Page 21 - ODUMar-Apr2019

little jingle bells. Go to a craft store and buy a package of

bells. They come in all sizes. You can use the really small
ones for rattles or put the larger ones on the back hooks
like you would a trailer hook. The bells on the back can
actually be heard when coming across lily pads.

3. Action
There are several ways to improve the action of a frog.
Trim the legs on the skirt. Shorten the legs or thin out

the skirt either of which will create less drag and make
the frog easier to walk.

Use a trailer hook. I never or seldom ever throw a frog in
a tournament without a trailer hook. There are several
good trailer hooks out there. Lake Fork Tackle being one

of them. A trailer might be the difference in a check or
no check in a tournament and you catching a short
striking fish.
I install a heavy-duty split ring on the front line-tie of all
my frogs. This lets the frog have more freedom of
movement. When working your frog, whether walking
or simply popping, it moves to the side more freely.

Anglers have told me they thought the frogs were too
stiff and that’s the reason they weren’t catching the fish.
Different frog brands come in various degrees of texture
or softness of plastic. Some are soft and some harder. If
you want to make your frogs super soft, simply boil
them. This will break down the plastic and soften your
frogs. The only drawback is it also weakens the plastic

and makes them more prone to tears.

4. Scent
If it looks like a frog and it smells like a frog, it will be easier to get a bite. There are numerous

attractants on the market. Some are even “frog scented”. Spray an attractant on your frog occasionally
and at the very least, it will mask the human odor (and maybe the onions you put on your sandwich).
You can soak cotton balls in scent and insert them into your frog’s body cavity. I soak foam ear plugs.
They are a little tougher and easier to handle than cotton balls. I personally us a frog scent made by Bio
Logic. This comes in a stick or liquid.

These are just a few ways to modify your frog and will help you get more bites. Try them and
experiment with your own methods to customize your frog and create your secret weapon!

Big blow-ups! Mike Atchley is a competitive bass fisherman and outdoor writer in Livingston, TX
Contact him at 936-328-2594, finsfeathersandhorn@yahoo.com