Top frog picks for lily pads in mid‑spring 🎣
Mid‑spring is prime frog time. Bass stage a loud ambush around pad edges, pockets, and holes, so your best bet is hollow‑body topwater frogs that walk, pop, and punch through light to moderate mat. Here’s a practical game plan with solid lure choices and how to fish them efficiently.
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Hollow Body Frog (weedless topwater) — this is the workhorse around pads. The hollow body collapses on a bite for solid hookups, and the weedless design lets you work right into the edge of pads. Go with 2.5–4 inches depending on bass size and pad density. Try the LIVETARGET Hollow Body Frog for authentic action, or grab a couple of your favorite brands. Hollow Body Frog and Hollow Body Frog – LIVETARGET Lures are solid options to start with. Hollow Body Frog Hollow Body Frog - LIVETARGET Lures
- Tip: fish it fast along the pad edge, then pause and let the body propace and breathe—the pause often triggers a thump on the follow‑through.
- If you’re on Amazon: check weedless hollow body frogs in packs to tune to your local water color. Weedless Topwater Frog Lures - 5PCS Hollow Body Frog Lures
- Visuals: videos that show the edge‑of‑pads bite and walk‑the‑frog action are a great reference. Topwater Bass Fishing in Lily Pads Poppin' Frog Tips & Techniques
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Recon Frog (weedless with leg action) — a great option when pads are dense or you want a slightly different glide. The legs push water and create vibration to draw bites from bass hiding in thick cover. Recon Frog
- Pro tip: rig it so the legs kick with every mend; pair with a scent or a short pause to entice reaction strikes around pad edges. Recon Frog
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Lunker Frog / analogous premium hollow bodies — these are built for tough cover and can punch through lighter mats or sit just above the pad tops where bass wait. Great when the water is stained and you need extra visibility. Lunker Frog
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Colors and sizes for mid‑spring — go natural to match real frogs: greens, olive, and browns with a touch of chartreuse or white belly for brighter days. In stained water, darker shades can pop; in clearish water, natural greens work best. Start with 2.5–3.5 inch models and scale up if big females are patrolling the pads.
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Retrieves that work — walk the dog with short, quick twitches; mix in short pauses to trigger reaction strikes; on calmer mornings, a steady wake can be deadly. If the pad mat is thick, don’t be afraid to slide into the edge and pop the frog over the mat’s edge before pulling it back. For thicker mats, punch with a weedless rig and a heavier rod; this is the move many anglers use to reach fish sitting just behind the mats. See-proven tips and setups in the frog‑fishing videos above for real‑world cadence.
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Quick setup notes: 7'–7'4" medium/heavy rod, 50–65 lb braided line, and a weedless frog with strong hooks. Have a backup rod ready for a switch to a heavier jig or a punch rig if the pads get dense.
If you want to nerd out on gear, the linked products and videos are a gold mine for solid frog options and on‑pad cadence. Now grab your rod, hit the lilies, and go make those big bites happen. Tight lines and happy frogs! 🐸💥
