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imsafanct · Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 118

I hit the North cove at Keeney Saturday morning and got this LMB on a green pumpkin/red flake 5" senko. (Thank you again Phil)

Bill and I went out Sunday morning to Bashan but we quit after an hour and a half due to the wind. We packed up and headed to Upper Moodus where it was still windy, but not as bad. We only had a couple hours to spend there and I grabbed 3 LMB's in the back on the same Senko.

This morning I hit Keeney again for an hour before work and hit two more LMB's, this time on a Keitech Fat Swing Impact rigged on an Owner Twist Lock weighted swimbait hook.

Good stuff!

-Eric

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Okay, now you have to try fishing with a Zoom Horny Toad on a 4/0 EWG (Extra Wide Gap) Offset Shank Worm Hook. Use 50 pound test braided line. It's a topwater lure; just cast and retrieve over lily pads and surface weeds. Don't worry if it swims upside down; the fish don't care. When you get a bite, pause your retrieve for a couple of seconds (count "one, one thousand, two, one thousand") before setting the hook. Set it hard by snapping your wrists back and pulling your arms up to your face. A vertical hookset is best. If you set the hook and it's just gone, it got bit by a northern pike or a chain pickerel. Tie on a steel leader and try again.
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imsafanct · Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 118

Phil,

Is the Horny Toad your frog of choice? I've got a couple LiveTarget hollow frogs that I've thrown a bit this year with no success. It's frog time of year and pads are everywhere so I know I should be working them more than I do.

-Eric

hila2006 · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 582 Location: Ellington

They're not the same kind of bait, I've got a couple different Stanley Ribbits. They're soft plastic like a worm and they don't float. I struggle getting them to work correctly lol. Tried them when I lived on Beseck, but only got a few short strikes. I do like the floating frogs a little better myself. Jmo

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

JJay · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 113 Location: Farmington, CT

I must agree with Phil on this one!

Wanna Fish · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Posts: 662 Location: Earth I Think

Regardless of what Frog you use! If your using double frog hooks try bending them out slightly. They may not be as weed less but your hook ups will increase dramatically.
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hila2006 · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 582 Location: Ellington

Alright, I'll take your word for it. I'll actually have to grab a pack. What's your go to color Phil? Are just as easy to use in the yaks?

imsafanct · Joined: 05 Aug 2013 Posts: 118

Phil,

For the Horny Toads, what hooks work best?

And for the LiveTargets, I've only tried a slow stop, jerk, stop retrieve so far. Maybe I need to turn the boost up on the retrieve?

Thanks as always.

-Eric

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Zoom Horny Toads in the Bullfrog pattern are great, although whenever I'm down South I try to pick up some in the Watermelon Crawfish pattern. However, I think that my choice of color is less important than the action of the lure.

As for hooks, I prefer a simple Gamakatsu Number 4 EWG (Extra Wide Gap) Offset Shank Worm hook in either silver or red. I've tried the screw-type lure holders that Zoom recommends and Stanley Double Take hooks, and have found them to be less weedless than a classic offset shank hook.
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bowhunter095 · Joined: 20 Jan 2011 Posts: 392 Location: Berlin, CT

Phil- Have you noticed that the Zoom Horny Toads aren't really durable? I've been going through so many as of late that I'm thinking of picking up two packages next time I see them. I've noticed that after one or two fish, a rip forms where the hook goes into the frog which causes the hook to expose much easier. I start snagging weeds every cast and usually throw on a new one.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

bdiggy · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 245 Location: Thomaston, CT

Yep. Horny Toad for the win. Caught 45-50 LMB on em so far this year, mostly on white and watermelon red, including this 6 lb 2 oz beauty. Nothing like a top water smash!! Cool