Keith Lusher 04.24.24
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As April passes, and the air temperatures heat, bass fishermen are adjusting to the chew by pulling out one other weapon of their arsenal – Frogs!
“The bass that we now 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 have been “younger”. “We started fishing for bluegill utilizing cane poles after we have been younger, however after we converted to utilizing crickets for bait we caught bass and favored catching them manner higher than the perch,” John stated.
The Hotard brothers shouldn’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 advantageous for the Hotard brothers as a result of these our bodies of water are sometimes the primary to heat up which accelerates the spawn for the bass and in addition 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 proper state of affairs 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 residence 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 terms of one of the simplest ways to catch bass.
Habitat
Whereas most fishermen agree that grass and lilies are an essential issue when utilizing a top-water frog, there are another varieties of crops to focus on in terms of selecting a the perfect bullfrog habitat.
John says he likes to solid out away from the shoreline and pop the frog alongside a bit 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 at all times 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 solid out away from some lily pads and popped it in the direction of them. Proper earlier than the frog bought to the pads the fish hit it,” says Adam.
Forms of Frogs
There are tons of frog lures in the marketplace, nonetheless, 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 stable legs as a result of I feel they make extra noise if 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 unquestionably not a refined one. Adam recalled a day when Oliver was popping his frog very aggressivley. “One time I used to be distant 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 simply stay affected person in terms of setting the hook. Oh yeah! It’s tremendous thrilling if you see that explosion. The very first thing you suppose is to set the hook however simply loosen up and sit back. Strive ready three seconds after the splash and if you see your line transferring – then you definitely 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 have 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. Impulsively an enormous bass got here up and hit it! We advised 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 residence, the rivers and creeks throughout the Gulf South ought to produce a top quality top-water frog chew. So get on the market and work that frog on the floor, and bear in mind to have endurance when that large bass swallows your lure down!