Anatomy of a Topwater Frog

There are many of us who, when it comes to fishing lures, maintain the mindset of not caring how it works, just that it works. More often than not, simply knowing how to use a specific lure is enough. However, it’s also important to break down effective lures, piece by piece, and learn what makes them such favorites among anglers. Today, we continue this by taking a closer look at what comprises floating topwater frogs and makes them so deadly when used on bass.

The most obvious feature of a topwater frog is its overall design. Modeled to depict a frog perfectly, these lures can vary in appearance depending on which company makes them. For example, Spro’s frogs possess a smoother, sleeker shape, but have a more pronounced eyebrow arch, whereas topwater frogs from Koppers are more subtle. Frogs made by XPS, on the other hand, tend to resemble toads more than frogs, and possess the defined bumps and textures that toads are known for.

Aside from shape, topwater frogs are also available in several color options, ranging from brilliant oranges and greens to more natural browns and blacks. However, the bottom of the frog—the belly—is the only color a fish is going to see, which makes it the only area with much importance. If you can, try to find a white and black-bellied model, as well as one or two with bright colors such as chartreuse or orange, just to change it up.

The legs of a topwater frog have a big impact on its appeal to fish. Most models are equipped with legs made of silicon skirt material, much like a spinnerbait, which is highly effective due to its pulsing action in the water, especially in between twitches of the fishing rod. Many anglers tend to snip a centimeter or two off the skirt and some even tie the ends in knots to make it look like the lure has feet. Other frog lures can possess rubber skirts or even soft plastic legs that are fully molded to look like a frog.

When it comes to hooks, the vast majority of topwater frog lures are equipped with a double wide gap hook that extends through the inside of the frog’s body. The hook’s points rest on either side of the frog’s body and point upward towards the head, which keeps the lure from snagging on anything during the retrieve. When a fish strikes, the soft plastic body collapses, allowing the fixed wide gap hooks to snag the fish’s mouth.

Add all the aforementioned components together and you get one pretty amazing bass lure that’s deadly when worked over blankets of weeds and lily pads. Work them fast or work them slow; either way, topwater frogs are a staple for any bass fisherman and anyone looking to hook into big bass lurking in the shade beneath vegetation will be glad to have one on the water.