Flip In the Bird: Colors: 9 Length: 2 3/4" Weight: 5/8oz Pack Count: 1
Intro:
So here we are frog review number 50!, and I did not want to waste this one on some dime store frog that know body has heard of, but instead I wanted to pick apart a frog (excuse me: bird) that has been getting some pretty high praise since it's introduction last year.. I'm here to squash the rumours
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price
Quality: 4.0/5
This being my 50th frog review (or First Bird review depending on how you look at it) I'm feeling' kinda generous, and I'm going to give the FTB a 4 out 5 when it comes to the baits quality. That doesn't mean it is without it's flaws, as you will quickly see below this bait has multiple issues, the first being that is is not weighted properly and often lands upside down. To fix this the team at "Flippin the Bird" baits wants you to trim it when you first get it out of the package.. ummm, I'm all for trimming baits to a personal preference, but why should I have to trim a bait to get it to work properly? something is wrong there!
Ok, so by now you are probably wondering how or why the Bird got it's 4 out of 5, well thats simple, it is a very durable bait, well built with what looks and feels like quality components. Im also giving some bonus marks for the baits originality, all to often baits are copies or imitation, the FTB is 100% original and for that it deserves a round of applause
Castability: 3.0/5
If there is one complaint I have seen over and over again, it is that the FTB has a tendency to land on it's back hooks down, and this would be accurate. It has a design flaw in the way that it is weighted, and yes it will and does often land upside down. This is a big pain in the ass, and although an experience angler should be able to pop it over, there is no reason we should have to!
Presentation: 3.5/5
I was up in the air (no pun intended) on how to rate the FTB when it comes to presentation, as I do have some issues with how it fishes (or doesn't fish). The Bird is more of a stationary bait that performs well when paused and twitched. You can do smaller walks or pulls, but for the most part your goal with this bait is accurate casts and working it for longer periods of time in open pockets.. if you work it this way, you will be successful
On a side note, if you like to burn baits back to the boat or steady walk your frogs, then this is not the frog for you.. it can do these things, but it performs better at a slower pace.. think dead or dying bird not fleeing frog
On a side note, if you like to burn baits back to the boat or steady walk your frogs, then this is not the frog for you.. it can do these things, but it performs better at a slower pace.. think dead or dying bird not fleeing frog
Hook-Up Ratio: 2.5/5
I don't care how many reviews you read or how many fish you have seen landed with this bait on videos or in person, there is no way it was getting a rating any higher then a 2.5 for hook-up ratio and ill tell ya why.. 1.. the body material is way to hard, I'm not sure why they opted to build this frog.. oops I mean "bird" out of tire rubber, but it was a bad choice, yes it is still collapsible, but they have leaned too heavily on durability and not fishability... 2... The hooks are to snug to the rubber and don't offer as much gap as I would like to see when a fish bites down on the bait. And finally...3... with all this added silicone on the two wings and the tail there is just too much "stuff" that can and will get in the way of you driving the hook home
Availability: 3.5/5
The Birds on-line presence is small, other then the 100's of reviews (most of which I disagree with) you wont come across many major retailers carrying this bait. That being said they do have an impressive list of smaller baits & tackle shops that have bought in both in Canada and the US, and you should not have a hard time getting your hands on one
Options & Price: 3.0/5
coming in at nearly $12 the FTB is slightly over priced. If they are looking to get the Bird tied on to more anglers lines then they need to drop it down closer to that magical $10 mark.
The bird is only available in 1 size, but has some pretty cool colour options.
The bird is only available in 1 size, but has some pretty cool colour options.
Where to Find:
In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.
Flip In The Bird ($11.99)
Equipment:
The Bird is a larger bait and thus I recommend throwing it on a Dobyns 736c, you will be happy for that extra bit of back bone because one thing that this frog/bird has going for it..it's a big fish bait
Hi Guys ,Thanks for the review,
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who like to skip your frogs/bird under docks or into those nether regions where you can not see your bait having them sink is a pain in the you know what, the bird never sinks. This is because of the wing positioning, and we gave up some balance for it not to sink and take on water. We never stop improving on our birds, we will never make a bait that fails just to make more money and will always give your money back if your not happy. Thanks for the review and we always appreciate insights and opinions. ps i love your site. Dan Flip In The Bird.