Greatest Frog Lures for 2022

On the flip of this century, the perfect frog lures for bass have been whichever ones you can get your arms on. We had restricted choices for fishing heavy vegetation with something however essentially the most fundamental amphibians. Whereas some produced strikes and resulted in landed fish, most of those lures have been primitive—with subpar hooks, restricted colour schemes, and poor total design.

Then two issues occurred that put the frog industrial advanced into overdrive: First, braided line grew to become extra broadly obtainable and extra persistently used. That meant that strikes that beforehand didn’t lead to fish catches have been now extra prone to finish in success. Second, skilled angler Dean Rojas of Arizona confirmed that frog lures weren’t only for heavy vegetation, and weren’t solely efficient within the warmest temperatures. Rojas relied on a Boze Sumo Frog from Japan for a close to win on the 2004 Bassmaster Traditional on South Carolina’s Lake Wylie, after which labored with SPRO to develop the Bronzeye Frog. With that product introduction, the common angler might purchase a frog that walked simply, didn’t tackle water, had superior Gamakatsu hooks, and got here in a variety of colours at an inexpensive value. 

Rojas confirmed that these lures have been way more versatile and dependable—and naturally, enjoyable—than their predecessors. After that, different producers stepped into the sector. Some made merchandise that mimicked SPRO’s, whereas others branched out into completely different designs, new colours and sizes, and all types of purposes. Now it’s doable to skip a frog underneath a dock, pull an enormous bass out of the thickest grass, and tempt bedding fish like by no means earlier than. 

I attended the Bassmaster Traditional Rojas practically received with a frog, and since then I’ve been hooked on frog fishing in my dwelling waters of the Potomac and all through the nation’s finest bass fisheries. Listed below are among the finest frog lures I’ve fished. 

Why It Made the Reduce

Newcomers could make this frog stroll and skip, and within the arms of an knowledgeable it is going to dance.

Key Options

• Lengths: 90 mm (3.5 inches), 65 mm (2.5 inches), and 60 mm (2.3 inches)
• Over 40 completely different colours from fundamentals to forage-specific
• Gentle, slim physique design

Professionals

• Nice vary of colours
• Walks simply
• Skips nicely underneath overhanging cowl
• Prime quality 2X Gamakatsu hooks

Cons

• After plenty of fish generally takes on water

Product Description

That is the frog that actually modified the sport for the overwhelming majority of bass anglers, and whereas SPRO has enhanced the road with popping variations and different noisemakers, in case you’re solely going to get one frog, that is the one. The whole lot about it’s premium, from the extra-strong Gamakatsu double hook that stands as much as your hardest braided line hook units, to the road tie, which is welded closed in order that your braid won’t ever slip out. 

The dwelling rubber legs match the various colours and are left extra-long with the intention to trim them to your liking—some anglers like them brief or uneven for higher strolling skills. Anglers simply beginning out ought to favor black, white, and perhaps a frog sample, however among the all-time nice colours from SPRO embrace Killer Gill, Nasty Shad, and Pink Ear. With these, you’re not simply restricted to imitating frogs and toads, but additionally all manners of baitfish.

Once you’re studying how to fish a frog bait, one of many first expertise is strolling a frog. Creating the attractive side-to-side dance is exceptionally straightforward with the SPRO Bronzeye, which makes it among the finest frog lures for freshmen and seasoned professionals.

Why It Made the Reduce

The very best attributes of a strolling frog, mixed with a plopper-style bait, collectively generate explosive strikes.

Key Options

• Size: 3-inch physique, and 4 inches with tail
• Weight: 5/8 ounce
• Flush-mounted double hook
• Greater than a dozen colours

Professionals

• Constructed on Teckel’s slim hole physique
• Tail spins at any pace
• Alternative tails obtainable and straightforward to put in

Cons

• Different choices could also be higher for gradual retrieves

Product Description

Lure-building mastermind Hideki Maeda of Japan has lengthy designed nice improvements for different corporations, however together with his personal firm, he’s been capable of let his frog obsession run free. The outcomes have been phenomenal, with all types of noise making amphibians hitting the marketplace for completely different circumstances. Not one of the others, nonetheless, have confirmed as in style (or have produced as many match large bass awards) because the Sprinker. It provides a tail like that discovered on a Whopper Plopper to the frog physique. Reeled at any constant pace, the tail rotates on a free-spinning swivel, and creates a sound that calls fish from afar. 

When it first got here out, and was in restricted provide, covetous anglers have been paying multiples of the MSRP to get one, however now they’re available at market costs. This lure is likely one of the best to fish successfully—simply solid it out and reel it again—and whereas the plastic is comfortable it’s also super-durable, so even after numerous fish it continues to run true with out taking up water.

One tip is to purchase extra tails as a result of brief strikers will rip them off. Fortunately, the replacements thread simply onto the screw lock for simple restore. 

Why It Made the Reduce

Affords a full vary of noise making capabilities for ultra-slow to warp-speed retrieves.

Key Options

• Size: 2.5 inches
• Weight: .5 ounce
• Cupped popping mouth
• Gentle-but-durable plastic collapses on the strike for higher hookups

Professionals

• Might be manipulated to make heavy “bloops” or slight disturbances, and all the things in between
• Stable vary of colours
• Very excessive hookup share, particularly on brief strikers

Cons

• Not as many colours as another manufacturers

Product Description

Not numerous professional anglers speak about Booyah’s frogs, however loads secretly stow them of their boats. That features this popping model, which may transfer a ton of water or just a bit, relying on what the angler does with their rod. Usually a popping frog calls for a gradual presentation, and this one does nicely in that occasion, however it may also be used at reasonable or quick speeds, and at every pace, it may be made to supply completely different sounds. Accordingly, anglers who hear the “Rice Krispies” noise of panfish popping on the underside of lily pads can replicate that, whereas those that need to make the lure extra froglike can obtain that equally nicely. The plastic is comfortable, and even hesitant strikers appear to finish up with lip jewellery. Along with the mainstream colours, the Shad Frog colour is phenomenal throughout the shad spawn or within the fall, and the Pumpkinseed sample is improbable when bass are patrolling bream beds.

Why It Made the Reduce

Tremendous comfortable child frog nonetheless casts a good distance and pivots on a dime.

Key Options

• Size: 2.25  inches
• Weight: 3/8 ounce
• Rabbit fur tail
• Prime quality double frog hook
• 12 colours

Professionals

• Additional comfortable development and superior engineering translate into excessive hookup share
• Simple to govern
• Regardless of being small, nonetheless heavy sufficient to solid into the wind

Cons

• Softness makes it much less sturdy than another frogs

Product Description

Japan’s Deps is thought for providing distinctive, premium merchandise, and this little frog is simply that. It’s small, however nonetheless packs sufficient of a profile and indentation on thick grass to draw consideration. I used to be amazed at how simply it walked proper out of the package deal, and whereas I’m used to silicone or rubber leg materials, the rabbit fur is each bit nearly as good. Even when the frog itself is sitting nonetheless, the tail continues to undulate and it doesn’t appear to mat up if put away moist. There are occasions when a standard-sized frog is an excessive amount of for finicky fish, and that’s whenever you need the Slither Okay. This frog does price a bit of bit greater than another fashions, however the efficiency is definitely worth the value. When you like this line, you must also try their Buster Okay popping frog.

Why It Made the Reduce

Massive with out being too massive to duplicate prey. It’s going to tempt large bass with out ruling out tournament-size fish. 

Key Options

• Size: 3 inches
• Weight: .75 ounce
• “Catamaran mouth” helps stability, whereas additionally permitting the frog to spit and stroll
• Customized-designed hook bend and wire diameter
• Matching skirt tails

Professionals

• Casts a mile
• Might be made to stroll and spit with ease
• Good vary of colours, together with a number of distinct shad and panfish patterns

Cons

• Priced a bit of greater than many different frogs

Product Description

When bass are feeding on larger-than-average prey, or anglers want a kicker fish to shut out a match, generally it pays to go to a bigger mannequin. Massive baits are additionally helpful when bass are underneath thick mats, and a barely heavier bait is required to get their consideration. 

Megabass, one other Japanese purveyor of distinctive sort out, realized that and launched the spectacular Massive Gabot. It’s nonetheless not an enormous bait by bass fishing requirements—smaller than many deep diving crankbaits and topwaters—however it’s bigger than the common hollow-bodied frog. However, it’s nonetheless not as large as some others like SPRO’s King Daddy. Whereas it’s good for imitating an amphibian, it actually shines when bass are consuming bluegills or different small fish, because it has colours meant to mimic perch and bluegills, in addition to a number of sorts of shad.

Why It Made the Reduce

All the perfect attributes of typical “toads” however with the added advantages of the perfect hollow-bodied frogs.

Key Options

• Size: 4 inches
• Over two dozen colours
• Hole physique and hard-paddling ft

Professionals

• In contrast to most toads, could be fished at ultra-slow speeds and even stopped
• Collapsible physique leads

Cons

• Wants a separate hook (included in some packages)

Product Description

Whereas Stanley could not have launched the primary “reeling toad,” their Ribbit contributed mightily to the popularization of the class, and it nonetheless continues to catch numerous bass at this time, due to its paddling ft and easy-to-rig physique. Now they’ve taken that very same toad idea and married it to a hole physique, which signifies that it retains all of a reeling toad’s worth at excessive speeds, simply with higher hookup percentages. 

In the meantime, it may be fished slowly, and even stopped, with out sinking (that’s an enormous benefit). The High Toad, which additionally is available in a popping model, works finest with Stanley’s 5/0 Double Take Hook, which is included in some packs. Stable black is a superb all-around selection, however there are numerous completely different variations of greens and coppers that higher imitate frogs, toads, and panfish. One sleeper colour is Cricket Frog, which incorporates a mild blue backside. I’ve had numerous success with this sample on tidal rivers and in tannic water.

Why It Made the Reduce 

The Gavacho walks and pops with ease, and is the suitable dimension for good hookups. 

Key Options

• Size: 2.75 inches
• Weight: ⅔ ounce
• Six colours

Professionals

• Simple to work
• Casts a protracted distance 
• Covers many conditions 

Cons

• Doesn’t come via cowl in addition to a strolling frog

Product Description

There aren’t many occasions I don’t have a Gavacho tied onto my line as a result of there aren’t many conditions the place it doesn’t excel. If I’m fishing a pad discipline, I can carry the bait into a gap and stroll it in place. If there’s some chop on the water I can pop the frog. I’ve no drawback shortly strolling it down a weed edge. The one time it doesn’t shine is in actually thick vegetation as a result of the cupped face doesn’t come via cowl as cleanly because the pointed head of a strolling frog. 

I additionally like that working the Gavacho takes little or no effort, and the slim profile means I get extra eats with fewer brief strikes. The hooks on it are the suitable thickness, in order that they received’t bend out whenever you’re winching a fish from the slop, however they’re skinny sufficient that they nonetheless penetrate simply. One other design function that aids in hookup ratio is the comfortable physique, which simply collapses and exposes the hooks. —Scott Einsmann

Different Nice Frogs

Jackall Kaera

An amazing frog for when bass are brief putting and you could downsize to stay them. 

Teckel Honker

The Honker could be walked or run like a buzzbait as a result of as a substitute of rubber legs it has tiny Colorado blades that spin and gurgle when retrieved.

Z-Man Goat ToadZ

The Z-Man Goat ToadZ is comprised of Elaztech, so it floats and it’s extraordinarily sturdy. The fluttering legs put out a pleasant bubble path for masking water. 

River2Sea Bully Wa II

The Bully Wa is likely one of the finest strolling frogs obtainable. It has a decent side-to-side stroll that’s straightforward to create, and it comes with stout hooks that stand as much as the heaviest cowl. 

Frogging Gear

You may’t throw an unweighted senko and a frog on the identical gear. It pays to have a devoted setup for frogging. Listed below are suggestions on the suitable gear to make use of for fishing frogs.

Line

Frogging isn’t a finesse technique, and also you want a heavy line to energy fish from thick vegetation. Most anglers use a 65-pound to 80-pound braid straight to the lure. Lots of the best braided lines work nicely, however Power Pro Maxcuatro is a stand out. 

Rod

The very best frogging rods have a quick motion and a heavy to further heavy energy. Most anglers will want a 7-foot to 7.5-foot rod. 

Reel

A reel with a excessive gear ratio helps to shortly choose up slack or burn a frog in for the following solid. Top-of-the-line frogging reels is the Shimano Curado DC.

Issues to Think about When Shopping for Frog Lures

Cowl 

In open water, frogs can have much more shifting elements, however in heavier cowl, and particularly the place there’s numerous fibrous grass, swivels and pivot factors can get matted up. Many of the hollow-body frogs and reeling toads do nicely in matted grass, lily pads, and even fields of particles, however essentially the most streamlined baits do the perfect. Every time you must clear grass off your lure, you miss out on a possibility to maintain that bait moist and entice a strike.

Forage

Bass definitely feed on frogs and toads, however they’re omnivorous, so don’t merely consider “frogs” in these phrases. It is a class of lure that does nicely to duplicate terrestrials, panfish, and shad as nicely. Take into consideration what you’re making an attempt to mimic not solely when you think about what sound your frog will produce, but additionally when deciding on key colours.

Pace

When masking huge expanses of water, you’ll desire a frog or toad that attracts fish from their recesses. For instance, the Sprinker frog could be labored shortly down a weed edge or over open water. However when concentrating on bass on hyper-specific items of canopy, you’ll need one which’s at its finest when fished slowly. Right here, a strolling frog like they Bronzeye frog is good as a result of it strikes facet to facet quite than straight ahead. Once you get actually good with a strolling frog, you’ll be able to stroll it with out shifting it ahead.

FAQs

Methodology

I’ve been a frog fanatic for a very long time – certainly, the Traditional the place Rojas made his mark was the primary one I attended as a media member – and nowadays my frog field (or containers) overfloweth. Whereas I journey across the nation and in addition internationally to fish for bass, my dwelling waters are the Potomac River, which is a grassy bass hideaway the place there are occasions when you’ll be able to’t fish something however a frog or a heavy flipping weight. Accordingly, I all the time have not less than two or three frog rods able to go. And with the proliferation of snakeheads (a species that loves frogs greater than bass do at occasions), I’ve discovered which fashions are most sturdy.

Last Ideas

There’s no extra thrilling method to fish for bass than with the perfect frog lures, however on the identical time it’s a tactic that may be exceptionally irritating. They’ll usually swipe on the lure or smack it halfheartedly, and since a lot of the fight takes place in heavy cowl, there are invariably misplaced fish. However, in simply 20 years the trade has handled anglers to an ever-increasing vary of frog choices—one which grows continuously. Get some braid, get a reasonably stiff rod, collect up among the high frog choices, after which work out which of them work finest on your own home waters.