Frog Gets Bites, But Hook Doesn't Set. 2025
jeremysayshi reply :
So I've been using a standard plastic frog with the double hooks curling that curl up onto the top, snugged close to the body.
It's setup basically so when the fish chomps down, the body will collapse and hook em.
I'm getting tons of nice hits in the lily pads with this thing, but it seems that every time they take it, the hook won't set. I've tried everything I can think of. I've snatched it at soon as they hit it. I've tried letting them have it for a bit then setting. I've tried a soft set and hard set.
Every stinkin time I try to set it comes out of their mouth and I lose the fish. Some of these are good size bass so I know it's not a mouth size issue. I even sharpened the hooks up real nice.
Can anyone give me some pointers? Is there something about using a frog that I'm doing wrong when trying to set?
telmomarques reply :
you should use a heavy action rod with 50-65 lbs braid, set the hook when you feel the fish
jeremysayshi reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:19 AM, telmomarques said:you should use a heavy action rod with 50-65 lbs braid, set the hook when you feel the fish
Hmmm. I'm using medium action with 6lbs. So that could be a problem. However the line isn't snapping, it feels like a hard set but perhaps not hard enough. A lot of the time I don't feel the fish, except after they've had it for a sec. Is that the sweet spot...after they've taken it for like 3 secds and I can feel it tugging?
Vinny Chase reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:19 AM, telmomarques said:you should use a heavy action rod with 50-65 lbs braid, set the hook when you feel the fish
The POWER should be Heavy, not the action....fast action is what you want. Also, use a 7'6" rod or longer to horse those fish out of the heavy cover. I always count to 3 after the attack, make sure I feel them on the other end, then load up on them.
BTW, always use a palomar knot.
Vinny Chase reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:23 AM, jeremysayshi said:Hmmm. I'm using medium action with 6lbs. So that could be a problem. However the line isn't snapping, it feels like a hard set but perhaps not hard enough. A lot of the time I don't feel the fish, except after they've had it for a sec. Is that the sweet spot...after they've taken it for like 3 secds and I can feel it tugging?
You are using a setup that most would use for dropshotting to frog fish...that is only going to lead to heartache.
telmomarques reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:23 AM, jeremysayshi said:Hmmm. I'm using medium action with 6lbs. So that could be a problem. However the line isn't snapping, it feels like a hard set but perhaps not hard enough. A lot of the time I don't feel the fish, except after they've had it for a sec. Is that the sweet spot...after they've taken it for like 3 secds and I can feel it tugging?
i use 7'6 heavy, xf with 50 lb sunline fx2 braid because braid doesnt stretch and it will provide good hooksets, plus braid do float which is big plus for topwater baits
as for pop-r baits i use mh rod with 20 lbs braid
jeremysayshi reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:31 AM, Vinny Chase said:The POWER should be Heavy, not the action....fast action is what you want. Also, use a 7'6" rod or longer to horse those fish out of the heavy cover. I always count to 3 after the attack, make sure I feel them on the other end, then load up on them.
BTW, always use a palomar knot.
Very good suggestions, thanks. I'll go out and get me a 7 footer. Never thought about actually counting to 3. I'll try these suggestions, thanks again!
jeremysayshi reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:40 AM, telmomarques said:i use 7'6 heavy, xf with 50 lb sunline fx2 braid because braid doesnt stretch and it will provide good hooksets, plus braid do float which is big plus for topwater baits
as for pop-r baits i use mh rod with 20 lbs braid
Nice. I've been fishing all my life, but it's always been "the good ol' boys" style. I have 3 poles on spoil of 6lb, and a tackle box. I just throw whatever I feel looks halfway right (like a frog in pads). Just this year I'm starting to really get serious about going after the big fish, and I'm looking at learning the ropes for patterns and so forth and maybe do some amateur tourneys.
I've got a feeling this forum is the right place to be.
telmomarques reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:45 AM, jeremysayshi said:Nice. I've been fishing all my life, but it's always been "the good ol' boys" style. I have 3 poles on spoil of 6lb, and a tackle box. I just throw whatever I feel looks halfway right (like a frog in pads). Just this year I'm starting to really get serious about going after the big fish, and I'm looking at learning the ropes for patterns and so forth and maybe do some amateur tourneys.
I've got a feeling this forum is the right place to be.
i was once like you 2 years ago, this place helps me a lot but i suggest you look into the fishing articles which is on the top of this website. it have helped me to use the lures/rod correctely
jeremysayshi reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:53 AM, telmomarques said:i was once like you 2 years ago, this place helps me a lot but i suggest you look into the fishing articles which is on the top of this website. it have helped me to use the lures/rod correctely
Yea, I've been browsing through them, really good stuff.
cfebraio reply :
65# braid is a must when frog fishing because mono or floro has a bit of a stretch to it which can easily give the fish that extra half a second to spit out the bait before you can drive the hooks home.
airborne_angler reply :
Good way to learn a topwater hooksets is to give em a go at night. In that scenario,you really have no choice but to wait to feel the fish prior to setting the hook. In the daylight,people tend to set the hook based on seeing the strike,which can be to early. At night,you'll be using your hearing senses as well as your feeling senses to time the hookset. Give that a try,make a good effort to memorize that technique,and put it to use during daytime outings while throwing topwater baits.
ClackerBuzz reply :
2x braid and heavy action rod. big fish have thick lips/cartilage. you don't have the power to drive thick frog hooks thru their lips. more important than counting...wait until you feel the WEIGHT of the fish on ur line. then swing for the fences!
you're missing out on the best frog fishing by only using 6lb test in open water. get back in the dirty slop and lily pads etc. thats where the frog fishing shines!
Edited by ClackerBuzzhatrix reply :
After training my self to count when they grab my frog my % of hookups sky rocketed. Braid is also a must for me. My rod tip is down when they grab it but I lower or more or lean towards them. That's 1. Then I give some quick turn of the handle to take up slack. That's 2. Then I stand back up and hammer it home. That's 3.
gobig reply :
I don't count, I don't wait until I feel the fish. If I can't see the frog I cross their eyes. If you are waiting for the fish to load up the rod you are going to miss some big ones.
LunkerLust reply :
This can be the most frustrating way to fish, you get twenty hits in the course of the day, and come away with only a couple of fish. I think what happens, most of the time, is that they just miss the bait.
To add a little to all the good advise so far, after the splash, I don't count, but wait until the line gets heavy, then wham!
Also, your new 7' rod should have a baitcasting reel on it, don't remember if that was mentioned. I learned the hard way, breaking a few spinning reels, trying to horse big fish out of the pads.
JellyMan reply :
I have never caught a fish on the Spro frog. They hit it but dont take it. It always shows up back on the surface before I set the hook. No issues with any top water except the Spro frog
buzzfrog reply :
froggin is adicting, and yea get a fast reel and H rod, i use the 7:3 gear ratio, i wish you luck in ya frogging
hike4steel reply :
Jeremy, understand that usually when the bass hits the frog, it will hit the first time to stun or injure the prey. It will the then swirl away, circle around and actually take it on the sceond strike. Thats when you will feel the weight of the fish on your line. Thats when you put the braid and heavy action rod you just bougt to good use and set that hook hard.
buzzfrog reply :
hey not to hijack, but how do ya use your pliers to pull the hooks. do you do it up or out
smalljaw67 reply :
You got great advise, a 7' heavy power fast action rod is a good rod to use, some like the long 7'6" and longer but it isn't required, personally I have more control with a 7' frog rod than I do with anything longer. I use 30lb. braid unless the cover I'm fishing is really heavy like a football field of matted grass, that is when I use 50lb. but there is only 2 places that I fish like that os I don't have a big need for super heavy stuff.
unionman reply :
On 5/25/2012 at 12:31 AM, Vinny Chase said:The POWER should be Heavy, not the action....fast action is what you want. Also, use a 7'6" rod or longer to horse those fish out of the heavy cover. I always count to 3 after the attack, make sure I feel them on the other end, then load up on them.
BTW, always use a palomar knot.
X2 my exact thoughts
A-Rob reply :
another problem solved!
iceintheveins reply :
Your only problem is the gear. Go with a heavy power rod and at least 50# braid. You will do fine after that, although missing some strikes is part of frogging. Casting gear is best.
iceintheveins reply :
The only thing I use 6 pound line for is drop shotting, zara puppies, deep finesse plastics, and light balsa cranks.
out_doors_guy reply :
As others have said, your rod and line are to light for this type of fishing. A heavy or medium heavy fast action rod preferably 7' and MUCH heavier line will be a big help. As far as the hook-set, I always delay my hook-set until I feel the fish. Bass often smack the bait first, as if trying to stun it then circle back to eat it.
guest reply :
Frog rod attributes:
It needs to be long for pulling the fish out of cover and taking up a lot of line on the hooksets. I like a 7' - 7' 6" rod.
It needs to have a good backbone for solid hooksets and pulling fish out of cover.
It needs to have a soft enough tip so you can launch the frog way back into cover.
It does not need to be sensitive if it is strictly a top water rod, you can save some money here.
Frog fishing with mono is asking for hook up problems. I get frog hits from up to 100ft away, I can't expect to get a good hook set with a 100ft rubber band between my rod and the fish. Even if you do manage to set the hook, good luck getting a big boy back to the boat once he gets tangled in vegetation. Braid is the way to go on all non treble hook top water lures imo, especially those used in heavy cover.
The hookset has to be hard and I find that waiting three seconds is often too long with a hollow body frog. The fish will spit them out pretty quickly. As soon as I see a blowup I simultaneously look for my frog and reel up slack. If I feel the fish or have minimal line slack and can't see my frog I immediately set the hook.
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