First, some photo updates with
recent bass caught on the frog.

On a trip to Barrett Lake (East San Diego county, So. Cal.) on 6.4.'08 I landed this monster.  It is my PB for that lake, and WAS my PB for frog fishing coming in at 6-14.

August of '08, I got two nice bucketmouths, one 5-6 and one 5-8 in just a couple of hours
at El Capitan Lake, east San Diego county.

   
Click on photos to enlarge.

But again, I got my
new PB 2 months later...

     
Click on photo to enlarge.
The left one was 6-8 and the right went 7-12.

These beauties came on the frog.  In one day at the California Delta I netted fish for a total weight of 18-2, almost a PB for three.  That was on Sept. 11th, 2008, almost one year to the day over my best day for three, that one is in the next section below.

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A trip to Otay Lake
-My fish-board namesake (otay michael), pronounced the 'tay' part like 'tie', as in O-tie, accent on the o, it's spanish, the lake I grew up fishing.
in San Diego County on Sept. 12th, 2007 netted me five nice fish on the frog in one afternoon; the biggest breaking off my 50# braid while trying to horse her out of the tulles/brush, and one was a  2.5 pound 'dink'. These other three averaged a little over six pounds each.

Click on photo to enlarge.
First of my three biggies was a 5-14.

Click on photo to enlarge.
The second one broke off, then I got this 6-10, a real hog
and my new PB (personal best) on a frog.

Click on photo to enlarge.
Then my fourth was a dink 2.5 - 3 pounder (can you believe I can
call a 3 a dink? Well yeah, with the other being sixes!!!)

Click on photo to enlarge.
The fifth was also a lunker and almost lost in tangles,
but fought her out. She went 6-1 pounds.

So the top three here ended up
weighing in at 18-9, WOW!

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How to fish a
topwater frog.
Originally written 6.10.'05
(with some updates thru 5.'08)

OK, I've spent weeks of time using the frog since September of last year (2004) [Note: as of 5'08 months of time, going on years of time before I die, Lord willing], and as with a lot of lures that you look at and say, 'I don't know if a bass would really eat that thing', I said just that with the frog!!? I had one in the tackle box, but after trying it here and there and not getting anything I'd switch back after 15 minutes and go to something I knew worked, like a crankbait, popper or a plastic worm.

Click to enlarge.

My first frog fish at Barrett, September of 2004. An exciting moment and the beginning of an addiction within the addiction, if you know what I mean.

But the frog, worked like either a popper or a spook, works great, better even in many instances. The good part is that it's weedless and a popper is not. You can throw it into tulles and trees and brush and wait for a couple of seconds and then twitch it once or twice and hold on for a violent hit from an angry or hungry bass. Most of my hits have been within one second of it landing, so they are ready for anything to come by to ambush it, meaning not far from the surface.

And this is very important. You must start you cast, if casting from a boat, up on, or at, the shore- NOT five or six feet from it. In fact, if you think close is good enough in some instances you could fish this lure for hours and not get bit, but if you had started it from the shore the results could have been 5 in the boat, instead of getting skunked. Read that sentence over again until it sinks in.

Click on photo to enlarge.
This one hit my frog after I tossed it under the trees.
 

AGAIN, I often throw it onto the shore and work it into the water. If you are a good caster, the first 12 inches of shore is good too. Around bushes, stick-ups and trees, which we now have a lot of in our San Diego lakes, I toss it up under or right next to them. This is important to remember, RIGHT NEXT TO THEM. Four or five feet from the bush and you have just cut your chances down to only 10% to get one. They just don't like getting out of their 'strike zone' or the area they feel comfortable to try and capture something. They have learned that things too far off usually get away and they don't want to expend the energy 'wasting it' even trying.

Tulle fishing?  Toss into them, not only on the edges.  10 times more fish live in them than along the edge.  Especially the 'pockets'.  With braid, I toss over and into some of the pockets, then horse them out after waiting a second for them to inhale the frog (many times they have the legs only and take a second to repositon it in their mouth, that is why a lot of folks don't get hooksets after the hit, they don't hesitate that split second) then I reel like crazy before they bury down into them deeper.

Click to enlarge.
This northern bass from Barrett Lake
liked the chartreuse colored frog.

But sometimes you can surprise yourself. I've even got them at lakes far from shore and brush in open water. I once saw a cruiser about two feet down cruising and thought, "naw, he'll never go for it". I cast it to just above his head, he turned and looked up, and within two seconds decided it was lunch time and ambushed it with a vengeance- fish on.

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How to 'work' the frog.

The other problem I see with newbie’s I try to teach this technique to is that they don't really know how to work the bait. Even real good fishermen in other techniques fail to work it right, meaning zero positive results (look up getting skunked, i.e. 'U stink')!

Pattern number 1: Hop and pause it like a real frog.  A real frog uses his legs and pushes forward, kinda hopping in the water. Most newbie’s just give a half-hearted tug to try to imitate this, and without any slack in the line first. This results in a frog that scoots across the water, moving slowly on the surface and not creating much action or attention. If you were a bass, would you then be fooled? Don't think so. I'll catch 20 bass to every one of my friends getting one if they don't get that bait moving properly.  The amount of hopping should be varied to see what gets the best results.  One day, or hour even, they want it slower, the next faster. Mix it up and try to notice which get the most action.
 

Click image to enlarge.
I'd caught BIG LIVE Bullfrogs on them before I actually caught a bass.  Here is one of the many frogs that hit my plastic frog at Barrett Lake. (See that small black lump his pushing against, that's my lure!)  I usually try and keep mine just ahead of the real frogs, as the bass love hitting something being chased too, but this has yet to net a fish and I've only done it that way a dozen or so time.

Pattern number two, 'Walk the dog': You must get a good movement going to it, a back and forth action like a spook gets, if you have worked those. A cadence that you begin and the effect is to almost walk it in the same place without moving it forward. This only works in open water as the lily pads would stop this kind of action.  Do this along the tulles or lily pads and up under trees.  Now this is better for open water anyways, as you need to cover a lot of space.  A lily pad should be worked a lot slower, unless you have acres to cover, then faster could be better.

Now to accomplish this 'walk the dog' pattern, or the hop pattern for that matter, you must have a lot of slack in your line so you can give a violent slash to the line, but because the line is slack the only thing that reaches the frog way out there on the pads or whatever is a slight but instant jerk, almost a pop.

Here a secret, don't tell anyone: you want to move it hard- but not far. That way you can pull hard again, and again, and yet hardly move it very far. But the distance it does move it moves fast and hard sideways back and forth. That way you keep it in the 'strike zone' longer, the area the bass are in, and the action gets them excited, like the frog may be injured and be easy prey.

Pattern number three: mix the two up if the conditions call for it.  Toss it to shore, hop it a couple of times, work it over the weeds, grasses or pads, hesitate on the edges of them for a few seconds, then just twitch it once or twice, wait, twitch, wait, then start the walking once in open water back to you. The explosion could happen at any time, be ready mentally if they do to concentrate on the next important part; setting the hook.

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On setting the hook.

On setting the hook, don't just pull back to set it as soon as it hits, start reeling down until you feel him on the line or see it taking line and then set it. This took me a long time to learn (a day or two of all day practicing on them) because you get so excited it's automatic to just swing back real hard. Heck, I just did it again the beginning of this year as I was out of practice, but only once as it cost me a hookset. Most folks say count to three and then 'cross it's eyes'.  Sometimes the timing varies but you will get a feel for it over time and circumstances, just don't give up if you miss a few, keep at it.

IF they miss the frog, just let it sit motionless and many times they come back around and slam it again, thinking they have injured it. If nothing happens, twitch it once or twice, and if still not work it back in and then toss a Senko right back at 'em that you have at the ready.  Three out of four times that line starts moving off just after entry. You can also let that area be for a few minutes, and then toss it back, they will quite often hit it again.

Also, a constant problem is I forget to lower the rod into the water while fighting them. Why, because this will help to keep them from jumping. Once he jumps, a large percentage of the time you can probably say 'adios basssola' as they can throw that frog all the way back to your boat with their acrobatic vibrating head, as many of you already know.  Especially the solid frog body styles, they weigh more.  Bass use that weight as a leverage to get it loose.  I 'surf' them back in pronto with my heavy pole and braid line.
 

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Best times to fish the frog.

I fish the frog, or a buzzbait, as soon as the water starts warming up- March or April in So. Calif.  Early morning and late afternoon are a natural time wise but the warmer it gets out the more likely they will hit all day long.  In southern California I can get topwater action about 10 months of the year to some extent, and really good action for at least 7!

Don't forget, the best times is the dead of summer, when bass seem the hardest to find and catch.  Just toss kermit under trees and along logs or over lily pads and hang on buddy. And mid-day is really good, you'd thing not, just early morn and afternoons, but I've had the best results sometimes mid-day.

Also, the warmer the water the less time you usually have to give them to 'eat it', and by fall I often reel down and swing as fast as I can.  You only miss the dinks.

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Click image to enlarge.
Spro frog bass, 17", 5.24.'08 / Lake Hodges, California

Was asked which equipment to use,
thus this was added: May of '08

What kind of line to use?

I use a heavier line now (at least 50 or 65# braid) (Note: as of June '08 I've gone to 80# Power Pro braid) due to the stuff you throw in, on and around. If you are handy with both reel styles, use a baitcaster so you can haul them in faster, it has more power/drag power. Braid does not stretch so the hooksets are better than mono, which stretches and will not penetrate the bass' mouth so well. 

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What kind of rods to use?

They also have special 'frog rod's' that have a strong backbone and a soft tip for long casts but strong backbone for a good hookset; but as with any specialty rod they can be a bit expensive (from about $70 to $250, averaging $150).  I will get one of these rods ASAP as I fish so much topwater now. (Got a Dean Rojas Quantum 7' PT 'frog rod' lately... sweet).

Here are some specialty rods, most just for frogs but many can be used dual purpose as a flippin' stick.

Prices are approximate as of 5.'08.

Bass Pro Bionic Blade heavy flippn' stick; Bass Pro Johnny Morris Signature Series Frog Rod that is 7'2" Xheavy Xfast ($170). That same profile is also found in their Nitro Big Bass Rods ($150) and Extreme line ($100).

Crucial 7'11 flipping stick,
Crucial 7'2" medium heavy for about $100.

Dobyn's 735C or a 736 Champion Series Frog Rod for about $190. 7'3" Hvy XFast - many swear by these rods.

Daiwa Light & Tough Frog Rod 7'4" Heavy Tele Price: $129.95 / TL-74T-5FB.
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageRDCDAIWA-TDLTFR.html

Falcon rods - Bobby's perfect frog rod www.falconrods.com.

Fenwick EliteTech Froggin Stik (ECF72H-XF).

G. Loomis Frog Casting Rod 863C 7'2" Med Hvy ($230)
Same Profile in GLX ($440).  Loomis has numerous other rods that would probably make good Frog rods in sizes 7',7'1",7'3", and 7'5".  Loomis 874 or Loomis MBR844C heavy or the FGR863C.
http://fishermanswarehouse.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2162

Kistler Graphite Plus Frog & Slop 7'3" Hvy ($150).

Lamiglas 806 or 797 for really 'thick stuff'.  Lamiglass Certified Pro Graphite 7'2" Frog Rod ($185).

Powell 735 or for the slop, cheese, etc. bump up to the 766; Powell Max Flippen Rod 7'3" Med Hvy X-Fast ($200).

Quantum Tour Edition Dean Rojas Frog Rod 7' MH ($180).

St. Croix Legand Tournament SlopNFrog Rod is a 7" Heavy Fast ($240). www.stcroixrods.com.

Shimano Clarus 7' H, fast action for about $70.  Shimano Cumara Rods have 2, 7'2" Med Hvy models that would probably be awesome Frog Rods ($220).

Team All-Star Big Boy 7'2" Med Hvy Fast ($120).

AS of 5.'08 I've finally got a Quantum rod and reel combo ordered, my first dedicated rod for frog fishing, cool!

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What kind of reels to use?

There are two thoughts as far as which reel to use. One is power, one is speed.  The best combine the two in my figuring, to horse them out of problems areas pronto.

The Quantum Energy PT has a couple of nice features in that it has a very fast pick-up of 7:1, most have 6.2:1 or 6.4:1, plus it has something like 24#s of drag, most have about 12 to 14!

Here were some of the recommendations I received when I asked on one of the fish boards.

Abu Garcia, Revo SX for $149, or the STX $199
Daiwa 7:1 zillion, over $200.
Quantum Energy PT,$189.
Shimano, Castaic,$169.
 

My old Curado 200 SF has been put back into use lately as the Q. Energy is in the shop, and is working fine!

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What kind of frog to use?

As far as which frog, I'm experimenting with them all. But to date, my favorite two are the Dean Rojas SPRO PRO Bronzeye and the Snag Proof 'Bobby's Perfect Frog". 

Bobby and Dean are both masters of this technique and have won a ton of money on tournaments fishing them!

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Snag Proof 'Bobby's Perfect Frog' 1/2oz - $6.99 - 9 Colors

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageHDTSNAG-SPPF.html
 

Click on photo to enlarge.
Snag Proof Tournament frogs.

This Snag Proof Tournament frog has been working for me just fine; just superglue the front to the hook so the water does not get into the bait so easy.

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My favorites to date are the Dean Rojas
 SPRO PRO Bronzeye Frog.  Comes in 17 colors and 2 sizes, the regular at 5/8 oz, or the 'Jr.' at 1/2 oz.. About $8.
From the Bass Pro ad: Sleek, mean, and perfectly balanced. Wild leg kicking action bass can't ignore. Specially weighted to cast long and always land on its belly. Weedless design with premium Gamakatsu® hook.
Bass Pro Shops- Rojas frogs
 

I see where there is a very heavy SPRO frog now, a 7/8 ounce SPRO Jungle Frog.

From an ad:
The Jungle Frog 30 is Spro’s newest weapon in their ever growing arsenal of fish catching lures. The New Spro Jungle Frog 30 will get your heart pumping with the anticipation of the next topwater explosion of that trophy fish. The realistic colors of the Jungle Frog will entice the biggest and smallest fish. The Jungle Frog 30 has many features necessary to fish weedbeds, lily pads and other types of grass. The most important features of this new bait is the inter-changeable tail, adjustable internal weight system, and the addition of a swivel inline with the shank of the double Gamakatsu® hook. The swivel makes it possible to adapt the Jungle Frog to various fishing condition by adding a dressed trailer hook, skirted trailer, inline spinner or a G-Stinger for those short striking fish. The Jungle Frog 30 has a realistic shaped body which keeps the Gamakatsu® double hook in the best position to penetrate the mouth of the toughest, scared fish in the water. Size: 7/8 Oz.

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River 2 Sea Bully Wa 65

Click photo to enlarge.

I've used this new one recently, it has a clear lip in front to help in the walking movement.  This color is deadly at California's Clearlake as a bird up there has these same colors and they eat a lot of them.

Click photo to enlarge.
Here friend Tom Leogrande holds up yet
another frog fish he got on the 'tweet bird'
pattern with me up at Clearlake, CA in April of '08.

http://www.river2seausa.com/t/bullywa.html

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Click on photo to enlarge.
Boze Sumo Frog- 16 colors- Color Chart
2.75" Body plus 3" legs - 5/8oz.

Click on photo to enlarge and read specs.
Boze ZZ Walker topwater bait.

Here is the one I tried yesterday (kinda a legless frog, worked like a 'walk the dog' hardbait) most of the day at Hodges, getting 6 blow ups and one fish in the boat. Not bad considering a month ago I only got two blowups all day. If this bait came a bit smaller I'd like it more, fish two pounds and smaller had a hard time trying to eat it. (The bass at Barrett Lake, an east San Diego County reservoir, of 2 pounds and up, had no problem eating it.)

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Click on photo to enlarge.
Reaction Innovations 'Swamp Donkey'
Length: Body: 2.75", Legs: 3", Weight: 1/2oz

Notice the long strands for legs? Too long?  For most folks yes. I trim them to 2/3'rd the length, if not 1/2 if I really need to get the 'walk the dog' pattern to be exaggerated, and to prevent short strikes.

Here is what they say about it at Tackle Warehouse.

Reaction Innovations Swamp Donkeys may be the best designed hollow bodied frog bait on the market today. This relentless attention to detail has resulted in new innovations like an all new double hook made exclusively for Reaction Innovations. This hook features turned-up points for more positive hookups and will keep the points from digging into the body of the bait, a real problem with other baits, greatly increasing your hookup ratio.

The body design of the Swamp Donkey is longer and narrower than other similar baits, giving a better walking action in open water and the ability to come across the heaviest cover. The nose of the Donkey will not slip back down the hook like other hollow bodied baits, and the material is very soft but is extremely durable and will rarely tear. Attention to detail and innovative design sets this bait apart and you'll know that it is up to the quality standards of all the other great Reaction Innovations products.

Note: I personally have not thrown the swamp donkey yet.  Some have high praises, some say it's their least fav of the selection. (Note: 11.'08, I have thrown it this year, it was ok).

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Here is Tackle Warehouse's link to many frogs and other soft baits that are for sale: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/softbaits.htm

Click on photo to enlarge.

10.'09 UPDATE

Been real happy with the newer Spro popper frog. Really calls them up with that popping sound.  Got a nice 4#6oz lunker on it last night, along with another 4 averaging 1.5-2.5.

Also the new BPS frog with kick legs has worked wonders in open water, and can be stopped on weedbeds and worked, unlike the 'Horny Toad' style that would sink/ info follows. (Funny, I had just made them myself last year gluing the legs on an old hollow body frog. Great minds think alike?).

 

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Soft Plastic Toads

YUM buzz frog

Here are a few brands of the toad style lures-
Zoom Horny Toad,
YUM Buzz Frog,
Stanley Ribbit or Stanley Bull Ribbit (5 inches long!), Uncle Josh’s Sizmic Toad,
Gambler’s Cane Toad,
Mann’s Hardnose Toad,
GrandeBass Mutant, (more of a creature bait but makes  a great wake bait with all of it's appendages) etc.. 

They are generally between 2 ½ inches to as big as 5 inches long. Most have a slot either in its belly or on top to accommodate a hook. In effect, the toad is a soft plastic buzzbait.   The benefit is that they can be fished where buzzbaits would not work, such as lily pads, weeds, matted cover, etc.. Most toads have paddled legs which really kicks up the water, thus attracting bass from a distance, meaning you can cover a lot of water- and that's a good thing right?

Click on photo to enlarge.

October of 2005,
Seewald in So. Africa

This smallie fell to a Zoom 'Horny Toad' frog imitation. I had great topwater action on it too.  It's a new lure for me and working wonders.  I had limited space to bring a set of lures/plastics to So. Africa with me, but I made sure I had some of these.

It has two feet that kick up a storm as you reel it in.  It's not a real frog type bait in that it will not float if you stop the retrieve.

And as a friend reminded me, "To help keep weeds and slime off of the bait use a glass or plastic bead in the front of the bait."  That is something I've just started to do, and it works wonders.  I use it in front of the Senko's now too, it saves a lot of those from tearing.

Oh yeah, here are some hooks that are becoming very popular and I recommend them.  They are a screw-in hook (there are a few styles) which will considerably extend the life of your toad (or fluke).   Depending on the toad, the hook acts like a keel to keep the toad upright as you retrieve it. 

Typically, a 3/0 – 5/0 EWG (Extra Wide Gap) hook should be used.  

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Fishing 'fluke' type baits.

Fishing 'bass assassins' or a similar fluke type bait works well too, and if they miss it you just let it sit and they will hit it again one or two seconds later to get the 'injured minnow' they have left stunned for lunch on the surface.

Click on photo to enlarge.

A type of bait, general name of 'fluke'. 

Again, wait to 'load up' on him before you set the hook. Don't swing because of the blow up, but watch and feel for the weight of the fish and then do so. (Same as  spooks or buzzbaits for that matter, I keep working it like they never hit until I feel their weight and then speed up the retrieve and swing. They don't throw these flukes as much, as they are not as heavy, so you can hold up the pole and watch them jump. That's the fun part, unless you are in a tourney and it's important to land him. I always toss them back after getting a picture, and come back in a week or two and try to get them again. Many times I do, and sometimes a year later even when they have added another pound or two!
 

Click image to enlarge.

Here is one that hit my fluke SIX TIMES, worked topwater herky-jerky as slow as possible to keep it from sinking. It was last Christmas at the Colorado River in Arizona. A local pro said, 'too cold for topwater' after I asked. Tell that to this bass that I got out from under a weed mat along the edge of the main river.  He hit at it five times in a row in five casts but the weed mat was so thick he had a hard time grabbing it.  Sixth time was a charm.  Gill hooked caused the excessive bleeding.

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Blessings, I hope this will help some of you that tried it but gave up. Shore fisherman can do this parallel to the shore, or working those trees and bushes now out in the water. If you are new to these techniques let me know how you did when you tried them, OK?

Michael Seewald
AKA Otay Michael

Article and photos copyright Michael Seewald.
No legal use without written permission.

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Seewald takes 4th place, with the frog, in local tournament.

August 27th, 2005,

"Just for fun", a 'sdfish message board'
bass tourney held at El Capitan, east San Diego County.

The gun went off at 6:15 am to start (not really a gun) and I heard the roar of the boats from the launch ramp, which I was still at launching my boat 'Answered Prayer'- oh well!  I was now in my first San Diego County fishing tournament, how exciting.  I said hi to a couple of fellows I know from the fish boards and went to work (fishing that is). I worked a point 4/5ths of the way to the trees at the far north end of the lake.  It had produced months earlier but two hours of trying my best with hula grubs and various topwater lures produced the big zero. 

I decided to move down to the trees, where after I arrived I realized I should of gone immediately because bass were busting everywhere.  Two guys said they already had two keepers in their live-well.  That was heartbreaking as I was skunked so far and it was nearing 9 a.m..  I tried flukes and other assorted topwater there, with the occasional spinner bait and plastic, but still no action on my line.  I sat back and thought, what could I do different?  The sun had burnt the clouds away and the heat was starting to get unbearable almost instantly.  I could hear the fat lady singing and it was now only 9:30, with three hours left to fish before we had to be back at the docks for weight in.

I realized Barrett Lake (in the mountains of dry, eastern San Diego County) had the same hot weather and the bass loved the frog there, at least the ones under heavy growth/trees, even at noon, so I tied on a frog and started working the trees.  15 minutes later I saw an explosion under a big tree that was half submerged, as most were, but it was on the other side of the trunk.  I tossed the frog into the thick brush still growing in it.  I did not see it land as it went into and through the brush, as close to the 'explosion area' as I could get.  I kept an eye on the line though and noticed it was moving, so I cranked down and set the hook- fish on, Thank U Lord.  I beefed him out of the brush and prayed he would not throw the hook, as he jumped pretty high.  I realized he was a  nice keeper at that point and grabbed the net that was at the ready.   I landed my first bass; it was sweet to finally get one; it picked up my spirits quite a bit.  Surprisingly, it had hit that frog gently, slurped it down, and this was the first time of getting one like that.  In fact, all four hits were that way that day.  Weird.

I continued my approach of tossing the frog under the trees but it was tough as the frog constantly got hung up, not hook wise but just the line would tangle around the tree branches.  If I did not get into the dense stuff I got no hits.  Well, it must have reached about 105 degrees by noon, but I was happy with my results.  I had landed two out of possible three fish I hooked into and had watched one really big bass come out of the water and try to eat the frog that was stuck up in the branches.  I would lower it down and let it dip in the water, then raise it up to the branch a foot up, trying to get some attention.  It was about 5 pounds and he slowly came up, big ol' mouth wide open and almost getting up to the frog at the top of the pull.  Believe me, I was excited and cheering for that big guy to get up there and eat it, but he only gave it half a try and failed, costing me first place, as well as one that hit the frog and I failed to reel down first before swingin', amateur mistake.  You have to keep your wits about you or you can miss a hookset really quick.

I got out of there right after the drawing, I think everyone did.  I was so hot from fishing in the sun it took quite a while to cool down, even with the air condition on in the van on the way home.

Click on photo to enlarge.
My two frog fish, netting me fourth place out of 11 teams
(I fished solo) on a very tough bite day, most got skunked.

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Oct. 2005 update.

About setting the drag strength.

Taken from my "2005 fishing reports" page.

Click to enlarge
The hog that fell to the Sumo Frog at Lake Hodges.

- After losing five fish on the hook-set I tested my drag strength and realized it was set way too loose, so I adjusted it to proper working strength and then lost another in short order!!?  About 5 pm I was bringing it by a large bush in the water and I took my eye off the bait when a big splashing noise happened.  I thought it must have taken it down into the brush because I could hardly reel it in, and then realized it was because it was so big.  I managed to land him before he got tangled in all the structure I was in and he weighed in at just over 4 pounds, one nice feeeesh! 

I'm glad I got that line adjusted just in time not to lose him too.  That was the last action for the day, other than dinks trying to eat a frog bigger than they were, God bless their little souls.

 
Click to enlarge
1st Basirisky frog bass.

On my way back out of the area I tied on a new Basirisky frog and tossed him around a bit.  Above picture was taken of the first bass caught with it. 

Deps 'Basirisky' frog.  Click image for more details.

An indicator of things to come, I'm sure, as that bait has some interesting characteristics to it, it walks back and forth without going far, and works with a slow roll so well. It walks like a Jitterbug lure.

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About Buzzbaits

Buzzbaits work wonders too, as weird as they too might look, but watch out once you learn those, bigger bass for sure get stirred up and enticed due to all of the action and noise generated.  The bigger the bait size, the larger the fish caught generally.  My biggest bass to date (my PB it's called, or 'personal best') came off of this bait in April of '08. 

 
Click to enlarge.
Well, here she is in all her glory, weighing
 in at 8 pounds 10 ounces, April of '08.

Previously my PB had been 8 1/4, caught on, you guessed it, a topwater lure. It was with a Rebel popper back when I was a 'kid'- about 17 years old.  But as I'd quit fishing for 30 years I've made up for a lot of lost time on fishing top water, don't you think? It's because of other generous fishermen that post 'how to' on the internet, like I do now.  Pass it along folks, help others out when you get a chance.  Take a kid fishing too. 

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Update May, 2006

My sponsor, GrandeBass, has a great bait out that can be used in many ways, one of which is slow rolled across the surface.  It's the Mutant, and I've already got action on it this way and have rec'd news from a couple of those that I've given samples to that it's worked killer for them also.  Due to all it's appendages it can be worked super slow, and the undulation is what draws them.
 

If you order some tell Jerry that Otay Michael sent you.  He might throw in a free bait or two.
 

Click to enlarge.

Michael Seewald 'Book Suggestion of the Month".  Get this, or click on this link to get some of the following books, ASAP if you want to get to be better bass fisherman fast, he did...

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Michael Seewald is now sponsored
by GrandeBass of Texas.
www.grandebass.com

Click image to enlarge.
First GrandeBass 'Mutant bait' bass.

Update September, 2008

Well, I really killed 'em this year, as some of the pics at the top of this article prove.  But to see the day I got over 20 on the frog , averaging 3 lbs each, see my 2008 report here. Scroll down to the
Clearlake report marked
Frog Day,  7.22.'08

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NEW for 2009
The Spro 'Bronzeye Popper Frog'

Click here for a great video by Dean Rojas on his new SPRO bronze-eye popper frog, as well as his regular Spro frog and how to fish it.