MIAMI VICE(LESS) FROG
This is a very simple pattern that I didn't bother to use a vice to make...the only drawback was the frog would eventually get pulled off the hook...at the time it didn't matter anyway because Mr Frog was getting the pounding of his life just the same...I used small hooks I found laying around and watched football and "pinched" together dozens of frogs.you will see what I mean if you follow along...now with a little effort (but not much) they are basically bulletproof and a little more fun to make...I can’t help myself when I see the legs pump in the water, so primal and simple but so brutally effective on the fish as well...ok, I will try to keep this simple and clean with lots of pictures that really tell the story best...dont be afraid, you cant go wrong here...
1st - gather the materials similar to what is shown and exactly how they are laid out. Then pick 1/2 of them to put back....lol
2nd - Put the hook in your vise...the hook is a Gamakatsu Stinger...whatever size you want is fine but the wide gap is important...pictured is the hook with pending weed guard(optional)...note that I staggered the thread from thick at the weed guard and then added a very small piece of mono on top and ended with a few wraps at the eye...this is to bond the foam on the hook...foam is very tough once super glued on this thread to secure it and its INSTANT so you don't have any spare time to set it up...the thick to thin taper will prevent slippage
3rd - take the foam and cut a strip about the width of your thumb...if you are a giant then use your pinky...yellow and/or green is killer...the foam comes in different sizes...choose your weapon wisely grasshopper...then bend it in half and cut it...use a spare hook for a gauge...I left you one in the top picture just for that, see for yourself...then cut it as shown while folded...rough cut is fine so don't freak
4th – take a custom bodkin like the one the mighty "coughlin" so generously sent me a few years ago and spear the middle right on the center of the fold...then abuse the frog by trenching a deep valley practically thru the entire bottom side as shown...best to be brutal about it because the boogers left over help bond the foam to the hook in about 1.5 seconds when you put the superglue...pinch it together for a few seconds when burying the hook in the foam...this will help the hook to ride downwards and make a wider gap for hookups
5th - time to make the legs...I use various colored rubber legs and sometimes switch around...I will use yellow and dark green for demo...don’t tie them too wide...leave one pair long for the back legs...be sure to snug and resnug the knot or it will undo...small drop of glue will secure it but be careful or you will burn it off with a "hot spot"...best to just be careful...once you got that then you can put them where they go by adding a small drop of glue to secure it until you are ready for the "pinch"
6th - put small dots of glue at the butt and in the middle and sides but not the front...look at the pictures chief...this is left open for the eyes...be fast and "pinch" it together in 1 motion or it will bond instantly. I do it out of the vice but for pictures sake I am doing it like this...
7th - add the eyes...I have shown 2 different styles...one you make from the beads, mono and superglue the other obviously I have snuffed out a teddy bear and tore its eyes out(just kidding)... get them at the fly shop to support local fly shops...forget the art stores...trim the post of the eye to short and insert like shown and THEN add drop of superglue, if not the glue will dry and bond before you can push it in place, believe me it will
8th - round the edges and clean up around the hook a little bit...use your imagination...then get black sharpie and mottle it up according to taste....I also bar the legs to add zest...be sure to separate the legs so they can spread out where they were once factory glued...
9th - OK, admire your work and envision the huge bass that is waiting....now; POCKET THOSE DREAMS SON and finish the weed guard...got to keep the weeds from coming off the hook
10th - final order at hand-GO FISH...GOOD LUCK...POST YOUR CATCHES ON FAOL...THANKS EVERYBODY cordell aka bonefishwhisperer
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