Nothing Beats a Frog Bite Early in the Year!

Oh, the signs of spring…the days getting longer, the trees blooming, and bass bite heating up. After a long winter hiatus of fishing, many anglers resume bass fishing as if they had never stopped fishing last fall. But many anglers leave the lures that they used last fall in their tackle box. A technique that has worked for me has been thinking outside the box and going overhead for spring bass.

 

With the warmer water temperatures, the activity levels of bass also increase. Several key characteristics that an angler should look for are water temperatures that are generally warmer than other portions of the lake or river they are fishing. New emerging vegetation is another key characteristic that these bass will key in on. Shallow water bays and sections of shoreline that have new lily pad or grass growth are examples of areas that bass will be holding around.

 

Once I have located bass in these areas, I put three types of lures to use. The first being a staple lure in the bass fishing world, a buzzbait. A buzzbait is a good choice when the bass are very active and are willing to chase down the bait. A small, ¼ ounce, compact profile buzzbait, is my choice because these fish are still not in their summer feeding mode. Color choice will vary, based on the water conditions and preference of the angler. Light colors such as white and white with chartreuse are my two my personal favorites.

 

Over the past couple years the development and popularization of the soft plastic frog has greatly increased! These frog baits have become very popular because they sputter across the top of the water and call bass to the top. There are numerous companies that make their own version of these soft plastic frogs, all have their own unique action. Some of these frogs have feet that make a buzzing noise, while others make a gurgling sound. Selecting a frog may come down to what you have confidence in, or if you pay close attention the bass will tell you how noisy they want the presentation to be.

 

A Gambler Cane Toad comes in a variety of colors and has an action that drives the bass wild. I like this frog because I can reel it in slowly, while the legs of the bait still produce a gurgling noise. However if the bass are more active and want a different presentation, I can burn it back to the boat and the frog sounds more like a buzzbait.

 

A key to this presentation is using an extra wide gap hook, such as the L7092 by Eagle Claw in a 4/0 or 5/0. The large hook allows an angler to get a solid hook set that will help bring that bass to the boat. On sunny days, a light colored frog, such as white or brown pepper works best. If it is cloudy, a dark colored frog, such as green pumpkin or black does well.

 

As the spring progress’s and the vegetation continues to mat up, I will switch from a soft plastic frog to a traditional hollow bodied plastic frog. The Snag Proof Ish’s Phat Frog is great for these situations because it has a flat, sleek profile so it will track better through the vegetation. The Ish’s Phat Frog also features the new Inner Tube Technology (ITT) which means there is a separate chamber for the hook and eye tie. Now this frog is completely sealed off and no water can get it, making it virtually unsinkable. This increases the performance and hook up percentage of the frog!

 

Regardless of what frog style I am fishing I can retrieve it in different ways, from casting it out and buzzing it across the top of the water as fast as you can reel or just swimming at a normal retrieve. Each method can work but let the bass tell you what retrieve they want. 

 

Another important note about your gear when fishing these frogs is to use a line that allows you to cast your bait far away from the boat, but yet has the strength to get a bass out of the cover, I would recommend 30 lb. Power Pro.

 

The other lure that has helped me catch numerous bass in the spring is a RC Tackle swimming jig. For this application, I like to use a 1/8 oz. jig that has a light weed guard and a fine wire hook. This allows me to retrieve my jig just below the surface and just above the emerging vegetation. If the bass are in an aggressive mood, you will be able to buzz your jig just below the surface, which some may call “bulging” the surface. However, if the bass become more finicky, you will have to swim your jig slower and let it tick the new vegetation.

 

Colors again will depend on the water clarity and the weather conditions. Some select colors that I have had success with are white, white/chartreuse, and jigs that represent a bluegill. Sometimes it is best to have a jig and grub combination that mimics the forage the bass are feeding on, while other times a more stand out color combination will grab that bass’s attention better.

 

The fantastic trio, as I like to call em, all has a place in a bass anglers tackle box. When you choose to use them is up to. Soon enough, we will all be on the water chasing after bass, I look forward to seeing you on the water!