SPO Frog Flash: Theories on Color

By Jody Only 6/21/2015

For this week’s Frog Flash from Snag Proof, WesternBass checked in with several of the pros that fish have fished the Snag Proof Open on the California Delta for their top choice in frog colors.

FROG FLASH #4 – Theories on Color

There are different schools of thought color selection for lures in general and with topwater lures such as floating frogs, there are even more theories.

Some will say color doesn’t matter, when the fish are looking up into the sun.

Others believe matching the color patterns of prevalent forage is the best way to go.

Some will take their pattern specifically to other available surface meals (bull frogs, fire flies baby ducks).

And then there are those that believe if you move it fast enough the fish never even see the color.

There are many, many theories on frog colors and there are many, many available colors to choose from. Here is what some of the pros had to say:

ISH MONROE

I don’t get locked in to thinking that when I am fishing a frog, I am only imitating a frog. I am representing a bunch of different things to the fish – bluegill, crappie, shad.

On bright sunny days, I use all white, white frog, white belly, white legs. I like the white because it shows up real well.

In crystal clear water, I go to the clear frog called Crystal.

On overcast or darker days in low light conditions or when I am in dirtier water, I use a darker color or all black.

These are my main colors, but when the conditions aren’t extreme, there are times when I will mix in a green color or a brown color. If the fish are on bluegill, I will mix in my bluegill pattern (Sexy Ish).

KENT BROWN

I really don’t get carried away with it. Seventy percent of the time, I throw a white one and the other 30 percent, I throw a black one. Almost 100 percent of the time, I throw white on the Delta. My white one usually has a chartreuse head or nose.

In 2003, when I got a top-10 finish on the Delta FLW EverStart, I was throwin’ a black frog. They just wouldn’t eat the white one.

If you’re in a team event where both of you are throwing frogs, never, ever throw the same color.

BOBBY BARRACK

The slower you fish the more important the color is. The reason behind that is because the slower the retrieve, the better the look the bass get at the bait. The faster you fish, the more you're just dealing with presenting a silhouette, so color is not as important then.

In low light, I do like louder colors like Brown Bullfrog, Tweety or High Switch and if I'm locked into a forage-based color, I will pick one in accordance. If there is a heavy bluegill pattern, something like green pumpkin or Fred. If there are swallows on the docks, walkways or tules, a sparrow color is a major player, especially in duckweed or open water.

MARK DANIELS JR.

There are sooo many good colors. I try to keep my choices pretty simplistic. I like all black and all white. And, Sparrow in Bobby’s Perfect Frog is an all-time favorite of mine and of course, Fred.

MORE FROG TIPS:

FROG FLASH #1 - Frog Mods - Create a Bull Frog Belly with Mark Daniels Jr.

FROG FLASH #2 – Productive Froggin’ Targets with Ish Monroe

FROG FLASH #3 – Enticing a Negative Mood Bass with a Frog with Bobby Barrack

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The Original Frog Only Tournament is coming!