Gulf Coast Fisherman Magazine Vol 39 No 2 - Spring 2015 | Page 7

by John N. Felsher

Froggin’ for Reds
Tempting Reds with 4-Wheel Drive
Soft Plastic Frogs

H

unkered down in thick cover, a large pot-bellied fish
tracked the silhouette of a frog flitting across matted
grass just two feet above its head as it waited for the
opportune time to strike. The creature briefly paused atop the
grass and then slid into a tiny pocket of open water. It remained
momentarily motionless before slowly sinking. Quivering as it
descended, it regained its composure and climbed over another
grass clump.
The hungry predator could stand it no longer. The fish
opened its mouth and lunged at the frog sitting on the grass
tops. As if a depth charge exploded beneath the surface, water
erupted and spewed frothy weeds across the shallow flat. The
enraged 15-pound beast gulped the frog and a chunk of
vegetation in the process. However, instead of slurping succulent
frog steaks, the surprised redfish sucked down a mouthful of
plastic punctured by embedded hooks.
Redfish live in brackish to salty water and frogs typically
prefer sweeter environments. The two species rarely meet in
nature except in some river deltas. Although spot-tailed marsh
marauders seldom intentionally target live frogs, a hungry
redfish won’t pass up a tempting meal. Soft-plastic frogs look
and feel like natural prey.
“Frogs are not on the every day menu for redfish, but a
redfish will eat just about anything,” explained Mike Gallo of
Angling Adventures of Louisiana
(877-4AAOFLA, www.aaofla.com)

who fishes marshes near New Orleans. “If a redfish sees a frog
and gets a chance to eat it, it will. Redfish don’t necessarily
know what it is. They just think it’s something to eat. I’ve found
birds, snakes — all kinds of things inside redfish. Among the
oddest things I’ve ever found inside a redfish was a spent 12gauge shotgun shell missing the brass. I guess it was bouncing
along the bottom with the current and the redfish ate it. If
something fits into its mouth, a redfish will eat it.”
Frogs work best in lush brackish wetlands with abundant
plant growth. From early spring through late fall, big redfish
often move onto grassy flats to feed. When redfish burrow into
thick weeds, these four-wheel drive baits can entice hard to reach
redfish where few other lures can go.
“The beauty of a plastic frog is that it can get into areas
that other lures cannot reach,” advised Shane Dubose, a
professional redfish angler from Tomball, Texas. “Redfish like
to hide in thick grass and ambush baitfish. I can throw a frog
over the top of any cover and not worry about it hanging up.”
Many companies make frogs for bass fishing. Anything that
might tempt a bass would also tempt a redfish. Stanley Ribbits,
Horny Toads and Attraxx Frogs slowly sink. For fishing thick
cover, many anglers rig
sinking frogs weightless
(Continued on page 18.)

Capt. Mike Gallo, of Angling
Adventures of Louisiana, admires a
redfish he caught on a soft plastic
frog while fishing in the Bayou Biloxi
Marshes south of Lake Borgne,
near Hopedale, LA.

Weedless soft plastic frogs make excellent temptations for redfish hunkered down in thick grassy cover. Photos by author.
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