My thoughts on frogs

[keithdog]

The term match the hatch is often used and I believe it definately has merit in many cases. Especially with slower moving swim baits, stick baits, jigs and so on. However, the thought has come to mind lately that fishing frogs isn't one of them. Now I may be wayyyy off base, but here's my take. Take a look at the Spro frog lineup. There are so many wild and exotic color patterns to choose from, most of which have never been seen on any frog except perhaps some exotic species in the amazon jungle. White with bright red stripes? What kind of frog looks like that? While in BPS yesterday, I was looking at the new Koppers frog and admiring their realistic looks. Definately great looking frogs meant to fool the wariest of bass. But does it really? Is it at all necessary? I contend it's not. Give a bass something to eat that he can engulf and looks alive and chances are he will hit it if he's in the feeding mood. How many bass have ever even seen a frog? I bet most bass have NEVER seen a frog in their lives. When is the last time you ever saw a frog swimming any further from shore than a foot or so? I've never seen a frog sunning itself in the middle of a lilly pad field. I've never seen a frog swimming along 12 foot from shore where the preditors live. Frogs are extremely cautious critters. They spend most of their lives on the bank, or within a few inches of the bank partly submerged. Now Herons and racoons definately eat their share of frogs, but bass??? About the only time a frog leaves the security of the shoreline is when they feel threatened and scamper into the mud and cover within a foot or two of the bank. They lay and fertilize their eggs in very shallow water pools, not out in 6 foot depths where bass may be lurking. Do frogs make a great live bait? You bet they do. But not because bass love eatting them, but rather, a frog out in open water is an easy meal for any bass with an appetite. They are fairly slow moving compared to small fish and offer a good sized meal. To the bass, this means only one thing, an opportunity to eat something. Don't know what it is, but it's eddible. At least the bass thinks so. What I'm getting at is that while there is certainly nothing wrong with trying to imitate a live frog, making them look super realistic is really more about catching the fisherman than the fish. I'm more concerned about the "fishability" of a frog bait. Size, action, hook up ratio, weedlessness, things like that. I can go out with a black or white frog and one or the other or both will take fish. I still would prefer to fish with a frog that looks at least somewhat realistic only because it has a natural look to it, and thus "may" be more appealing to preditor fish. But it may not really be a big deal. What color will be more visible to bass under certain conditions is probably what we need to consider when choosing a frog to fish with at any particular moment. If the ultra realistic frogs are going to give a bass angler more confidence then it will catch bass for him because he's going to be working that frog longer and harder than he would if he didn't have faith in it. And I guess thats the most important thing when it comes to any lure design and color.