How the @#$%^do ya hook a fish on a topwater toad??

[RedneckfromRI]

I am at a point where I may just stop even trying to catch them on any of the toad baits(Ribbits, Cane Toads, HornyToads etc)

I have the right hooks and equipment....have tried the treble hook trailer hook and a few different ways of reacting to the strike......

My guess is its not an easy bait to hook up with if the fish are on the small side.......


Whats everyones thoughts on this????

[HeavyMetalBassinKing]

I actually just got my confidence built up in these things this Saturday...
It was an overcast day and we were fishing buzzbaits and hollow body frogs around the weeds...caught a few here and there, but they had slacked off, so I tied on a Yum Buzzfrog
We went to our next spot and right off I threw to a little patch of weeds and one hit it...I made sure the fish had it, and then set the hook...if I hadn't got that one to hit I'd probably switched back to a buzzbait or something
Anyway, I ended up getting a lot of strikes but only managed 4 fish on it...so I see what your saying

I guess you just have to make sure they take it, just like with a buzzbait?

[Pat Cella]

Simply wait until you feel the fish before you set the hook. If you do this you will hardly ever miss one.

[RedneckfromRI]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cobraman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Simply wait until you feel the fish before you set the hook. If you do this you will hardly ever miss one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I let a fish take the bait in free spool for a good 4' set on it and felt the fish and then came back with nothing more than my hook and toad?

[Ouachita]

That's the best way I know of to do it. It's hard to have the patience to wait for a bass to take off with a soft topwater, but if you don't it'll pop out. Let the bass eat it. You'll just know when it's obvious a hook is already partly set. Bass love to chew on those frogs. When they start chewing that hook is going to find home in there. When the bass turns and applies some real pull, set the hook hard. All that takes maybe 2-4 seconds, sometimes longer. I put some sponge inside soaked with attractant so when the bass chomps down he gets a real good taste, making him not turn loose.

Jim

[BIG'O']

As soon as I can feel the fish I swing for the fence! Never really had any problem with hookset this way.

[LaCajuninNC]

fish with your rod tip high, like your moving a worm..when the fish hits drop your rod tip it will give a little slack when you feel the line tighten again swing for the fences and don't stop reeling until they are clear from the grass or other structure. Try fishing at night..I really learned how to fish a frog at night..If you can't see, you have to rely more on feel, and it will help you to know when you get a hook up, and increase your hook-up rate..Are you using braid??..Mono will streach and not get the hooking power you want..and yes but not least is the size of the fish, but if they are at least 12-14 inches you should be getting hook-ups..

[sjpg77]

I'm glad someone brought this up because i have had some blow ups and can never set the hook. Thanks Russ. By the way the other day i was whatching espn2 and they had a tip on this, about fishing a frogs... They took a treble hook cut one of the hooks off and attached it the the legs of the frog.
They slid the treble on the frog hook and the secured it with something (not sure what is was) then with the treble hanging there he then attached the hooks to the legs...but the frog was still getting that swiming action. Anyone know of this trick and a picture of it would be great.....Maybe you can try this....

[StratosNCO]

Are you using braided line? I lost most of my frog fish until i switched. Other than that, wait until you feel the fish before you set the hook.

[Buggs Islander]

I really started loving these lures late last year...it is really one of my topwater go-to baits now...

I missed a bunch of fish on frogs last year and got very frustrated too...I had to remind myself for the 1st 10-15 casts EVERYTIME I fished them that no matter how big a blowup, I will keep winding at the same speed after the blowup until I feel the weight on the rod...then I set the hook fast and hard... I agree if you reel with your rod tip up, that gives you some room to reel down to hookset position and usually by the time you get to the bottom, you can feel him...

Also, if he really does miss it, and you don't jerk it away and just keep reeling...he will come back and hit it again a good % of the time...Easier said that done, and I will still pull the trigger too early sometimes if it is 5:45AM and the coffee hasn't done it's thing , but once you start catching consistent fish this way...there isn't a more fun method in my opinion...topwater strike and TX rig hookset!!!

[Santeerangerman]

I tie a POP-R on a SWEET little 6'6" St Croix rod someone built.

I get plenty of hook ups, and rarely loose a fish. Just ask Basser201.

[wishiniwasfishin]

I had the same problem until I changed my setup. Now I use a 7' med heavy/heavy with lots of back bone and power pro braided line, with this and learning to wait until i feel the fish I am having a lot better success with my hook sets. As mentioned i keep my rod tip pointed up and drop it just before i set the hook.