Optimum Pop'n Furbit Review

 Poppin Furbit:   Colors: 12        Size: 3.00"        Weight: 5/8oz      Pack Count:  1

      

Intro:

Much of this review will be similar to the review I complete on the standard Furbit, That being said there are some changes made to this frog that will slightly affect it's overall score and the way it fishes.

Overall Rating:  7.8/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality: 4/5

The Poppin furbit is a quality built frog from head to tail. The choice of body material gives it a thicker skin then many frogs on the market, yet it is still very soft and pliable. The skin stands up better to the abuse you will put it through day in and day out on the water, while still being soft enough to easily collapse when a fish hammers it. 

Unlike standard hollow body frogs the Furbit utilizes rabbit fur for the "leg" yes the Poppin Furbit is a single legged bait, this not only imparts amazing movement in the water, but the fur will hold scent better then silicone or rubber legs

The Poppin Furbit comes with a with a 6/0 Owner hook and an external belly weight.

Castability: 3.0/5

The Furbit series of Frog cast extremely well, they are belly weighted and hefty enough to travel  serious distances even in windy conditions.  With the exposed belly weight and Colorado blade this frog lands hard (and is meant too). The wide popper mouth may cause this bait to cast shorter distances then it's brother (the non-popper version) but all in all I think you will be happy with the result. 

Presentation: 5.0/5

this is not your average everyday frog, the rabbit fur leg and the addition of a small #3 Colorado blade really give this frog a unique look while in the water. The Poppin Frubit has a single leg that provides a slither like motion when walked, and flares out in a nice subtle motion when paused. Fishing the two Furbits side by side I think I prefer the popper model, both frogs walk very well, but the single leg looks better in the water and with the addition of the popper mouth it gives you another tool to use when simply walking just wont cut it.

Just like with the Standard Version the Poppin Furbit  comes with a #3 Colorado blade that gives the frog a bit more flash and splash and makes sure it is seen from below. It is not always needed and can at times get in the way. (loose small particles of slop can catch it). When Fishing the Furbit I will usually start with the bladed version and move away from it if the fish are looking for a faster presentation or if I'm having a hard time hooking up (some times small changes can be big confidence boosters) 

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

I have a fairly high hook-up ratio when fishing with both Furbit frogs. The slender/narrow back end and the fact that the fur lays flatter then rubber legs means that the fish can get more of the frog in his mouth. The body of the Furbit is a bit denser then other frogs currently available, but this has not effected my fishing or hook-ups. (Body density does play a role in a frogs overall hook-up ratio and that's why I mention it here). The large weight at the back end of the frog can help your hook up ratio, as it helps drive the hooks home when the fish bites down on it (see below)

Although I like the blade for presentation purposes, anytime anything is added to the tail end of a frog I have a hard time giving it a perfect rating. I feel any object at the back end of a frog can effect your hook-up ratio by simply getting in the way of the hooks.

Again I believe this frog fishes better with the blade, but if you are having issues with hook-ups, don't be afraid to remove the blade.

Availability: 3.5/5

The Optimum Furbit Frog is widely available on-line from Optimum and other major retailers. In the Canadian market place it is not as readily available at local shops. I hope this improves as this is a good product and deserves to be seen by more anglers

Options & Price: 4/5

Coming in around the $10 mark, which appears to be the new standard for hollow body frogs, the Furbit will not do too much damage to your wallet. As for options, the Furbit is currently only available in 1 size but does does come in 12 color options, some of which are very unique.

Where to Find:

In case you are having a hard time finding these, here are some reliable options for you.

Optimum Baits ($11.99)

Tackle Warehouse ($10.99)

Land Big Fish  ($10.99)

The Hook Up ($9.99) 

Bass Tackle Depot ($10.99) 

For the price savvy customer "the Hook-up" is the place to go, but as with the standard Furbit they have the worst colour selection available (of this group) with only 8 of the 12 colors available.

Equipment:

As with the Standard Furbit I like to fish the Poppin version with a  Dobyns 736c, this stick was built for frog fishing and will not let you down no matter the situation. As mentioned in the last review I find the Furbit to fish a little heavy but the 736c was designed with the tip you need to throw and manoeuvre it with ease

I like to pair my hollow body frogs with a Diawa Advantage reel, but this year with the introduction of the Lexa my Advantages may get a bit of a break.

As for line, like always I recommend 40-60lb braid when fishing Hollow body frogs, (Insert your fav brand here)  Last year I had great success with Sunline FX2 frog line and will continue to use it on my frog rods this year