Photo David Brown Whether it’s his tournament marshals or co-anglers in a pro-am, Ish Monroe raises a lot of eyebrows with his fishing success on a topwater hollow-bodied frog, namely his signature series Snagproof Ish’s PHAT Frog. And not so much that he throws a frog; but rather, where he throws it.

Perhaps a simpler answer, and certainly a shorter list, would be where he does not throw the amphibian impostor. If he can reach it—and that’s not always a certainty—Monroe will send his frog there.

The splashing, spitting, walking, gurgling act a frog exhibits mimics multiple entrees on the largemouth bass’s menu.

“The frog imitates so many different types of (forage) for bass, you can go just about anywhere you want with it,” the California pro said. “You can fish it on a bluegill pattern, a crappie pattern, a shad pattern, a duck pattern, a gopher pattern.

“You name it, and the frog can imitate any type of prey that bass want to eat.” Read Full Story

With a name like Ish, ya just gotsta fish. In fact, Bass Pro Shops staffer Ish Monroe certainly does that. As a Bassmaster Elite Series pro and multiple title holder there and on the FLW Tour, Monroe knows a thing or two about bass fishing.

Ish took a few moments after an Elite Series event on his way to film a piece for Bass Pro Shops to share his three favorite techniques for catching bass in the spring. Learn How

You don’t hear much about catching giant bass in the fall. This is a tough time. But tough is not the same as impossible. It can be done.

One reason a lot of guys don’t catch a giant is because they’re fishing in the wrong places to catch one. They’re in shallow water catching the bass that are chasing shad. That’s not where the giants are at. And, they’re throwing lures that are way too small.

We’ve talked about this before. If you’re going after big bass, you have to accept the fact that you aren’t going to catch very many of them. If you want to catch a bunch of bass, go back in a creek somewhere and throw a small swimbait, a tiny crankbait or a spinnerbait. You’ll catch plenty, but don’t cry because they’re small.

It’s my theory that the really big bass don’t follow the baitfish in like the smaller ones do. They’re solitary creatures. Giants mostly stay in the same places during the summer, fall and winter. That’s out over deep water. They relate to deep points, breaks, drops and channels. True giants only care about shallow water in the spring and most of that is centered on the spawn. Read More

It usually happens in an explosive, splashy flash, one that heightens your senses and fires every neuron from head to toe with a dose of jet fuel. The impulse to set the hook is overwhelming. You’re dying to do it, to turn the reel handle about three quarters to tighten the line and drive a hook into the bass’ mouth.

But you can’t. For at least a second, maybe two, you have to wait. Only after pausing can you bow up and see the rod double over. Then you can start fighting the bass that wanted that frog.

Although frogs work for virtually the entire fishing season, late summer is when they truly shine. Vegetation is thick in lakes, bass are hungry, and real frogs are out along the bank. Rats and mice are out, too, sometimes skittering over shoreline vegetation, trying to find their way back to terra firma. Often, they don’t. Like your hollow rubber frog with twin hooks and skirted legs, they disappear in a lightning-strike explosion.

Professional angler Ish Monroe of California is a diehard frogger. From spring through autumn, at least one or two of his Daiwa Steeze rods is rigged with a Snag Proof frog. He’s thrown frogs on top of vegetation and in open water from California to Connecticut. Full Story Outdoorlife