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in short, first time targetting largemouth with frogs, 2 outings, 1 for 15 on hooksets on mostly largemouths (some pike). The 3 second rule was not respected on about half those hooksets but what about the rest? Could it be that I absolutely need to set the hook vertcially not horizontally? I'm using a flipping stick for lack of a better rod so my hooksets have lots of power, could they be too strong? I've been using, Spro and Snag Proof (I think) frogs. Any advice greatly appreciated...or if anyone wants to come fish in Rockland and give me a lesson, let me know. Thanks in advance and tight lines,

Yannick

sometimes have to do with the size of the fish.

small fish will make big boils and have trouble inhailing the lure.

and other times the bite is light.

thats the truth about frogs.

dont think you going to land 90% of the bass

some days they take it right in the roof of there mouth tho.

it all depends.

you can go back tommorow same erea and get 75 % hook set.

keep it up . dont give up.

24/7 is bang on....

Somedays they just eat it.....somedays they just seems to push it around to basically tell the frog to frog off...

The 3 second thing is bit whacked if ya ask me.....when ya feel weight after a blowup.....hit it....simple as that really....

RJ

I had one afternoon that the bass would come up under the frog and just suck it in. I don't go the 3 sec. rule either it's let him go until you feel him then set the hook.

Look at your set-up too.

Braided line ?

Good quality baitcaster reel..........DRAG SET PROPERLY !!!

Med-Heavy rod with a fast tip. Great whip for distance on the cast, sensitive enough to feel the weight when he slams the bait and good backbone to set the hook and winch him outta' the slop.

Yes, your rod could be a bit heavy, but all the points about the fussy fish apply too. Some days they'll just be slapping the bait to stun it.........

T

30 lbs power pro, pflueger baitcaster, 6.3 : 1, drag set too tight maybe? There's barely any drag

It all sounds good except just maybe the rod ..........too heavy ? (stiff).

I use 50 lb power pro..........but 30 seems ok too.

But practice, practice and more practice.

Check your lures too...........sometimes the hook points get embedded in the plastic of the lure.

Have fun, fish hard.

I fish in the same neck of the woods as you, and have had pretty much the same luck with frogs this year. So many boils, so few fish in the boat. I suspect the murky Ottawa River also affects the Bass' ability to target the frogs. I'm going to be cutting down the legs on my Spro Frogs so that the target is a bit smaller which should help.

The thing that sucks with the bass is that once they miss, they won't come back, whereas the pike will just keep on circling back which is pretty exciting...

Good luck

The thing that sucks with the bass is that once they miss, they won't come back,

Chuck a weedless tube/creature/senko/worm to the spot where they missed. You'll probably find the bass didn't go anywhere.

I have a better hook up ratio with the scum frogs (I'd say about 90%). Your right about the small bass, they just can't get it in too them. You must use braided line, it's the only way to go. I like power pro. Its hard to wait 3 seconds when a fish smashed the frog, I wait about a second then drive the hooks home. You will find that you catch all the fish in the roof of the mouth. good luck

I just started trying this as well and I am 0 for 15 or so. I think it is my rod. I do not have a medium heavy or heavy except for trolling so I have been using a medium. I am sure as I set the hook the rod bends just enough to let the fish know something is a miss here. But even after all this I am loving the top water fishing. Just the opportunity to see the big boil or splash gets the heart pounding.

First off, 3 second rule is bullSh*&.

Getting a solid hookset with Kermit requires 3 basic rules

1) A solid commitment from the fish. If he doesn't try and eat it, you won't stick 'em no matter what else.

2) Being in position to set the hook. This is where most people fail. You have to pay attention the entire time. Yes, we all like to take in nature, chat with our partner and day dream about boobies, but you have to be ready to swing. This means keeping your rod pointed at the frog with no slack in the line. Your shoulders must be square. You have to be ready to make a hard upward sweep with the rod.

3) Set the hook like this;

A) Fish blows up on bait.

B) Quickly start cranking up slack until you can feel him.

C) Set in an upward motion as hard as you can.

D) If you are deep in the slop get him out quick so you don't have to fight against 20lbs of wet vegetation to land him.

Rod length and power is up to you. I use a 7.1:1 reel and 50lb Sonic Braid. Whatever braid you use for frogs, make sure it has some texture to it. This will help cut right through weeds if you gt bogged down.

I fish topwaters much the same way (with lighter tackle obviously) and I hook up pretty well. Keep at it! Practice Practice Practice.

great tips pike puncher, I'll have a couple days off this week, hopefully I'll be able to post some pics of my first topwater largies. I know I got hits from good sized bass earlier this week, and now that I know where they are, they're in BIG trouble .

FWIW I use a 7'6" XH stick....

Forget frogs on the Lower Ottawa, you need logs!