Stanley Ribbit Frog
Bass Fishing Tips

There are few greater thrills than watching a bass hit a topwater lure. The Stanley Ribbit Frog ranks near the top of the list. Whether you are an experienced bass fisherman or a novice, the Ribbit Frog is a great topwater lure to use. 

When using a topwater lure not only do you feel the fish take the bait, but you can see the attack and the exact second second he took it. At times the fish makes hardly a ripple on the surface while other times it's a more violent attack as the fish explodes out of the water and inhaling the lure. It is an incredible sight for sure.

Here I will give you a few tips to help you get started with the Ribbit Frog.

Two Types of Stanley Ribbit Frog Lures

Two types of Stanley Frogs: 

• The Top Toad 
• The Ribbit Frog 

Both are considered topwater  but there is a difference between them. 

The Top Toad: The first one is an actual floating topwater frog. It is called the "Top Toad" and has a hollow body that will rest on top of the water until you reel it in. These have a larger diameter body than the Ribbit due to the air pocket and the package will say, "hollow body". The Top Toad has a little louder action than the more compact Ribbit Frog

Ribbit Frog: The second Ribbit Frog will not float on its own. It is a smaller solid body diameter with no air pocket and will start to sink as soon as it hits the water. Depending on how long you wait after it hits the water will determine how quickly the frog will come to the surface once you start reeling it in. Starting the retrieve as soon as it hits the water will quickly put the frog on the surface.

Both frogs work well, but you can fish the Top Toad frog much slower if necessary and will continue to float even if you wait to reel it in. 

The Patented Kicking Legs

The patented legs is what gives the frog the bubbling sound and action on the water. It stirs up the water similar to a buzz bait. This is the first thing that bass may hear and then see. I have watched bass in Missouri's clear water lakes come from 20 feet away, arch around the lure at high speed and hit it from the side. 

How to use the Stanley Frog

The top toad is perfectly matched the Stanley's Double Take Twin 5/0 Hooks.  The Top Toad usually comes with two frogs and one Double Take Hook setup. 

The Ribbit frog can be rigged with a 5/0 hook and the smaller "baby ribbit" uses a 4/0 hook and can be rigged like you would a plastic worm. 

Cast the frog onto the bank, near the bank or onto a log and start reeling it back to the kayak. Keep the frog on the surface. The Top Toad frog may not be quite as weedless as the ribbit frog because of the hook placement. With the ribbit, you can "skin the hook" just under the surface of the plastic. Nevertheless, both are fairly weedless. 

Fish the lure over the pads and through vegetation. Vary the speed, but usually I find the faster retrieve is best. 

Fish the frog over brush piles, creek inlets, around drainage pipes,weed lines and more . Bass are ambush fish and will use the structure to wait for prey. You can get this frog into places other topwater lures can never go. 

Setting the Hook

When setting the hook be sure to wait just a second after the fish takes it. This gives the fish time to get it completely in the mouth. I lost a lot of bass before I learned to do this. Now I get 4 out of 5 hook-ups. 

If You are Missing a Lot of Fish...

If you are missing a lot of hook sets try changing the color of the frog. Many people have reported that a color change will fix the problem. Don't forget to give the bass a second after he takes it before setting the hook.