I can sum this forecast up in one word…”FROGS!” With that said, it doesn’t help you with some of the subtle nuances that come along with the art of casting toads for toads so let me expand.
Primarily, I will be throwing two types of frogs for Deerpoint bass: a buzzing type frog like a Zoom Horny Toad and a Gambler Cane toad or a hollow-body type like a Spro Bronzey frog.
Day in, day out, bass here will fall for the fast moving surface action a buzzing frog presents. This is the best way to effectively cover as much grass and pad covered water as you possibly can and the best approach to getting bites. This lake can be a tough nut to crack for many, so if you’re one of them, try covering vast expanses of thick shallow grass with a Cane Toad and see if you don’t get more bites that way. Color selection for me is simple; black, white or green. If water appears to still be stained, white is always a good choice. If it’s clear, I choose more neutral colors like green pumpkin or watermelon seed. Dark colors like black and junebug seem to work in all conditions.
Don’t be afraid to work your buzzing frog at a quick pace across the surface. This allows you to cover more water and locate more productive areas. If you have a follower that doesn’t strike, then slow down and work that area over thoroughly with more casts and a bit slower retrieve. If nothing else, the buzzing frog will get bass to show themselves and even if they won’t eat a frog, you can scour the area with slower moving baits like a weightless worm. A straight-tail Gambler Sweebo Worm is great for this.
The hollow body frog is my favorite frog to catch big bass with, but it’s not as effective for a “search-bait” as a buzzing frog. I usually toss this frog into areas where I’m confident bass are hiding in. These are usually small pockets of water next to reed clumps, mud islands and stumps. The pockets I target have enough depth for bass to feel comfortable in; at least a foot or more deep. Stumps near channel edges with grass around them are often prime areas. The hollow-body frog needs time to sit in the strike-zone so slow down with this one.
Try to get it to walk with a back-n-forth action…this may take practice, but it will get bone-jarring strikes from big bass.
Good fishing and God bless.
CAPT. RANDY “C-NOTE” CNOTA
C-note Charters
Panama City, FL
cnotecharters.com
(229) 834-7880