Frogging is not only fun , but effective says MLF pro Jordan Lee .
The “ fun ” dimension of frogging takes nothing from its effectiveness , as Lee ’ s tournament record can attest . On lakes with broad acres of matted grass , lily pads , duck grass or other thick cover , it ’ s often the best – if not the only – viable option .
“ In the heavy grass on Guntersville , there ’ s often nothing else other than dipping a heavy weight through the mats that will catch them ,” Lee explains .
Presentation
Patience is the key to frogging . Yes , it ’ s hard to remain patient working a frog over heavy mats . And , true , Lee sometimes works his frog quickly when working broad stretches of cover just hunting for signs of active fish . But a lack of patience will lead to missed fish .
“ My rule of thumb growing up was to fish a frog slowly ,” he says . “ When you know fish are around , work it slow and force the fish to bite . Call them up from the grass . You ’ ll get more bites and land more fish .”
His standard approach to heavy cover is a steady twitch retrieve that mimics the kicking , crawling or hopping motion of a frog or other creature working its way through the jungle . In open-water stretches and open pockets in cover , he may work his frog in a conventional walk-the-dog manner , keeping slack in the line with each stroke of the rod tip .
“ I want the fish to show themselves ; to roll or chase ,” Lee says . “ Once I know fish are around , I slow it down . Twitch , pause … twitch , pause . When they hit it , you must be ready . That ’ s the hard part .”
Nerves fray easily in Frogland . With mats moving and water boiling , strikes are seen before they ’ re felt . All too often the angler rears back on a hookset before the bass has a jaw lock on the frog . Patience , again , is paramount .
“ When I see a blowup , I give a little hesitation ,” Lee instructs . “ I typically like to give the bass one second to eat it a little better . That split second is key . And when you feel you have him , keep the rod tip up and winch him in , keeping steady pressure .”
Tackle
Equipment plays a big role in frogging success . Enter the fray with flimsy tackle or any weakness in rod or line and you ’ ll only elevate your frustration level .
Jordan Lee ’ s frogging rig consists of the 7-foot , 3-inch “ Frog ” rod from the Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Signature Series . He anchors that heavy-power , fast-action rod with an Abu Garcia Revo Premier 7.3:1 reel and 50-to 65- pound-test Berkley x9 Braid .
Bait selection
Lee ’ s array of frogs includes the SPRO Bronzeye 65 , the BOOYAH Pad Crasher and the 3 / 4-ounce River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy frog designed by MLF frogging fanatic Ish Monroe .
He opts for popping-style frogs in more open water and scattered grass .
Tips
“ When I take the frog out of the pack , I squeeze it to see how soft the plastic is ,” Lee says . “ If the plastic is hard , I may put the bait in boiling water for about 15 seconds to soften it .”
Trim the skirt legs of the faux frog to a suitable length , depending on conditions and preference . Lee normally trims frog legs to “ pinkie size ,” sometimes as short as half an inch .
Last word
“ Frogging is something you have to commit to ,” Lee preaches . “ You may have to throw that frog for a couple hours before it comes alive .”
Andy Montgomery : Dock Skippin ’
Dock skipping is a technique that helps put a bait into out-ofsight and seemingly out-ofreach places . Docks draw baitfish , and baitfish attract bass . Though docks are prime targets , the technique is equally well-suited to any condition featuring an overhang .
Andy Montgomery perfected his dock skipping technique with a jig and flat-bodied plastic trailer . For years , this combination reigned as his full-time skipping tool . In recent seasons , however , Montgomery has broadened his skipping arsenal to include a tailored buzzbait and a bladed jig . Though the jig likely remains his No . 1 skipping bait over the course of a year , the order of preference can change with the season or the conditions .
It takes dexterity and practice to skip a bait effectively and consistently . The cost of a failed cast is all too often a mighty backlash .
Andy executes the skip with a smooth , fluid sidearm delivery . As the bait touches the water , he sweeps his rod tip up , lengthening its upward rise as the bait reaches into the recesses of the stall or overhang . He likens the almost linear , low-to-the-water trajectory of the bait to the path of a perfectly skipped stone .
Tackle
Montgomery ’ s technique has gained polish , but it hasn ’ t changed much over the years . He has , however , brought some welcome tackle upgrades to the game .
He employs the 7-foot , 1-inch heavy-power , fast-action Andy Montgomery Skipping Rod from the Lew ’ s Signature Series .
“ I ’ m [ 6-foot-4 ], so the 7-foot , 1-inch rod is right for me ,” he explains . “ We have a 6-foot , 9-inch rod in the series , too . A short guy will want to use a shorter rod . It ’ s best to match rod length to your height .”
48 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2022