Hollow Body Frog Fishing on Devils Lake
Devils Lake · North Dakota · Midwest
Devils Lake is a closed-basin, naturally formed prairie lake in northeastern North Dakota, sitting near 1,447 feet elevation and sprawling across approximately 200,000 surface acres after decades of rising water levels. The lake is characteristically shallow — most of the productive bass water sits between 4 and 15 feet — with flooded agricultural land, submerged tree lines, rock reefs, and expansive emergent vegetation defining its structure. Water clarity fluctuates between stained and turbid depending on wind and season, and while walleye dominates the local fishing culture, largemouth bass have quietly built a serious population in the warmer bays and flooded timber corridors.
A soft, hollow body with two upturned hooks that rides over surface vegetation completely weedless. Work it across mats, let it fall into pockets, and work it around pad edges. When a bass grabs it from below, the soft body collapses and the hooks drive home. Big-fish technique — frog fishing consistently produces 4+ pound fish.
Hollow Body Frog Setup for Devils Lake
| Rod | 7'3"–7'6" heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1–8.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 50–65 lb braid (no stretch, cuts through grass, positive hooksets) |
| Weight | 1/2–5/8 oz (BOOYAH Pad Crasher, Livetarget Frog, Spro Bronze Eye) |
Seasonal Tactics on Devils Lake
Lake: Largemouth push into flooded timber edges and rocky shoreline points as water temperatures climb through the 55–65°F range, typically mid-May through early June. Shallow-running crankbaits and swimbaits along the new-growth vegetation edges produce well before the spawn locks fish tight to cover.
Hollow Body Frog: Fish the edges of sparse early grass and around pads as water warms above 60°F.
Lake: Post-spawn bass scatter across submerged weed flats and flooded tree lines in 6–12 feet of water. Texas-rigged plastics and topwater frogs work the denser vegetation pockets during low-light windows, while deeper weedy transitions hold fish through the heat of July and August.
Hollow Body Frog: Prime season. Work across matted grass and punch into pockets. Midday bite can be excellent under mats.
Lake: As surface temps drop into the mid-50s in September and October, bass stack on remaining green vegetation edges and rocky transition points near the main lake basin. Lipless crankbaits like the Strike King Red Eye Shad ripped through dying weedlines can trigger aggressive strikes before fish slide deeper.
Hollow Body Frog: Fish open pockets in dying grass. Work slowly as fish become less aggressive.
Lake: Ice covers Devils Lake for roughly four to five months, and while walleye and perch dominate ice fishing activity, largemouth in the 8–14 foot range of sheltered bays can be targeted with small jigging spoons and finesse plastics on light line near submerged wood.
Hollow Body Frog: Not applicable — bass leave shallow vegetation in cold water.
Best Conditions
Thick grass mats, lily pads, surface vegetation, shallow water in summer, post-spawn through fall, morning and evening
Wait on the hookset. After the explosion, lower the rod tip slightly and wait until you feel pressure before sweeping hard. Premature hooksets cost half your fish.
More Techniques for Devils Lake
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