DEAN ROJAS: Frogging Will Dominate on the Upper Mississippi River

LA CROSSE, Wis. – “Froggin’ will dominate” at the Bass Pro Tour’s first-ever championship, to be contested on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin, this week.

That’s the call from frog-fisherman extraordinaire Dean Rojas. It’s also a strong consensus among the bass-fishing world: REDCREST will likely see plenty of frogging among the field of 30.

Frog fishing is a game that comes with risk and potential frustration. But it also comes with a potential payoff that Rojas believes is worth that risk.

“Frogging technique is so specific,” muses Rojas, who designed the Bronzeye family of hollow-body frogs for SPRO. “It’s so powerful, and the fish have to be aggressive to get after the frog. But I do believe there’s a place for it every day.”

Throwing a frog requires the kind of patience that anglers fishing under SCORETRACKER® pressure can find hard to conjure, and Rojas admits that fishing within the MLF format places a premium on time-management strategy. Does that mean REDCREST competitors may tend to gamble with the frog only in high-percentage times and locations?

“Fishing REDCREST in these waters it may not matter,” says Rojas. “Guys might throw it every day. Bass may bite the frog better a certain time of day, but I won’t be surprised if some guys throw it all day and never pick another rod up.”

Ever-Changing River

Rojas last visited Mississippi River Pools 7, 8 and 9 during the Bassmaster Elite event of 2018 in June, won by Ish Monroe with – you guessed it – a frog.

However, river conditions then had gone from low to rising, and they worsened during the event. Don’t expect a 2019 repeat.

“This year it’s quite the opposite on the river,” says Rojas. “It’s at a good steady pool, not a lot of high water, not a lot of flooded trees and backwaters. It’s going to bunch bass up. If you can find an area with grass mats or weed beds or duckweed and any kind of current break, frogging is obviously going to be the deal. Last year, rising water blew out a lot of the grass mats. Not this time.”

Current directs much of the life on river systems, Rojas explains. Wing dams, sand bars, current breaks and just holes in the river bottom all create current, which Rojas refers to as “natural eddies.”

Success in La Crosse likely will hinge on a pro’s ability to find the right convergence of elements – and the right group of fish.

“Calmer areas are where grass and vegetation can grow,” notes Rojas. “You may find them in backwaters with secondary current or off main river current. Anything that has a little moving water will be key right now. The water temperature has risen. A lot of the backwaters will be filled with duckweed and vegetation.”

Bronze Baiting

Had he qualified for REDCREST, the Bronzeye Frog 65 that Rojas designed and rode to prominence would be a “go-to” bait. That mainstay has spawned a family of hollow-bodies, including a walking frog-style bait, the Bronzeye Shad, and two popping-style frogs, the Bronzeye Popper and the Bronzeye Spit Shad.

“But the Spit Shad is the bait I would really prefer here because I can cause so much more commotion with it,” Rojas says. “I can walk it better in those pockets and holes guys will be needing to key on.”

Don’t be surprised if smallmouth find popping frogs like the Spit Shad on this week’s menu.

“You can catch smallmouth very easily on a popping frog,” Rojas says with a grin.

Froggin’ Only Fitting

That the capper to MLF’s very first Bass Pro Tour season should take place on the Mighty Mississippi with all its history and many moods and complexities seems only fitting. That frogs might well determine the outcome only adds to the event’s mystique.

“So many variables factor into fishing this river,” says Rojas. “It will be a great event. Guys will catch them in multiple ways. You’ll see swim jig action, a spinnerbait bite, some will be cranking riprap, and flipping will be a big key. But froggin’ will be Number One. Frogging is going to dominate!”