Frogging OUTSIDE the BOX!

[analfisherman]

Hollow Body....Replacing Legs

We all sooner or later have to replace the legs (skirts) on our hollow bodies. We have all heard how to 'replace' old torn up skirt legs with a new 5-6 inch skirt. Everyone other than Lou, he has to replace the WHOLE FROG due to the amount of Bass he catches on them. 

But we often don't have a bunch of skirts laying around or they are short jig skirts if we do.
Here's something I recommend you try next time.

Everyone's seen the 'quick skirts' for swapping out hairpin spinner baits and Buzzbaits and Jigs. (Terminator, StrikeKing, to name a few).

Next time you are replacing them give this a try.
Take the quick skirt, reverse it (Put on backwards) and stick it over the nubs on the hollow body frog leg where the skirt usually comes out of.
By 'REVERSING' them, when you do your jerking/snapping or 'Walking the Dog' presentation the skirt bunches and clumps together making them thin and pointed like a frogs legs and at rest they 'flare out' giving a following Bass an enticing, moving action that will trigger a bite instead of waiting and watching till it moves again and hitting the tail end of frog and allowing for fewer hock ups! 

Before pulling it over the nub take some Super glue (I use Gorilla Glue) and brush it around the nub.
You can also slip it over and put the glue on/around the skirt collar where it snugs the leg nub.
This is easier when you do it the first couple of times. But I glue front end and back end of the collar providing a better hold.

To plug the hole simply cut a tail piece off a plastic stick-bait. Senkos and others have a pointed (sort of) tail piece making inserting it into the nub easier.
But if you have or want to get (at any dollar surplus type store the old fashion pencil sharpeners. You know the ones that are like an inch long and you insert the pencil tip in and turn/twist it, shaving off the wood and creating a point on the pencil) you can just insert the plastic stick bait in and make it pointed.
The plastic will make it more buoyant allowing the frog to lay 'flatter' at rest.
Again, be sure to 'glue' the plastic before inserting, actually, you should put a couple of squirts after inserting too.

If you prefer the frogs rear to sit low in the water, stick some glass tube rattles in the nub's hole.
This creates weight and noise. I add rattles to ALL my hollow bodies unless they come with them already.
BUT again, seal the rattle/plastic with glue preventing the frog from taking in water.

You just may find out you'PREFER' these legs to the traditional skirt legs.

Last but not least, you can cut the head off a Tube Bait and slip it over the nubs too.
Don't forget to seal with glue!

NEXT, MAKING YOUR FROG HOP

Now this is for the anglers who like to frog in open water. (It's becoming very popular)
Often this is done on the edges of vegetation.
This is an old 'fly fishing' technique/secret.

Take the 'plastic cover' of a lure box.
Cut a circle out, anywhere from the size of a nickle to the size of a quarter.
Cut a slit in the middle of circle and slide the eye (where you tie the line to) through the slit.
I put a drop of glue here  after inserting the eye through.

Now cast out.
Let it sit a moment and then pop it hard.
The frog hops out of the water.

The final Tip is for Plastic Buzz Frogs (Ribbits, Sizmics, etc.)

Now I get plenty of Bass fishing these the traditional method BUT my ALL TIME favorite and most successful is...

I like to slow buzz them to the biggest Lily Pad I can find.
I pull the Ribbit up onto the pad.
I than jiggle the frog from far side to near side.
This can be done by just hard jiggle the rod tip.

Stop periodically, very briefly and resume jiggle.

When you reach the near end of pad, jiggle the Sizmic off edge and give it extreme slack line.
this can be done by actually releasing/freeing up line off the spool before you slide it off the edge.

Let the Sizmic just sink...no action AT ALL.
It will dive nose first with it's legs just barely thumping/jiggling towards the bottom.
Amazing how many Bass I've caught doing this when they wouldn't follow and strike it while swiming.

This works GREAT if you got a large group of pads where the leaves touch one another too.
Jiggle it across the clump and let it 'die right at the edge once cleared.

My guess is it will work crossing mats too, we just don't have a ton of mats up here. 

Hope these give someone/everyone a new idea the next time your Frogging!         

[Mike Cork]

Great Stuff

[Capt. BassinLou]

Lol... Anal, thanks for the shout out!!

[SFL BassHunter]

Great post Anal! Those are excellent tips!

Here is something a lot of people might never try, using one of those sizmic frogs as a jig trailer. I've only used it a few times and have had success with it. It just isn't something that comes to mind when you are looking through your tackle box for trailers.

[analfisherman]

Being 'anal' I've even swam them on a weighted swimbait hook.
1/16 Mustad adjustable.
Then when I stop the swim depending on where I place the weight I can have it nose dive or even whole body flat sink.
Legs will always kick on fall.

I usually use Ribbits just because they are thicker but as a trailer I too prefer Sizmics.

The sizmics are actually made 45 min. from my home.
I've tour the plant even.
In the 'old days' they would actually let us go through the warehouse ( some one went along) and we would actually take things right off the warehouse shelves.
Uncle Josh is in the same factory.

GREAT addition RICK!
Thanks!

[SFL BassHunter]

Being 'anal' I've even swam them on a weighted swimbait hook.
1/16 Mustad adjustable.
Then when I stop the swim depending on where I place the weight I can have it nose dive or even whole body flat sink.
Legs will always kick on fall.

I usually use Ribbits just because they are thicker but as a trailer I too prefer Sizmics.

The sizmics are actually made 45 min. from my home.
I've tour the plant even.
In the 'old days' they would actually let us go through the warehouse ( some one went along) and we would actually take things right off the warehouse shelves.
Uncle Josh is in the same factory.

GREAT addition RICK!
Thanks!

I was using Sizmic as an example. Any buzzing frog will work, I have actually used the BassPro brand. They are a harder body and stand up to more abuse.