!

[kzoo]

You might want to consider using a baitcaster with a medium heavy to heavy rod. You really need to drag them trough the slop. This is the only time I like using braid, if using mono suggest 17lb.

[skeetrzx225]

that bait is good early right before the sun comes up pitch it right up in the cover pads grass mats pop it along remember presentation you want it to look like a frog .when i lived in south floridia this was bass killer frogs and mice. jerk it and stop or retrieve and stop down south they like the splash it drives them nuts. i would definatly goe to a heavy rod baitcaster and 20lb + braided like everyone else said if you hook up the fish is gonna bury deep and hang on you will definetly know if you got a hook up it look like JAWS

[Nik]

You might want to consider using a baitcaster with a medium heavy to heavy rod. You really need to drag them trough the slop. This is the only time I like using braid, if using mono suggest 17lb.

bingo, kzoo is on the money as far as i'm concerned. 7 foot heavy action rod, high speed reel, at least 17 lb mono or if braid then start at 50 lb. if you're around lilies, braid cuts through them like a knife. for mono i highly recommend Trilene XT, cheap but outstanding line that is tough as nails.

[skeetrzx225]

sorry nik i guess i dont know what i am talking about how foolish of me to even consider posting

[Nik]

sorry nik i guess i dont know what i am talking about how foolish of me to even consider posting

That's odd dude, I don't remember even mentioning you in my post. Let me go back and check here....nope, I sure didn't, so I have absolutely no clue what you are even talking about. As a matter of fact, I didn't even read your post before I wrote mine. I read kzoo's post and happened to agree with what he said. I can't see how you could possible take issue with that. If you can't grow a little thicker skin then perhaps public forums aren't for you.

[lemagoat]

That was an odd attack on ya there Nik, I didnt see where you said anything at all!

[skeetrzx225]

a little dry humer sorry nik i didnt mean it like that forgive me man. your right also lemagoat my fault. phil

[Nik]

a little dry humer sorry nik i didnt mean it like that forgive me man. your right also lemagoat my fault. phil

no worries here my friend. i wouldn't even pretend to tell someone that's fished in Florida how to frog fish, you just caught me off guard that's all.

[skeetrzx225]

well iam glad to see i didnt piss anybody off i wanna make friends not foes.i must say though this is a tough bass fishery. when i started fishin up here i thought it would be easy boy was i wrong totally different. much respect to guys that have the logged the time up here.anyway i look forward to chating with you again Nik . Phil