By "gear," Berry means line, rod and reel.

"You don't want to go have an out-of-the-package frog tied on mono line," he said.

However, you do want to learn how to train a frog to glide flawlessly through the water. Simply skirting a frog along the surface will generate strikes, but if you make sure the frog swims to its potential, you'll increase strikes. Berry points his rod tip down, rather than up, and employs short strokes, perhaps four to five inches.

"I just imagine that there's a needle on the end of my rod and there's a balloon. I don't want to pop the balloon. When I move the tip of the rod, I do so just enough to touch the balloon, but not pop it. It's just like if you were working a Zara Spook," he explained. "You don't want to pull and pull the frog through the water because it won't swim right. You want the frog to stay in one spot as long as you can. You have to make the frog walk on slack line."

Easier said than done! But with practice, the technique can be perfected. By not pulling the frog, you're allowing it to remain in the strike zone for longer periods of time, thus giving bass more time to grab it.

BIG BASS, LITTLE BASS
Many anglers perceive frogs as big-fish baits. However, they're often surprised when barely legal bass grab half-ounce frogs, proving that bass of all ages and sizes are keen on eating frogs.

"I've caught non-keepers that eat frogs, but usually you catch at least keepers," Dobyns said, pointing out that Kent Brown once caught a five-fish limit of 5-pound bass on frogs while fishing the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta.

On the contrary, a frog can be one of the most effective big-fish baits. "I think a frog is by far the best big-fish bait that's ever been made, other than fishing a swimbait," Dobyns said. "You'll catch way more fish on frogs than swimbaits. I've won more money on a frog than any other bait."

Choosing a frog can be a chore. Aisles at sporting good stores and tackle shops offer dozens of brands of frogs. Nevertheless, many that appeal to the eye aren't effective in the water. Some anglers say that it's a personal preference as to which frog they fish with. Others pay attention to the chemistry and construction of the frog.

SELECTING FROG BAITS
"It boils down to your personal favorite with some frogs. The thing that I want a frog to do is, I want a frog to be able to walk," Dobyns said. "I want to be able to work my rod tip and get the frog to walk side to side, like you would a Zara Spook. I want to be able to work it across the mat, and when I hit open water, I want to be able to walk it to another mat. Many times I fish frogs in open water. I think I probably catch 75 percent of my frog-fish in open water."

Nearly every major bass tackle manufacturer designs frogs. Some are more effective than others, however.