TACTICS ULTRALIGHT 403
LIP GRIPPER
• Total weight 15.4 lbs incl. battery • Top speed around 5.6 - 6.2 mph, faster than any trolling motor • Range at slow speed 26.1 miles (e.g. at 2.5 mph) • Fully waterproof (IP67) • GPS calculation of remaining range • NEW 40% more battery capacity • NEW Solar-chargeable
For more infos visit
www.torqeedo.com
Hop on Top S
We’ll get you to the Big One.
TANTALIZE BASS WITH A VERSATILE TOPWATER FROG
pace-conscious kayak anglers constantly ask, “What baits do I bring?” For largemouth, that question oſten has a simple answer: a
topwater frog. When the fish relate to shallow structure or school in open water, a hollow body frog is tremendously appealing. Oſten pigeonholed for skimming over matted weeds, frogs are also
effective around overhanging limbs, docks, riprap walls, flooded timber and anything else that harbors forage. Weedless too; the double hooks at the plastic body’s back end give way for solid hookups when a bass clamps down. Te ability to pause the bait and hover it over a break in the cover is another advantage. Popular models include the SPRO Bronzeye Frog, Koppers Livetarget
Frog, Tru-Tungsten Mad Maxx and Snagproof ’s Phat Frog—designed by Bassmaster Elite Series expert Ish Monroe. All can hop, swim, chug and walk. Tey also mimic baitfish and swimming rodents. Motorboat anglers typically use rods of seven feet or longer for frog-
ging, but something in the six-foot, six-inch range is better for kayaks. You sacrifice casting distance, but the kayak’s inherent stealth balances the need. Moreover, shorter rods afford better control from a seated position. Since most frogging is done around heavy cover, go with braided line
for abrasion resistance and fish-pulling power. Short rods help manage braid, which tends to tip-wrap during frequent rod movements. Tis happens a lot when hopping a frog across lily pads, as sudden bumps in uneven cover can send slack up the line and throw a loop around the rod. Free the loose wrap by lowering and popping the tip—a move eas- ily done with a short rod. Keep the rod high and close to your body for open water swimming
Photo by: Jose Chavez bb Slice Angler
• Highly visible orange color • Unique hook retrieval system • Tape measure sealed on the shaft • Durable glass-reinforced blades
Visit
www.bendingbranches.com or one of our specialty dealers to learn more about this paddle. 715-755-3405.
or dragging across vegetation. Short, quick twitches with steady reeling make the frog surge and fall naturally, while a straight retrieve works best for skimming across weed mats. For an enticing side-to-side walk- ing action, hold the rod a little lower so the frog’s head doesn’t rise, wind the reel handle with short bursts and slow your rod twitches to allow the bait time to pull right, then leſt and so on. As with most topwater baits, frog fishing requires patience and per-
sistence. Bass miss as oſten as they connect. Don’t dismiss the potential for a second shot. If a fish boils and misses, let the frog sit still for several seconds. Bass oſten watch wounded prey and lash out at the first sign of movement. When your frog disappears, let the bass pull your line tight and then cross his eyes with a solid hook set. Simple and convenient, a handful of frogs in a Ziploc bag comprise
an efficient kayak tackle pack. And with those bodies designed as weed guards, frogs fit comfortably in shirt pockets with little worry of poking anything except the bass that bite them.
DAVID A. BROWN is a full-time freelance writer specializing in sport fishing. He splits his time between journalism and his marketing firm Tightline Communications.
32 …KAYAK ANGLER EARLY SUMMER 2011
improved 2011 version
PHOTOS: DAVID A. BROWN
Bending Branches Angler Ad
JOB: #28.11.04 #11104 COLOR: 4/C Process
SIZE = 3.687” x 4.875” Source file in Adobe InDesign / Adjust trapping as necessary / Output file at 100% / Use fonts provided
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