It’s no secret that the bigger trout get the more nocturnal they become. Many of a river’s biggest brown trout hunker down during the day and prowl the riverbanks at night, patrolling their territory and looking for an easy meal. While this is true for most states and fisheries, it’s become a core part of Michigan fishing culture. As water temperatures warm during the day and cool off at night, anglers will float the river under the cover of darkness searching for trophy browns. Stripping streamers and swinging mouse flies are popular and proven techniques, but one pattern is often overlooked: the frog. Frog fishing for trout can be exceptionally productive as long as you know how and when to fish these patterns.
Frog Fishing for Trout
Nearly every trout stream in the lower 48 has a population of frogs. Depending on the location, the species will vary, but some of the most common are bullfrogs, leopard frogs, and green frogs. These aquatic frogs have a unique life history, hibernating along muddy banks and deep holes in the winter before becoming active again in the spring. As water temperatures begin to warm, frogs will start to spawn in the spring, laying eggs that will eventually hatch into tadpoles, another great trout food source. By summer, adult frogs are around in numbers, presenting anglers with a unique opportunity to target trophy-sized trout.
Frog fishing shares a lot of similarities with mouse fishing. They both take place at night, have a similar retrieve, and produce quality fish. That said, some rivers don’t have large mouse populations, but if there’s water, there’s a good chance there are some frogs around. The presentation isn’t too complicated. Simply cast at a 45-degree angle towards the bank and slowly strip the fly back as it swings across the bow of a boat. You can fish frogs wade fishing as well, but it’s often best to cast towards the bank and bring the fly to deeper water. Many of the bigger brown trout will cruise the shallows you’d otherwise be standing in at night. Common areas to target are slow-moving pools and soft water where fish will constantly be on the move. That’s not to say a waiting fish won’t take a frog, but more often than not, you are targeting fish actively moving and searching for a meal.
Frog Fly Fishing Gear
The good news is that fishing with frog flies doesn’t require a ton of gear. A standard trout streamer rod will do just fine, something ranging in the 6- to 7-wt class. Since all the action takes place on the surface at night, you’ll want a fairly aggressive tapered floating fly line to aid in turning over bulky flies. One pro tip we learned on the Fly Shop Tour this year was to use a glow-in-the-dark fly line. A glowing fly line gives you a better idea of where your fly is in the water. Leaders typically range from 6 to 8 feet, ending with a 15 to 20-lb section. When you’re fishing at night, fish aren’t very leader shy, so it behooves you to get away with the strongest tippet you can when a big fish hits.
The last and most important part of frog fishing is the flies. A quick search for frog flies will yield plenty of results, mostly tailored to bass fishing. These bass bugs often have stacked deer hair bodies or large foam heads. While bass have no problem slurping down these big bugs, you might want to think twice about fishing them for trout. Brown trout don’t have the big bucket mouths that bass do, and while these bass flies will draw strikes, the hookup ratio can be dismal. Instead, opt for flies with slimmer foam profiles, typical of most trout mouse patterns. If you don’t find something you like, try tying your own. This gives you the flexibility to add stinger hooks and maintain a slim overall profile.
Final Words on Frogging
Night fishing for big predatory trout is one of the best opportunities to catch a true trophy fish. While most people rely exclusively on mouse patterns, frogs are an abundant and often overlooked food source. This summer, swap out your brown and grey mouse flies for some frog patterns and see just how effective this technique can be.
