There are two types of fishing days a bass fisherman can experience, on the one end of the spectrum is a day that no matter what you have tied on the bass are going to eat it, compared to the opposite where it seems like very possible lure you tie on doesn’t get you a bite. Well when it comes to fishing a topwater frog, the same holds true, some days you have the hot frog so to speak, but then all of a sudden, something changes and that frog that has been loading the boat for you is now just skittering across the vegetation leaving a trail that has no bass interested in hitting it.
Here are five common scenarios that should prod you to switch up your topwater frog selection.
Scenario #1 – You aren’t getting bites
This is the obvious reason that switching up your frog to a different color or style is needed. If your fishing partner or another boat in the area you are fishing are catching them on a frog and you are not, then the chances that you need to make a change are pretty good. This is especially true if the other anglers are fishing a completely different color or style of frog than you are.
Scenario #2 – The bass are missing or short striking your frog
If you are in a good area and getting bass to come up to the surface and show interest in your frog, but they are either are hitting behind your bait, or just swiping at it and not getting it fully in their mouth, then this is a sign you need to change something up. Maybe those bass have been pressured and want a smaller profile frog, or the color of your frog isn’t what they want and as they get to the surface they are “pulling the e-brake” and not committing to hitting your frog 100 percent.
Scenario #3 – The bass are getting off after you the set the hook
This scenario on when to change up your frog may come as a shock to anglers, but if you are getting bass to hit your frog and getting them hooked, but they are getting off on the way to the boat, you still may need to change up the frog you are offering the bass. The change may just be going to a new frog in the same model, size and color you are throwing as the one tied on your end of the line may have a dull hook point. If the hooks are still sharp on your current frog, then you may need to change up the color of the frog just slightly, such as going from a Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Frog in Mink (all brown frog) to the Brown Bullfrog color (brown top, orange/yellow belly). This slight color change can entice that bass to eat your frog the right way!
Scenario #4 – The cover you are fishing has changed drastically
Going from fishing your frog over thick matted vegetation to submerged vegetation or open water may require you to dig into your Plano tackle box and grab a new frog. With open water you can use a frog that emits more action than a frog you would use fishing over top a mat. If I go from fishing matted grass with a Bobby’s Perfect Frog to fishing the edge or the open water between the vegetation and my boat, I’ll tie on the Bobby’s Perfect Buzz, as it fishes like a buzzbait.
Scenario #5 – The weather
has changedPaying attention to the amount of sun, clouds or wind that is present when you are getting your bites on a frog plays an important role in frog selection. Many times when the sun is out and bright, you’ll want to use a frog that has a bright profile, such as white or shad, when it’s cloudy a dark profile such as black or a dark brown. Now the middle ground of overcast, partly cloudy/sunny is paying close attention comes into play and when a dark base color with bright highlights work well, such as the Brown Bullfrog color I mentioned above. If it’s calm out, you can get by with a frog that walks-the-dog well, but if the water’s surface is being disturbed by a breeze or current, you may need to change up to a frog that has more action to it, such as the Snag Proof Wobbletron as more action may be needed to garner the bass’s attention.
So as you even needed another reason (or five) to head to your local tackle shop or favorite online retailer to pick up some more topwater frogs, having a well-stocked frog box allows you to be ready to swap frogs out on the water for when conditions change.
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