Hollow Body Frogs - Part 1

Frog Selection

Summer has arrived and the frog bite is in full swing. The hollow body frog craze is fairly new in the bass fishing community. Dean Rojas brought it to the forefront in 2005 when he won an elite series tournament using the Bronzeye 65. If you haven't purchased a frog in the past few years, you're going to be amazed at the leaps and bounds made in technology and 'fishability' of these amazing and versatile lures.

There are only a few quality manufacturers out there and honestly I can only speak to 4 of them because they work so well I don't bother with the others. Here's a quick breakdown of the 4 brands I prefer:

Spro Bronzeye 65 - A fantastic design! The double EWG Gamakatsu frog hook makes hooking up a snap. Walking the Frog is difficult at first but with a little practice it will walk with some modifications to the frog legs. I love this frog.

Spro Bronzeye Popper - Everything I just said about the 65 but it makes more commotion. Great for extremely heavy pads or grass and/or dingy water. Also good at night.

Tru-Tungsten Mad Maxx - I am really starting to like this frog. The body has a hard keel and soft back. The hard keel makes this frog walk easily, and the soft back allows compression for solid hook-ups.

Trophy Scum Frog - This frog sits lower in the water than the Spro and Tru-T frogs. The head is out of the water while the legs hang almost straight down. This frog does not walk but the bass don't seem to mind. I think the way it sits in the water is what bass find attractive. I've had best success with this frog simply dead-sticking it next to cover with slight twitches. The hook up ratio is great. My only complaint about this frog is that the body seems to be a little too soft, causing it to tear and take on water after only a few fish.

It's a good idea to have a good variety of frogs and colors on hand because conditions and the mood of the fish are going to determine which frog will produce on any given day. I recommend white, black, and a natural green color at a minimum.

Up next in Part 2: Gear Selection

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