Many bass pros seek out specific water to throw frogs, but Dobyns is a little more flexible. He commonly casts frogs into open water where most folks wouldn't think of fishing them. "You can throw a frog in some places that you can't throw anything else. A frog won't snag, so you can throw it anywhere," says Dobyns, who tosses frogs on 65-pound Power Pro. "Braided line is very important. You don't want any stretch. With braid, you get good, solid hookups. You want to be able to power the fish out of the mat."

GRASSLESS FISHING
Mats aren't the only place where frogs are effective. Anglers can find success pitching frogs into debris pockets of wood, grass, pollen slicks, tules and any heavy-matted vegetation. On the contrary, many pros have made a living pitching frogs in open water.

"I like throwing them to the bank," says Art Berry, former Bassmaster champion. "You need to be able to cast the frog to where the water meets the bank. The key is getting the frog as shallow as possible. Everybody knows that frogs live close to the shore. The bass pin them against the bank. You want to throw to the bank, whether there are trees, grass, moss or overhanging branches on the bank."

The point is that you don't have to find grass to enjoy success.

"Most of the frog-fish I catch are not caught underneath the mat. They're caught around brush, trees and in open water around grass," Berry said. "They'll probably eat the frog in the spot where you didn't think you would ever get bit."

On the other hand, time of day can affect results. Weather can also be a determining factor in frog-fishing success. Many anglers see catch rates increase toward midday and late afternoon. This is because typically, the water is warmer during this time and bass are in covered areas. Dobyns finds the best action with frogs occurs on hot, clear, calm days.

"I think the hot is a given. It makes the fish get in the shade, which most of the time is going to be underneath the mats. Clear is because it will put them in specific spots. If it's an overcast day they don't need the cover, but if it's bright and sunny they need to hunt any cover they can over the top of their heads," added Dobyns. "Calm -- well, I've always believed that topwater baits drive fish crazy in calm water. I like fishing frogs in calm water. I'll throw them in wind, but ask what my perfect situation is, and it's flat."

HOW TO FISH A FROG
Knowing how to fish a frog is a science, not something that comes overnight. As with all techniques, the more you employ it, the more confidence you'll have when fishing it.

"People wonder why a bass short-strikes a frog. It's because often the angler isn't fishing it right or the frog isn't swimming right," Berry added. "You need to get the frog to be able to walk. Most guys don't know how to walk a frog and they don't have the right gear when they fish them."