An optimal plasmonic resonance and the associated Fröhlich resonance frequency are derived for a thin layer in a straight waveguide in TM mode. The layer consists of an arbitrary composite material with a Drude type of dispersion. The reflection and transmission coefficients of the layer are analyzed in detail. To gain insight into the behavior of a thin plasmonic layer, an asymptotic expansion to the first order is derived with respect to the layer permittivity.