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[F-N-G]

Hey guys

I got off work a little early yesterday so I ran over to Rodgers for a little bass fishing. The water was stained and the lillies were everywhere so I decided to try a scum frog. I've never used one before but I figured you just cast it out and twitch it back. I worked the south shoreline working my way over to the beach area. Over near the beach seem a great spot reed or grass deeper out meeting up to the lillies closer to shore. I was right about the spot, I had 7-8 blow ups on the frog but I couldn't get a hook up. So my question is what am I doing wrong? I realise a few of them might have just missed the bait but I know 3 had it in their mouths yet every time I went to set the hook, I'd have the frog flying back at me. The only thing I can figure is that I have to give the bass more time before trying to set the hook. Anyone have any suggestions?

[-Kley-]

I've had similar experiences with top water. They're fun because you see all the action, but I get a lot of misses. I used a buzz bait about 3 weeks ago and have probably a dozen strikes but only landed 2 or 3 fish. The same thing may be happening underwater when you use traditional baits, you just can't see it. That's my theory anyhow... haha
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-Kley-
Keith D - Website Admin

[sadclownwp]

Here is what is going on, often a bass actually knocks a bait out of the water and grabs it on the way down. So don't get to excited and try to set the hook early. It is very important that you give the fish time to swallow it, so you have to train yourself to keep working that bait even if you see a fish ry and grab it, just keep working it, the fish will pull back if he has taken it and then you set the hook hard enough to break its neck. Unlike other lures a bass never just nips at a frog they inhale it, so you don't have to worry about lightning fast hooksets cause they are going to either take the bait or leave it alone. Now the other sad but true part of fishing topwater frogs is that bass miss them about 50% of the time, sad but true. But all is not lost see topwater frogs have a redeeming quality to them, they stay floating in the strike zone, so if a bass misses it and you keep working the frog just like you were without getting to excited the bass will sometimes come after it again. So best advice i can give you is try not to get to excited and jerk the bait out of the strikezone early, i know its hard to do cause the water explosion is exciting, but work on it and everything will fall into place.

Also me and Awal tear the fish up on Scum Frogs good choice in frog lures. try the june bug colored one if you can find it, the bass just can't seem to get enough of it.

Hope this helps.
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Its been said a million times, and it is still as true as ever, a bad day fishing is still better than a good day working.

[F-N-G]

Thanks for the replies, I kind of thought maybe I was trying to set too early but it's really hard not to when your adrenaline is kicking in from watching the bass explode out of the water. I'll try and keep myself calm and give it more time. I suppose like most things it takes some time and pratice. Sad thanks again for the advice. I'm glad to hear I picked a good bait. I only have 2 scum frogs. 1 in water and 1 in green. Next time I'm out picking up some baits I'll look for the june bug.

[sadclownwp]

here are my two favorite scum frogs.

http://southernlure.goodbarry.com/_product_41566/SF-116_Junebug_Red

http://southernlure.goodbarry.com/_product_41566/SF-128_Chartreuse_Natural

the bass at Willow Slough this summer just couldn't seem to get enough of them. my buddy Awal, he swears on the poppers. But me, well i don't think the poppers come through the weeds as well. Oh and use a good braided line because braided line floats on the top of the water and is plenty strong enough for when you need to horse those fish out of the thick weeds.
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Its been said a million times, and it is still as true as ever, a bad day fishing is still better than a good day working.