Keith Lusher 04.24.24
As April passes, and the air temperatures heat, bass fishermen are adjusting to the chunk by pulling out one other weapon of their arsenal – Frogs!
“The bass that now we have been catching are thick as a result of they’ve been chowing down on all of the bullfrogs within the pond,” says Adam Hotard of Covington, LA.
Adam has two different brothers John (12) and his youthful brother Oliver (9). The brothers stated they’ve been fishing for bass since they had been “younger”. “We started fishing for bluegill utilizing cane poles once we had been younger, however once we converted to utilizing crickets for bait we caught bass and preferred catching them manner higher than the perch,” John stated.
The Hotard brothers don’t have entry to a ship, so that they fish the native lakes which can be of their neighborhood. Fishing ponds and lakes are simply effective for the Hotard brothers as a result of these our bodies of water are sometimes the primary to heat up which hastens the spawn for the bass and likewise makes bulfrogs extra energetic. Add to it the truth that these ponds and lakes include extra lily pads than the native rivers and you’ve got the right situation for some thrilling top-water largemouth bass motion.
This month, The Hotard boys have been having success fishing hollow-bodied frogs in a 5-acre pond that’s close to their dwelling in Covington, LA.
Whereas the brothers agree that April is a superb month to catch bass utilizing top-water frogs, like most siblings, they’ve a distinction of opinion in relation to one of the simplest ways to catch bass.
Habitat
Whereas most fishermen agree that grass and lilies are an vital issue when utilizing a top-water frog, there are another kinds of vegetation to focus on in relation to selecting a one of the best bullfrog habitat.
John says he likes to forged out away from the shoreline and pop the frog alongside a piece of duckweed that extends from the financial institution.
Oliver says he likes to make use of hollow-bodied frogs beneath overhangs. “There’s a spot within the pond the place I all the time get hits! It’s in a nook of the pond beneath an overhanging tree. Virtually each time I throw beneath it, an enormous bass comes up and hits the lure – I simply can by no means appear to set the hook on it!” the teen stated.
Adam says he’s been having success fishing the lily pads with hollow-bodied frogs. “The final bass I caught, I made a forged out away from some lily pads and popped it in direction of them. Proper earlier than the frog bought to the pads the fish hit it,” says Adam.
Kinds of Frogs
There are tons of frog lures available on the market, nevertheless, Oliver stated his favourite is the fashion that has plastic legs as an alternative of skirt legs. “I just like the frog lures which have strong legs as a result of I believe they make extra noise while you transfer them throughout the highest of the water,” he stated.
Adam and John are in settlement that Olivers strategy of fishing a frog lure is certainly not a refined one. Adam recalled a day when Oliver was popping his frog very aggressivley. “One time I used to be far-off from Oliver and I heard an enormous splash. I yelled at him ‘did you get one?’ and he replied ‘no that’s simply my frog popping within the water!”
Most anglers will agree that probably the most thrilling a part of utilizing top-water frogs is the explosion that occurs when a bass decides to hit.
Adam, John, and Oliver suggest that you just stay affected person in relation to setting the hook. Oh yeah! It’s tremendous thrilling while you see that explosion. The very first thing you suppose is to set the hook however simply loosen up and relax. Attempt ready three seconds after the splash and while you see your line shifting – then you definately set the hook,” Adam says.
Whereas the brothers don’t have any private tales about lacking a fish due to being impatient they’re fast to recall a time the place their mother, Julie, had such an issue. “One time we had been all utilizing top-water frog lures. Adam had an additional frog so he let my Mother use it. Effectively, she wasn’t having a lot luck with it so she simply tossed it out simply let it sit on the water. Abruptly an enormous bass got here up and hit it! We informed her to attend a second however she was so excited that she pulled it proper out of his mouth,” says Oliver.
Spring is a fantastc time to fish with top-water frogs and because the climate warms, the frog fishing ought to enhance into the summer season. And whereas the Hotard boys focus squarly on the lakes round their dwelling, the rivers and creeks throughout the Gulf South ought to produce a top quality top-water frog chunk. So get on the market and work that frog on the floor, and bear in mind to have endurance when that huge bass swallows your lure down!
