Hollow Body Frog
The hollow frog skims across matted grass and lily pads with its hooks tucked against its back - the only lure that fishes the thickest, nastiest cover where the biggest bass live.
The hollow body frog goes where no other lure can: across matted hydrilla, lily pad fields, and slop so thick it looks like a lawn. Its soft, hollow body collapses on the bite to expose double upturned hooks that ride snag-proof against its back the rest of the time. Frog fishing is violent, visual and addictive - the mat bulges, explodes, and then you drag a giant out of the jungle on rope-thick braid.
What it is & how it works
A soft, hollow-bodied frog with a double upturned hook molded tight to its back and rubber-skirt legs. It slides over vegetation without fouling; when a bass eats it, the body compresses and the hooks find the jaw.
When & where it shines
Matted vegetation from late spring through early fall: hydrilla and milfoil mats, lily pads, pencil reeds, bank grass and under overhanging bushes. The thicker and nastier, the better - holes and edges in the mat are money.
How to fish it
Cast onto the mat and walk or hop it across, killing it in every hole and edge. On the blow-up: do nothing until you feel the fish, then set hard and keep its head coming - hesitation buries fish in the grass.
Tackle & rigging
Heavy tackle is not optional: a 7'3"+ heavy rod, 50-65 lb braid straight to the frog, strong reel. Light gear loses every good fish in the mat.
Colors & sizes
Black and white are the workhorses (belly is what fish see through the mat); bluegill and natural greens over sparse cover. Trim the legs shorter for more hookups.
Common mistakes
Setting on the explosion instead of the weight, tackle too light for the cover, and skipping the pauses - most bites come when the frog sits dead in a hole in the mat.