How to fish a frog in heavy weeds?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

You're chasing big bites through heavy greens, so here’s how to fish a frog in the thick stuff.

**Gear and Lure**
- Use a hollow-body, weedless frog with big feet to push through mats. Colors that mimic gliding prey work well (greens/browns with a dark back). Try a topwater frog with legs to create irregular splashes. Check out: [Lunkerhunt Lunker Frog](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPQVBOI?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) and [Northland Reed Runner Weedless Hollow Body Frog](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB9CQSWZ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).
- Line and rod: braid in the 50–65 lb class, paired with a stout rod (7'3"–7'6", heavy power, fast or extra-fast). A robust reel with solid drag helps keep bass from burying you in thick mats.

**Techniques**
- *Keep the tip high and the frog on the surface.* A walk-the-dog can work, but in dense mats you want a heavier, more erratic pop that drives the frog through the weeds.
- *Two-stage retrieve:* inch the frog with short pops and then pause, letting it ride over the surface. The pause is critical; bass often blow up on the pause after a quick bite during the pop.
- *Target edges, holes, and pockets:* Look for breaks in the mats where water flows or sun patches thin the vegetation. Cast parallel to the edge, then work toward the pocket.
- *Edge of the mat and holes:* Cast into gaps and along the boundary; focus on creating commotion at the boundary where floating vegetation meets open water.
- *When mats are too thick:* Switch to punching through the mat with a heavier rig to push matter down, then drag the frog into open water. This is your fallback for the densest mats.

**Seasonal notes (early winter)**
- Bites slow, but big bass still follow weed edges and warm pockets. Aim for early mornings or warmer afternoons; sun boosts activity near the surface. Be patient; short, methodical retrieves often trump long chases.

**Videos and gear references**
- Basics of Frog Fishing and How to Fish Hollow-body Frog Lures: [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czTtqyDKDcA)
- Frog Fishing in Heavy Cover for Largemouth Bass: [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD06x1nVDAo)
- Four Tips for Frog Fishing: The Heavy Cover Chronicles: [Watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRjJE4nPWXc)

**Lure and gear suggestions**
- Lunkerhunt Lunker Frog: [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPQVBOI?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- Northland Reed Runner Weedless Hollow Body Frog: [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB9CQSWZ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- Strike King KVD Baby Sexy Frog Hollow Body: [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Z84SFS?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- For rods, reels, and heavy-cover setups, consider the Sidewinder Great Performer family and other stout stickbaits at [Tackle.net](https://tackle.net/item/sidewinder-great-performer).

**Practical tips**
- Check drag tension before you start; you want to pull hard without tearing out the fish. 
- Use a quick, sharp hookset after a hit; don’t wait for a full bite in thick weeds.
- Practice your skip-cast and long-throw accuracy to drop the frog into tight gaps along the shoreline.

Stay confident, stay patient, and enjoy the blowups when you finally poke through the mats. You’ve got this! 🎣💪

How to fish a frog in heavy weeds?

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