But shallow lakes and stagnant backwaters in rivers that have lots of vegetation are the classic places to fish these lures.

The Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta is one of the West's premier bass fishing areas. Clear Lake, north of San Francisco, is shallow and has the vegetation that makes it a great bass lake, one of the best in the world -- and a great frogging lake.

Don Pedro Reservoir east of Modesto, Oregon's John Day River, Ten Mile Lakes and Umpqua River, and Washington's Bank Lake are among the many waters that have good frog fishing.

Small lakes and farm ponds everywhere are shallow, usually have frogs and are great places to fish a floating frog imitation.

While the classic frog water has lots of cover, Barrack said to fish open water as well -- he estimates that he catches 70 percent of his frog-caught fish in open waters. The shady side of a dock is a great place to fish them.

WHEN TO THROW A FROG
There is a misconception that frog-fishing is good only in the hot summer months. The very best times to fish this bait are July and August afternoons all the way to sunset. But in Northern California, pros say, it's also good from the beginning of March to the end of September.

Southern California lakes have a longer season. In Oregon and Washington, the best fishing is from April into September.

BASS YOU'LL WANT TO TARGET
Frogs are perfect for largemouth bass. These shallow-swimming fish are often found in water that is only 2 to 4 feet deep, and they know exactly what is happening on the surface.

Larger bass can engulf a decent-sized frog, and they have learned that their easiest meal often comes from the surface. When you tie on a frog, you're fishing for the largest bass you have ever caught, said Barrack.

But smallmouth and spotted bass will also take a frog lure.

When I grew up and learned to fly-fish, my first target was bass, using popper lures. I fished lakes, occasionally going for largemouths, but I mostly waded or floated rivers fishing for smallmouths. A frog-colored popper was a favorite.

When you cast frog imitations to shore, you attract smallmouth bass. Spotted bass go deeper, but surface lures of all types attract them when the water is warm and they are near the surface.