Delong Lures Blog

How to Fish Topwater Frogs: When, Where, and Why They Work

Bladed skirted topwater frog lure with double hooks, rear blade, skirted legs, and size details

Topwater frog fishing is one of the most exciting ways to catch bass. When conditions are right, frogs can trigger violent strikes in places other lures simply can’t reach.

This guide explains how to fish topwater frogs effectively, including when to use them, where they work best, and how different frog styles change your presentation.


What Is a Topwater Frog?

A topwater frog is a surface lure designed to imitate a real frog swimming or struggling on top of the water. With hooks positioned upward, frogs are built to move through heavy cover like weeds, grass, and lily pads without snagging.

They are especially effective when bass are feeding shallow or holding tight to cover.


When to Fish a Topwater Frog

Topwater frogs work best when bass are willing to move up to strike.

Prime conditions include:

  • Warm water temperatures
  • Heavy vegetation
  • Low light (morning, evening, or overcast days)
  • Active bait and frog presence
  • Calm to lightly disturbed water

Frogs shine during late spring through early fall, especially when other topwater baits struggle in thick cover.


Where Topwater Frogs Excel

Frogs are designed for places most lures can’t go.

Key areas to target:

  • Lily pads
  • Grass mats
  • Weeds and reeds
  • Shoreline vegetation
  • Shallow flats near cover

Because frogs are weedless, they allow anglers to fish confidently in areas that would snag other topwater lures.


Types of Topwater Frogs

Not all frogs fish the same. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right tool.

Standard Skirted Frogs

  • Rely on realistic leg movement
  • Best for subtle presentations
  • Effective in calm water and pressured conditions

Bladed Topwater Frogs

  • Feature a rear blade for surface disturbance
  • Call fish up from thicker cover or stained water
  • Combine noise, vibration, and visibility

Hybrid Frogs (Blade + Skirt)

  • Combine lifelike leg movement with added surface commotion
  • Offer realism and attraction in one bait
  • Ideal when bass need extra reason to strike

How to Retrieve a Topwater Frog

Frog retrieves should match fish mood and conditions.

Steady Retrieve

  • Crawl the frog across pads or weeds
  • Let the legs move naturally
  • Great for covering water

Slow Crawl

  • Ideal in thick cover
  • Lets fish track the frog longer
  • Especially effective in pressured water

Pause-and-Go

  • Short pauses allow the frog to settle
  • Legs continue to move while stopped
  • Triggers reaction strikes from following fish

When to Set the Hook

One of the most common frog fishing mistakes is setting the hook too early.

Key tip:
Wait until you feel the weight of the fish before setting the hook. Bass often strike frogs aggressively but may miss on the first attempt.

A short pause leads to better hookups.


Best Conditions for Frog Fishing

Topwater frogs excel when:

  • Vegetation is thick
  • Bass are shallow
  • Water temperatures are warm
  • Light levels are low
  • Other topwater baits snag too easily

They are less effective during cold fronts or when bass are deep and inactive.


Common Frog Fishing Mistakes

  • Setting the hook too early
  • Fishing frogs too fast in heavy cover
  • Avoiding thick vegetation
  • Only fishing frogs in open water

Frogs are at their best when fished where other baits fail.


Final Thoughts on Topwater Frogs

Topwater frogs remain one of the most effective tools for fishing heavy cover. By understanding frog styles, retrieves, and conditions, anglers can turn missed opportunities into explosive strikes.

When bass are shallow and the cover is thick, few baits are more reliable than a properly fished frog.