July means enter the weedless frog. In my opinion, no other type of lure works as well for bass sheltered under thick, matted vegetation. The weedless design of this lure permitted it to slide over and around weedbeds, lilypads, limbs and stumps. What’s more, it allowed us to fish in places other lures couldn’t go without hanging or picking up moss.
There are several models of these frogs currently on the market and, typically, these lures are built around a double-pronged hook and engineered to remain weedless until they are engulfed by the predator bass as it breaks the surface to attack the intruder. It is at that time the hollow design proves most ingenious as it collapses, exposing the hooks and allowing anglers to hook into the bass. Bass fishing with hollow topwater frogs is among the most exciting techniques as it’s a completely visual application that often results in vicious attacks.
I’ve found working one of these lures is a no-brainer because all you have to do is cast it out and work it to any open space in the matted vegetation. However, a word of caution is in order. Be prepared to lose one or more of these lures because, along with bass, pike and even ling will smash it as well. Pike will cut the line; ling will crush the hooks.
The soft-bodied Scum Frog has been available for years and it currently comes in a variety of colors and casting weights. The Live Target Hollow Frog has all the attributes to catch big fish, including lifelike anatomy, detailed color and a simple, effortless action that often elevates the thrill of topwater fishing to a whole new level.
Both soft-bodied frogs will catch bass, and the Hollow Body Frog walks incredibly well and floats tail-down, enticing bass to come up and clobber it. Because of thick vegetation, fish really can’t go anywhere after they’re hooked, so a heavy or medium-heavy rod with a fast tip and strong backbone is recommended for winching fish out of the thick cover. Like the Scum Frog, the soft body of the Hollow Frog collapses easily on the strike, exposing the custom double hooks for higher hookups.
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