Changing Frog Colors to Isolate a Successful Pattern

 

Picking a frog color can be difficult, especially during incoming fronts and low pressure systems that can change a sunny day into a mix of clouds and/or rain. I have read and watched different levels of professionals discuss their theories on what color to choose on a given day, but in my experience, results speak much louder than words.

In gin-clear water, the only way to truly tell which color frog works best is to try multiple colors in the same area. You may not have multiple frog rods on the deck, but I guarantee you have white, green, brown, black, red or yellow-bellied frogs underneath your feet. All those colors, yet how often do you go through an area only to re-tie and go back through with the opposite color? I would guess that’s never.

If you’re like me, a lack of success with a frog in the past meant that the fish weren’t looking up, or maybe that they preferred a buzzbait? The excuse of explaining why the frog bite isn’t hot can quickly be translated into the most unbelievable frog day ever experienced all by changing the color and re-working your areas.

A friend of mine, Broc Allen, fished with me in an open tournament a couple of weeks ago. We came to a very prominent area of the lake and we both immediately pick up our frog rods – my white-bellied frog versus his dark green-bellied frog.

Broc landed two fish that weighed nearly 11-pounds in a span of 20-yards. The results were great since I was on his team, but think about the results had he been my competitor?

As you can see, varying lure colors in this situation can certainly help isolate a successful pattern.

As the day went on, it sparked a conversation about frog colors and our successes with them on individual lakes and rivers; similar to conversations you may have had with your own family or friends.

“First-light, at this time of the year, was approximately 4:30 a.m.,” said Broc. “I originally planned on a darker color frog; but by the time we blasted off, we had lost most of the low light conditions. I figured I’d go with a more natural approach.”

His natural approach may have looked like a frog to those largemouth, or possibly a bird or mouse, but they were able to key in on the bait and it was a crucial decision come tournament time. One more piece of advice from Broc focused on the frog retrieve:

“My typical retrieve, to start, is a pretty rapid walking movement,” he said. “Then I’ll introduce a three to four second pause in-between. I’ll keep that cadence going until they commit to the frog moving or sitting still.”

Changing color and retrieves, both things that turn a no frog day into a hot frog bite.