Fishing Techniques Using Ribbit Frog Plastic Lures

Ribbit Frogs, made by the Stanley fishing lure company, are soft plastic frog baits that anglers fish on top of the water, primarily for bass. The lures, which are 3.5 or 4.5 inches long, have thick feet that gurgle and make noise in the water when retrieved. While Ribbit Frogs are especially effective when fished on the surface, anglers can use other techniques, too.

  1. Texas Rigging

    • Hold the frog in one hand and a 3/0 fishing hook in the other. Push the point of the hook 1/8 inch into the front of the frog's head, then push the hook point out of what would be the frog's chin. Slide the frog up the shank of the 3/0 hook until is is just below the eye of the hook. Turn the hook so it points at the frog, then push it into the frog. Push until the hook point protrudes slightly from the frog's back. Push the frog's head over the eye of the hook.

    Lily Pads

    • Lily pads provide shade and are especially productive on sunny days. Cast the Texas-rigged frog over the pads and retrieve it from from pad to pad. Allow it to fall into open water between the pads every now and again. Bass often break the surface of the water to hit the lure. When a fish hits, drop the rod tip so it faces the fish, then set the hook with a hard, upward motion.

    Submerged Vegetation

    • Fish submerged vegetation just after sunrise or just before sunset. The top of the vegetation should be a foot or two below the surface. Cast the frog over the vegetation and retrieve it along the surface. Retrieve the bait slowly enough that its legs kick and splash water. When a fish hits, drop the rod tip so it faces the fish, then set the hook with a hard, upward motion.

    Beneath Docks

    • Cast a Texas-rigged Ribbit Frog underneath boat docks on sunny days. Because the bottom of the frog is flat, the lure skips well and can be cast far underneath docks. To skip the lure, use a sidearm casting motion. Cast so the lure hits the water just in front of the dock, then skips underneath it. Skip the frog as far under the dock as possible, then retrieve it slowly. When a fish hits, set the hook with a firm sideways motion, and reel it out from beneath the dock as quickly as possible.

    Jig and Pig

    • Jigs and pigs are one of the most effective lures for bass, especially big bass. The lures consist of a weedless, lead-head jig and a trailer – or pig. The Ribbit Frog makes an effective trailer. Insert the hook point of the jig into the nose of the frog and slide it up the shank of the hook, stopping when the frog is just below the head of the jig. Push the hook out of the frog, then slide the frog the rest of the way up the shank so it rides straight. Cast the jig and pig around deep weed edges or drop-offs and retrieve the lure by crawling it along the bottom.