Fishing Rods

Gentleman,

This question concerns the SPRO Bronzeye Frog. How do you get it to "Walk the Dog"?

Coach

this may be a little hard to explain...but i'll give a try. i would use a twitch, twitch, twitch..pause to start out with, until you get the rythm down. walking anything is all about rythm and keeping the right amount of slack in the line to get the lure moving free of tension. with your rod tip down it doesn't take much movement of the rod tip to get it moving. you need to leave slack in your line just like you would with a spook. the difference for me is not to crank that reel until after the third twitch of the rod. that allows for the slack to still be there and not impeed the action of the frog. the first two twitches are relatively light and the third twitch is just a little harder...if you work the timing of the twitches right and reel in enough slack to keep it moving free it should turn around and do a 180 on the last twitch...reel up some of the slack and do it again until you get it back to the boat..once you get that down then you can work on a constant steady walk with no pauses.
everyone finds there own cadence they are comfortable with. some frogs are easier to walk than others....the spros are one of the harder ones to walk beacause of the shape and location of the wieght. i don't know if that helps or not....but i tried. practice, practice, practice....the more you do it the it becomes something you don't think about.

I can walk a spook, no problem. Now when it comes to the frog all I get is a splash and jump.

Do you actually twitch the rod tip right to left to get the motion?

Coach

No...i'm twitching like you would use a pop R. not as hard but the same direction wise...back towards myself. no left and right...have you ever heard of a swamp donkey Coach? it's another topwater frog that walks alot easier. another question is, which spro frog are you using ? the smaller(JR.) one is alot harder to walk than the original size. I wish i could post a video of this....you are not alone on this question...i get asked this more than anything else. it would be so much easier to show rather than just describe. the splashing around isn't all that bad either....you want a little chug, it catch the fishes attention. all though he does both, Dean Rojas prefers to just chug it along rather than walk it.

Jeremy Johnson
Kistler Pro-Staff

I try to use the large version. You are right about the chugging along, much like a popper might be used.

I have been told but have not seen it done. Hold the rod tip up not down and move rt-lt to impart the walk on the frog. I cannot say if this will work.

The reason I ask is that I mangled a frog by cutting the legs as suggested to get the frog to walk. Leggless frog does not work.

I also have a problem of water accumalating inside the frog after several casts.

Mike

Hey Coach....two other things I`d add to what Jeremy said, first try using braided line if you aren`t already. It floats and will aid in walking and trim about an inch off of the skirt of the Bronzeye which will reduce the drag created by the longer skirt.

Have not tried braid but I will.
Cutting the rubber legs I have tried. To be exact I cut almost all off one in attempts to walk the dog.
Any other suggestions?

Coach

OK ..I use the 7"3" frog/slop rod w/ 50 lb. Power Pro braid, the large Bronzeye w/legs trimmed 1". I hold the rod in my left hand w/ the tip pointing down and angling away from me to my right. Now leaving slack in the line, pop it back towards you with your wrist as if you were using a Pop R or a spook leaving slack before your next pop. Leave slack and get a cadence going and it will become natural. Once you get the feel it`s simple speed up or slow down the cadence to fit the mood of the fish.

Thanks for the technique. Will practice this on the pond to get it down.

Coach

baileycoach wrote:I try to use the large version. You are right about the chugging along, much like a popper might be used.

I have been told but have not seen it done. Hold the rod tip up not down and move rt-lt to impart the walk on the frog. I cannot say if this will work.

The reason I ask is that I mangled a frog by cutting the legs as suggested to get the frog to walk. Leggless frog does not work.

I also have a problem of water accumalating inside the frog after several casts.

Mike

well the water is going to get inside it no matter what....they all get water in them...just gotta give them a sqeeze every once in a while. you can put some type of sealant on them but in my case i think that's a good way to ruin the frog. as for cutting legs...i can't say that it's any easier.. in theory it should be but when i walk a frog..i use the same exact cadence and motion wether i cut the legs or not. the Braid tip was a very good one....it will definitley help. i use suffix 50lb...i have broken or had trouble with every braided line except Suffix. it cast's a little easier to me and i don't have near the problems with the line digging into the spool when i catch a decent fish. but like i said before.....practice that cadence and you will get it down in no time.....good luck!!!

Jeremy