Bodkin / Patterns

Dancing Frog

Dry Fly · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Pike · Advanced · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Stinger/bass-bug hook with a wide gap and humped shank, e.g. Tiemco TMC 8089, #2-6 (bass bug size; #2 is common)
  • Thread Fluorescent green (single-strand nylon floss / flat waxed nylon) Flat waxed nylon (210 denier) or GSP for spinning hair

Materials

  • Hook Tiemco 8089 bass-bug hook, #2-6 (1)
  • Thread Fluorescent green single-strand nylon floss / flat waxed nylon (1 spool)
  • Weedguard 20 lb Mason hard nylon monofilament (1 loop)
  • Tail (legs) Yellow rubber legs and fluorescent-yellow rubber legs (9 strands of each) (18 strands total)
  • Belly Yellow deer body hair (spun) (as needed)
  • Back Bright-green and dark-green dyed deer body hair (spun over the yellow belly) (as needed)
  • Spots Olive marker/deer hair spots with black centers (dotted onto the trimmed back) (as needed)
  • Eyes Orange-and-black molded 3-D doll eyes (1 pair)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and tie in a loop of 20 lb Mason hard mono at the bend to form the weedguard; leave the tag to secure at the eye later.
  2. At the bend, tie in the rubber-leg tail: 9 strands of yellow and 9 strands of fluorescent-yellow rubber, splayed to kick like frog legs, about one to one-and-a-half shank lengths long.
  3. Spin yellow deer body hair on the underside of the shank for the pale belly, packing each bunch tight before adding the next.
  4. Spin bright-green and dark-green deer hair on the top of the shank for the back, alternating to blend the two greens, packing tightly all the way to the eye.
  5. Whip-finish, then trim the spun hair to a broad, flat-bottomed frog body. Wide and blocky at the front, tapering slightly to the rear. A flat face lets it push water and 'dance'.
  6. Colour olive spots with black centers along the green back with a waterproof marker for a natural frog pattern.
  7. Glue the orange-and-black 3-D eyes to the front sides of the head, and secure the mono weedguard up to the hook eye so it rides just past the point.

Tying videos

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