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How to....."BE"
The FROG
Forget about catching fish.
Think about the environment.
Think about how a FROG should navigate that
environment.
FROG Casting Tip
This tip concerns casting a FROG long distance in spooky, calm or shallow water.
Casting long distances helps to reach fish that are unaware of your presence in part
because you are not yet in their immediate area. However, sometimes a loud splashdown of
your FROG might scare them away. (Other times it might "attract" them.) Under
circumstances that appear to be spooky situations, I will look for clumps of vegetation to
cast the FROG into rather than allowing it to splasn down hard on the water surface. Then
I gently pull the FROG quietly down to the water surface. |
FROG Swimming Tip
Look at the environment to be navigated by the FROG. How are the pads
aligned? What is their condition ? Do they have rough edges? Are they torn or tattered
looking ? Do they lie flat to the water surface? If the pads are in very bad condition you
will have to work your FROG very carefully to avoid catching on the rough edges, torn
edges, and of course those "Nooks of No Return".
Sometimes it is better to lift your line above the pads in a padfield that
is in rough condition. A longer rod wll help in this type of situation, but be careful if
you get a sudden strike by surprise because your rod will be out of position for a good
hookset. Often the strikes are so violent that it is instinctive to go for the hookset
before lowering your rod and taking up the slack line first. The longer rod will also help
you to take up some of that slack line for a better hookset. A reel that takes up slack
line with a high gear ratio also helps. The longer rod will, most importantly, help you to
lightly lift your FROG up over those rough edges on the pads to gently navigate the
padfield more naturally like a real FROG would do. |
FROG Diving Tip
When the pads or other surface vegetation is not too thick, you can get
your FROGs to make short, shallow dives just below the surface by allowing your line to
sink below the surface before swimming the FROG. Flourocarbon line sinks much faster than
standard monofilament. I like to use 30 lb flourocarbon leaders attached to braided
fishing line. Braided line tends to float. So, it is harder for the FROG to dive without
attaching a sinking leader. If you are fishing waters with pike, musky, or pickerel, you
might want to try a wire leader to help your FROGs make dives below the surface because
they will also prevent the toothy ones from stealing your FROGs. |
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