How I Catch Snakehead with a Frog Lure
Catching snakehead fish with a frog lure isn’t just about luck—it’s about knowing where to find them, how to work your lure, and when to strike.
Over the years, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. If you’re looking to hook one of these powerful fish, here’s how I do it.
Finding the Perfect Spot
Snakeheads love shallow, weedy waters. I usually target areas with heavy vegetation, lily pads, or submerged grass, and it also depends.
They breathe air, so you’ll often see them coming up for a gulp. If I spot a snakehead breaking the surface,
I know I’m in the right place. They also love hiding under mats of weeds, waiting for an easy meal to pass by.
Choosing the Right Frog Lure
There are plenty of frog lures out there, but I stick to a hollow-bodied frog with a weedless design. These lures are perfect for working over thick cover without getting snagged.
I like using natural colors like green, brown, or black when the water is clear. If it’s murky, I’ll go with something brighter, like white or yellow, to help the fish see it better or real like.
Perfecting the Retrieve
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is reeling in too fast. They don’t give the time to hook perfectly. When I fish with a frog lure, I use a slow, steady retrieve with plenty of pauses. I’ll cast near cover, let the lure sit for a few seconds, then give it a few short twitches. This mimics the movement of a real frog struggling on the surface.
Sometimes, I like to mix things up with a “walk-the-dog” technique, where I make the frog move side to side in a zigzag motion. If I see a snakehead following but not striking, I’ll stop moving the lure completely for a second. That pause often triggers an aggressive bite.
The Strike and Hookset
If you’ve never caught a snakehead before, you’re in for a wild ride. When a snakehead strikes a frog lure, it’s explosive. But here’s the tricky part—you can’t set the hook too fast.
The first few times I tried, I yanked the rod the moment I saw the splash, only to have the fish spit out the lure.
Now, I wait about a second or two before setting the hook. Once I feel the weight of the fish, I give a hard, upward hookset. Snakeheads have bony mouths, so a strong hook set is necessary to drive the hooks in deep.
Once a snakehead is hooked, the real battle begins. They’re incredibly strong and will dive into the thickest cover they can find.
I keep my rod tip up and apply steady pressure to keep the fish from burying itself in weeds. A good braided line (at least a 50-pound test) helps me muscle them out of heavy cover.
Snakeheads are also known for their violent head shakes. I make sure to keep my line tight to prevent the hooks from popping out. If the fish makes a sudden run, I let it take some line while keeping control.
Landing and Handling
Bringing a snakehead to shore or the boat is another challenge. They have sharp teeth and a strong bite, so I never grab them by the mouth like I would with a bass. Instead,
I use a pair of fish grippers or grab them behind the gills. Even then, they’ll thrash like crazy, so I hold on tight.
Once I land the fish, I make sure to handle it with care. Snakeheads can survive out of water for a long time, so even after unhooking, they might still have some fight left in them.
Why I Love Frog Fishing for Snakeheads
There’s something incredibly exciting about catching snakeheads on a frog lure. The topwater explosions, the hard fights, and the satisfaction of pulling a big one from thick cover make it my favorite way to fish.
Every trip feels like an adventure, and even when I miss a strike, it just fuels my determination to get the next one.
So, if you’re looking for an adrenaline-pumping fishing experience, grab a frog lure, find a weedy pond, and get ready for one of the most aggressive freshwater fish out there. You won’t regret it.
