FROGS (Hook Set?)

[Doug Hodel]

OK, fished the frog yesterday had a great day producing strikes, but my hook set sucked.

I had several blow ups, but was confused about when I should set the hook.

My partner had a few blow ups before me and he was setting right away and missing.

So I waited til I felt the weight of the fish, that didn't work well, so I paused a second after the blow up but was to slow.

What is the best method for setting the hook?

Thanks,
Doug

[Mike]

I set about 2 seconds after I see the splash. If your missing them, its probably means they are not eating the bait and are just playing with it. Happends all of the time. Very frustrating.

[Steve Reed]

if you see a huge splash set the hook right away

if its a slurp wait two seconds

[Quantum_Kid]

if you see a huge splash set the hook right away

if its a slurp wait two seconds

Exactly what I was going to say.

Scott

[Calistar]

Doug, if you wait until you feel the fish...theres a chance it will feel you too and let go. On the splash, I make sure there is just enough slack line so that he can take it down. I wait a second or two and then SET hard! I have experienced a very good hook up ratio using this method...and Bobby's perfect frog.

anyway, it works for me.

Greg H.

[Otay Michael]

Man I missed 8 of 8 yesterday afternoon/early evening. They just were not committing either. After four misses I switched colors hoping that that would help but it didn't. Sometimes they eat it and keep it, sometimes just mouth it and spit it just as fast. I had both explosions and slurps too (don't get many of those, and a lot of times they are the bigger ones) and varied the hook-set timing, all to no avail. I use smelly jelly to try and help, but that did not work either. Like Rojas says, when they want it, they really want it. And I guess you could say when they don't, they really don't. It's quite frustrating when you don't get 50% of them, but how much more so with 100% failure rate? Better luck for us both on the next trip huh?

Sorry TL, that new pole did not get broken in properly yet~~~

[DAN]

Come out with Dan Mathisen Outdoors. I am offering Frog Tactics Evening sessions 4pm til 830 for 150.00 out of River's End. I will show you how to work the Bobby's Perfect Snag Proof Frog in many situations, what keys to look for, playing the shade game, What mat is right for me and much more. Contact Dan@fishdelta.com to book your date. Prime dates are filling up fast 209-612-5028

[g-man]

IMO I think that no matter what you do, and i have tried all different hook set methods. (well the best I can when a blow up happens) you would be one lucky man if you had a better then 60% landing ability...

But damn its fun though!

[185vsfrog]

I noticed that somedays I will miss frog bites for the whole day and the next day I will get every bite. I feel that somedays they just eat, and other days they play or it is somehow not presented exactly how it is supposed to be for them (maybe frog color, what part of the tide, or weather). All those things factor in huge. I am by no means a frog expert, but I have noticed this when frog fishing. Bobby Barrack told me this and I am a firm believer, "When a bass really wants your frog, you will not be able to pull it away from him". I have had this trying to pull my frog out of sparse tullies over cheese and have a large bass charge out and crush my frog as I was pulling it out of the spot. When they want it, they want it. It has been my experience. Also, try and analyze the strike before deciding how long to wait and when or when not to set. I think this comes with experience. I have found that pausing just enough to analyze the strike gives the bass enough time to eat the frog and turn itself down to get the hooks penetrated in the roof of the mouth when you set. Hope this helps.

[Jason C.]

Alot of times they will just jump RIGHT behind it or RIGHT on the side. Other times the will jump and do a flip over the top of the frog and COMPLETLY miss it! Those are some VERY cool strikes but you usually miss those ones! But as others have said sometimes they will just come up and grab the skirts. And if you are waiting to feel the weight and they have just the skirts then you are going to miss them. I guess one way to help fix this problem would be to shorten up the skirts and see if that will make them take in the whole body. Not only will this help you walk the bait easier the next time you run into this situation you will have THE bait to switch to and you wont have to do any modifications!! I hope this helps!!

Tight Lines,
Jason Conser

P.S. Open water Set as fast as you can react. Cover if its thin cheese or grass again set as fast as you can react. If its thick then wait a second or so. This is what works pretty well and at the end of the season I have a VERY good hook up/landing ratio! BTW I like to use a shorter rod. I feel the shorter rod the less line you move on a hook set which allows you to swing right away. I use to use a 6ft rod but I have sence moved up to a 7 footer.

[DeltaDan]

FIshed frogs last week as well as today for a spell in the early morning till 0830, ... Water temp temp for DeltaLuke and I has dropped up here back to 72-74 on the main channels (Connection, Old, Middle, Franks) -- I imaginge more westarly water is even cooler now.


Last week durring the heat wave they were still just "sucking it down" at mid/low tide in the south delta. -- Today they were doing the same with a Vixen .... No explosion of attacks -- Just more area to work with between the rocks to the first weed line.... and at high tide across the weed line off shore by up to 10 yards.


Most were all on suck-downs ~ and 2 real "blow-up's" came within 4-6' from shore for us today. Between rocks and tule pockets/outcroppings. All the smoke in the air this morning also made for a fake cloud cover I would imagine ?


Waisted alot of time this morning after 0815 by some coves as well today that I never fished before - but drive by all the time and think to myself Hmmm..... Nice hole in the back -- Water was just really muddy.... Mabey even two muddy or they are sucking up the bait that is in that hole ??



Hell if I know other than DeltaLuke and I had a Blast of a day today fishing with Family ~ and each Other !!

[Marty]

It was not covered by the posts above so I will cover it! One of the basics of a good hook set. I have seen anglers especially when walking the frog and the tip of the rod is pointed down and the line (braid) is lose because of the loop to walk the frog. 9 out of 10 time, if the angler is startled when the Bass explode on the frog they swing the rod to the side and not up! If you think about old bucket mouth he has a rigid body and does not move his head up and down to good but will move it side to side with ease (it is how a Bass body is made). When you set with the rod to the side with a lose line you will miss 99% of your blow ups.

Set with the rod from left to right or like normal anglers right to left (depending if your right or left handed) over the shoulder. My set is from my right hip to my left shoulder in an upward swing. Your rod handle should be under your arm with the butt of the handle almost to your elbow. This will bring the hook to the top of the mouth of the bass and a better chance of a good hook set. When that Bass explode on the frog, his first movement is back down to safety. In this position the Bass can move side to side but can’t move its head up leaving the Bass pulling down on the frog.

IMO – you need a longer rod. The reason is a longer rod will pull more line then a shorter rod. To prove this lay down two rods side by side, one a 7’ 6â€

[aNNieNsaLTIE]

after throwing that frog a little more.you'll know. My biggest on a frog is 7lbs. nothing like the rest of the river rats arounds here.
comparing that moment to every moment before, there is a difference.

second get a follow up bait.

third i always keep a little slack. with braid when 6 - 8 inches of slack tightens up i think that is enough of a green light for me to set the hook.

then again i am not a pro nor do i fish every week or every other week.

good luck,
Steven

[Tin Can]

You can bend the hooks on the frog out (to the side not up) just a little to get better hook ups too. Just so the points are a little farther off the body, so they don't have to crush the frog as hard to get a hook in.

[Iafrate94505]

You can bend the hooks on the frog out just a little to get better hook ups too. Just so the points are a little farther off the body, so they don't have to crush the frog as hard to get a hook in.

that dosnt work.

[Tin Can]

You can bend the hooks on the frog out just a little to get better hook ups too. Just so the points are a little farther off the body, so they don't have to crush the frog as hard to get a hook in.

that dosnt work.

Ok sure.

[TomL]

For those of you who really want to understand Frog fishing - the best thing to do is hitch a ride with someone who knows how to fish them. A frog is a different monster than a popper, a spook, a buzzbait etc... you need to work it different - throw it in different areas, have the right equipment and most importantly understand the hookset.

A trip with Dan Mathisen wouldn't be a bad idea for someone who wants to learn to catch frog fish. If you don't have a friend or someone willing to take you out to show you the ropes - it might be the best $$$ you spend all year. Besides technique related stuff - I am sure he'll show you some good Delta water as well!

I spent 100's of days on the water with nothing but a frog teaching myself - it was painful at times and I could have cut that learning curve down in huge chunks had I gone frog fishing with someone like Dan.

Just my .02.

[BassinDan]

splash,,,,,,,,pause,,,,,,,set. It's hard to get used to. It's not waiting to feel the fish "all" of the time. Watch your line after the splash, fish miss frogs, but if you get used to watching your line and lure, and leave it there after the initial strike if it didn't get it, you could end up with a second chance at that fish intead of dodging a flying frog.

[Otay Michael]

I think it's time for an annual "frog using hook-set contest"!!!

I'll donate a $10,000 piece of my art to the winner. I bet Tom L. will donate some Quantum gear (Tom, got a 4 and a 6.9 today on that new pole, thanks).

[bassaddicted]

If you miss it throw the frog back "over" the spot you got the bite, retrieve the frog the same way you were when you got the bite, but when you get back to the spot you got the bite or a foot or so before the spot stop for a second but be ready, if you dont get a strike twitch it just enough to move it and get ready. I've noticed sometimes they miss it cause I'm going to fast. I'm far from being a pro but this works for me alot. Hope this helps.

[Otay Michael]

We are not talking missing it, we are talking about taking it down and mouthing it. Usually they will not hit it again once they do, that is why most of us follow up with a different bait (Ika, senko, etc.) and then get them that way. I'd say about 25% of the time you can get them to take the next bait offered. YOU?

Oh, when they are on it, and you miss it, you can many times come back a little later and they will go for it again.

[dgoldston7]

Throwing a frog is inherent with missing fish, everyone does. The first time i got my dad on a good frog bite he missed 20-25 good strikes in a row. The best thing to do is every time you miss a fish that actually ate the frog, remember what you did and do SOMETHING different on the next blow up. When you do hook up (and you will) remember exactly what you did and duplicate it on the next blow up. I think the biggest thing that helps me is i do not set the hook unless i actually see the bass eat the frog. Hope this helps