“Early in the day I’ll start with the outer edges of the grass and then progressively move farther back,” Cameron said. “I’ll always fish the edges first, no matter where I’m fishing.
“I like to work that frog along the edge, or just kill it and let it float motionless when I hit the opening or hit a pothole.”
Many times the bass just can’t stand it, and they smash his toad while it’s just floating there.
As the grass grows thicker during the month, bass often sit under the edges or along openings in the thicker grass and crush the frogs as they swim by or stop in the opening.
“I like to throw way back into the thick grass, and sometimes it gets me into trouble with a fish,” Cameron said. “If one strikes and I get a good hook set but can’t get him out of the vegetation because they bury up in it, I’ll just keep him tight to the grass or pads and have my partner crank up the big motor and motor to that fish.
“It’s either that or lose the bass.”
Depending upon the mood of the fish, Cameron fishes the frogs slow and easy or burns them up fast on top.
“When I fish that Horny Toad, I’ll reel them just fast enough to keep them on top and let the legs flutter,” he said.
Ironically, if the fish don’t strike with abandon or pretty regularly, the young angler speeds up his retrieve.
“Sometimes I’ll burn them fast on top and just kill it when it hits an opening or pothole or along the edge of the grass,” Cameron explained. “Sometimes that will trigger a bite or two, and maybe a big old hawg.”
A key is to change things up to discover what the draws bites.
“Whatever you do, vary your retrieve until you find what they want,” he said. “Don’t give up on the frog during May unless you’ve tried every conceivable technique.
“It can be the difference between finding a pattern and loading the boat or going home empty handed.”
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