Monday, August 12, 2013

EverGreen Kicker Frog Review



Kicker Fish:   Colors: 8     Length: 2 3/8 inch    Weight: 1/2oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

This is a frog came to my attention through the emails of multiple "Frog Pond" readers. I was quickly impressed with what I saw and began the process of tracking one down. They are not the easiest to get your hands one, but when you do, you'll quickly realize they worth the wait.. and the price 


Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price


Quality & Durability: 5.0/5

Like many of the Japanese baits that are currently flooding the north american market, the Evergreen Kicker frog is a high quality bait that comes at a high price point. They are equipped with a heavy duty single hook, and give you the option to add a blade or a stinger hook on the rear eyelet.

The body material is super soft but fairly durable, I have used one frog for multiple fish on multiple outing without concern. If one thing is going to go wrong it is the external weight/eyelet on the rear, if it comes loose this frog is going to sink and quick





Castability: 4.5/5

Dont let its small appearance fool ya, the Kicker frog weighs in at 1/2 ounce and casts like a dream. Its flat bottom also makes it the perfect frog for skipping up under structure.

I have used it in all kinds on conditions and cant find a single casting fault

Presentation: 4.5/5

The Kicker fish has a pretty impressive walking action when twitched . You can pretty much walk it on the sport with tight short jerks that will drive fish crazy  or slither it back to the boat in that hypnotic "s' we all dream of achieving.

If fishing the Kicker frog in heavier cover you can take advantage of the runners covering the bottom of the frog  that help it slide over pads and other structure, and it's shorter then average silicone legs always flare out the sides improving its profile on the pause

Hook-up Ratio: 5.0/5

When I first got a look at the Kicker Frog I was intrigued but unsure on how much I would like the single hook concept, but it quickly proved a winner. Placed in the center of the forgs back it stays out of the way until needed but still easily finds a home when a fish strikes.

The hook is just part of what makes the Kicker fish a great hook-up bait, the body material is highly durable yet very soft and collapses easily. I was really impress how well this bite sized frog gets eaten and holds on




Availability: 3.0/5

Evergreen frogs are available but you will have to look for them. Evergreen sells them driect and a few of the small to medium on-line retailers carry them as well. I find it odd that larger retailers like Tackle Warehouse and LBF carry some Evergreen products but not this line of frogs. To be honest Ebay is your best bet for selection and pricing.. but they are shipping from overseas so you will have a bit of a wait on your hands. In North American "The Hook-Up Tackle" stocks them, but as a Canadian buyer I try to avoid them due to unreasonable shipping rates

Options & Price: 3.5/5

Like with many of the Japanese frog imports the price on this frog can be scary I have seen it as high as $19.99 and at it's lowest $13.00. But I will say the quality is there and I have no qualms about paying the price for this bait

For options, there is only one size currently available but 8 pretty cool colour options, including one that looks like a mouse. You may not call these  options "realistic" but they are unique and cover the spectrum of flashy, shiny, brights and darks




Where to Find:
In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.

EverGreen  (N/A) 


Ebay (various)







Field Test Report Card: 

Open Water (Sparse Pads):  A+
Pads (Medium Cover):  A
Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover):  B+

Walk the Dog:  A+
Popping Action: N/A
Sit/Pause: A







Equipment:

This frog may look slight in stature but it still packs a 1/2 punch and thus it can handle a beefier rod. I fished this frog with Dobyns 736c and Daiwa Lexa 300 series reel. You can go lighter depending on the water your fishing, but the above combo really does this frog justice.




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