[Black Bass Bait Edition] Frogs | A major summer bait that makes them break the surface

The shortcut to increasing your catch in bass fishing is to know what the bass are currently eating (the bait). In this series, we will delve into each creature that serves as food for black bass.

This time, it is the frog. It is a surface bait that is neither a fish nor a crustacean. Summer fishing where you make them break the surface with a frog lure is particularly exciting in bass fishing. We will also touch on the question, "Do bass eat tadpoles?"

Types of frogs that become bait

Let's list some familiar frogs you might see in bass fishing fields.

・Japanese pond frog: Males are about 4-8cm long, and females are about 6-9cm. They are widely found in rice paddies, ponds, and rivers and are strong swimmers. They can be considered the representative frog bait.
・Japanese wrinkled frog: A small species about 3-5cm long. They are common in rice paddies and wetlands, and their strength lies in their large numbers.
・Schlegel's green tree frog: About 3-6cm long, they are also called "warty frogs" because of the warts on their bodies. They are found near water throughout the year in rivers and lowland ponds.
・Japanese tree frog: A small frog often found on grass or trees. They sometimes fall into the water and are eaten by bass.
・American bullfrog (edible frog): Native to North America, this is a large species with a body length of 11-18cm, with large ones reaching 20cm. It is also a rare frog in Japan that can catch prey underwater. Their tadpoles are also large, sometimes exceeding 10cm in total length, and they overwinter as tadpoles before becoming frogs the following year. In Japan, they are designated as an invasive alien species, and keeping them or transporting them alive is prohibited.

By the way, the red swamp crayfish, a familiar creature near the water, is said to have been originally brought in as food for these bullfrogs.
▶ Crayfish | A red regular bait that dominates the bottom

Why they become bass bait

・Large and nutritious: Since each one is large, they are an efficient feast for large bass.
・They are in a layer with no escape, the water surface: Bass can look up from below and attack. The surface is a layer where they cannot escape upward, making them easy to corner.
・They are in places where bass wait: The shorelines where frogs are found, such as reed edges, weeds, and overhanging trees, overlap with the places where bass hide.
・Their movements are conspicuous: The sight of them swimming clumsily on the surface is noticed even by bass far away.

Do bass eat tadpoles?

The conclusion is yes, they do. However, it is not that they "eat all tadpoles the same way," but rather that they seem to have clear likes and dislikes depending on the species.

There is an experiment that investigated this. When tadpoles were fed to largemouth bass, the bass stopped eating the tadpoles of toad species as they gained experience. They would spit them out even after putting them in their mouths, and eventually, they would stop touching them altogether. In other words, they "learned to avoid them." On the other hand, it has been reported that they ate the tadpoles of tree frog species well.

The reason for this is thought to be poison. Toad species possess a poison called bufadienolide. It has a bad taste and works to keep predators away. It is also known that in European toads, the more competitors of the same species there are around, the stronger the tadpoles make this poison. It is understandable that bass would learn to avoid them.

Bullfrog tadpoles are also considered to have a bad taste to many fish. In a survey of ponds in Japan, it was reported that there were more bullfrog tadpoles in ponds where bass were present. However, it has been confirmed that bass do eat them.

Even if tadpoles are swarming so thickly that the shoreline looks black in the spring, there are times when bass seem to ignore them. This may not be because they "don't eat tadpoles," but because the ones there are of a species that bass do not like. In addition, tadpoles are often clustered in such shallow water that large bass cannot enter, so that may be why they don't eat them.

Note that there are also lures that are shaped like tadpoles.

Is it okay to hold frogs with bare hands?

Since the topic of poison came up, I will touch on this as well. In conclusion, many frogs can be held with bare hands. However, there are some points to keep in mind.

・Be careful with toads: They secrete the aforementioned poison from the parotoid glands behind their ears. They will almost never release it unless handled roughly, but be sure not to rub your eyes or mouth with the hands that touched them, and wash your hands with soap after touching them. It is especially dangerous for dogs and cats.
・Consideration for the frogs: Amphibian skin is sensitive to dryness, and holding them tightly with dry hands will hurt them. If you hold them, wet your hands with water and handle them gently.
・Do not take bullfrogs home: As they are a specific invasive alien species, touching them on the spot is not a problem, but taking them home or transporting them alive is prohibited.

Seasonal Movements

Spring: This is the spawning season. Frogs gather at the water's edge, and the number of eggs and tadpoles increases rapidly. Since bass also move toward the shore for spawning, the distance between the two decreases.

Early Summer to Summer: This is the peak of the frog pattern. Frogs are at their most active, climbing onto reeds and weed mats. This is also the time when the low croaking of bullfrogs echoes.

Autumn: Effective until the water temperature drops. The number of frogs gradually decreases.

Winter: They hibernate in the soil or at the bottom of the water. They are rarely used as bait during this time.

How to Fish the Frog Pattern

The main stage is the surface and cover. Since frogs are on or near cover, lures that can be fished directly through these areas have an advantage.

・Frog Lures: With a hollow body and double hooks, they can be fished over weed mats and reeds without snagging. This is the primary choice for the frog pattern.
▶ Frog-type Lures
・Frog-style Soft Plastics: There are also soft lures shaped like frogs that can perfectly replicate their silhouette.
▶ Guide by Worm Shape
・Target Areas: Reed edges, weed mats, overhangs, and seawall edges. Places where frogs fall into the water or emerge onto the surface are prime spots.
・Technique: Walk the lure over the cover with a twitching motion, and pause it in open pockets or at the edge of the cover. This "pause" creates a window for the fish to strike. When a bass hits, wait a beat to ensure the lure is fully in its mouth before setting the hook.
・Color: Dark colors like black create a clear silhouette when viewed from below. Green pumpkin and white are also standard choices.

Pro Tip: Since frogs are surface prey, bass see them as a silhouette. On cloudy days, at dawn or dusk, or in murky water, dark colors like black are more visible and effective.

Summary

・Dark-spotted frogs, wrinkled frogs, Japanese brown frogs, tree frogs, and bullfrogs are common frog baits found near the water.
・Because they are large, nutritious, and located on the surface where there is nowhere to hide, they are easy targets for large bass.
・Bass also eat tadpoles, but they have clear preferences based on the species. Bass learn to avoid toads, which are poisonous.
・Bullfrog tadpoles can exceed 10cm and will overwinter to become frogs the following year.
・The best time to fish this pattern is during the summer in heavy cover. Use a frog lure to fish over weeds and reeds, and pause to trigger a strike.

Knowing your bait allows you to narrow down your target areas and lure choices significantly. Look forward to the next installment of the bait series.