Phat Matt Daddy: Colors: 10 Length: 2 3/4" Weight: 3/4oz Pack Count: 1
Intro:
Put up your hands if you are a fan of the River2Sea BullyWa frog?. If your hands not up then there is a chance that you missed out on a great series of frogs. If you hand is up (you can put it down now) then you, like me, have been excited to test out the newest R2S frog the Phat Matt Daddy, designed with a little help from frog addict Ish Monroe.
Baits designed by Ish always have two things in common, (1) they flat out catch fish, and (2) they have stupid names. Lets see if the Phat Matt Daddy continues the tradition (so far yes)
Manufactures Description :
Crafted by professional angler and frog fishing aficionado, Ish Monroe, the River2Sea Ish Monroe Phat Matt Daddy Frog is made to fish over the thickest and nastiest vegetation with ease. Built with an emphasis on performance, the River2Sea Ish Monroe Phat Matt Daddy Frog is made from a softer, more collapsible plastic and a precisely angled, super-sharp frog hook that ensures rock-solid hook sets. Offered in some of the best frog colors on the market, the River2Sea Ish Monroe Phat Matt Daddy Frog is sure to become a staple among frog fishing fanatics.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price
Quality & Durability: 5.05
The R2S Phat Matt Daddy is a beefed up version of the BullyWa frog, its wider, and thicker, with a softer pliable body material, that so far has held up extremely well during my testing. The Body shape is closer to that of the BullyWa2 but R2S and Ish improved the frog by flattening it out and making the body longer or at-least it fishes that way.
This is one of the best built frogs I have seen, every component is quality and the finishing touches really show you that this bait is build to last. I really like the added threading on the nose of the bait to help seal it and keep water out. Ish frogs have always focused on staying afloat and the PMD is no different.
At 2 3/4 body length and 3/4oz in weight, the Phat Matt Daddy is a big, heavy frog that even without its added rattle it will make some serious noise.
This is one of the best built frogs I have seen, every component is quality and the finishing touches really show you that this bait is build to last. I really like the added threading on the nose of the bait to help seal it and keep water out. Ish frogs have always focused on staying afloat and the PMD is no different.
At 2 3/4 body length and 3/4oz in weight, the Phat Matt Daddy is a big, heavy frog that even without its added rattle it will make some serious noise.
Castability: 5.0/5
The Year of the large frog is upon on us, and not many standard frogs offer up the weight and profile combination that River2Sea bring us with their "Fat" Phat Matt Daddy. Weighing in at 3/4 oz this frog can be cast for serious distance when needed, and its flat under belly makes it easy to skip up under over hangs and docks, though you may want to remove the rattle to ensure you don't trip it up.
The PMD can be kinda loud on the landing so watch you height or be sure to cast past your targeted area.
Presentation: 4.5/5
River2Sea frogs have always been known for their ease of walking and the Phat Matt Daddy continues that tradition. You can effortlessly walk the frog back to the boat at high, medium and low speeds or really slow things down and also most make it dance on the spot.
The removable rattle was in interesting addition to the frog and I used for the first half of my testing. It was nice and loud but often collected debris off the surface so I ended up removing it and feel that the frog performed better over all without the rattle.
The profile is a bit large for my liking and in a time when it seems like most other companies are looking to downsize their frogs profiles while keeping the weight, the Phat Matt Daddy is easily one of the biggest frogs in my box this season.
Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5
Although the Phat Matt Daddy has a wide body, R2S did a great job pairing it with a large stout hook and placed the legs of the frog between the hook points which as you know I believe supports a cleaner hook-up.
The body material is softer then that used on my BullyWa and Bullywa2 and it collapses incredibly well. Even though this is large profile bait it has a knack for making itself small when the fish strikes and more often then not they get the whole thing, or at-least the part that counts.
Innovation & Design: 4.0/5
River2Sea and Ish took what was already a successful frog and turned it up. The profile of the bait was slimmed down from the Chunkier Bullywa2 while the flat back and curves still scream River2Sea to their fans.
The body material has also been changed and feels softer and more pliable while still being durable. The nose of the bait and been wound up to help reduce the amount of water that can come in through the nose as well as keep the hook harness from pulling out while fighting the fish.
The Phat Matt Daddy is designed to be used with their new frog kit and actually comes with a removable rattle. Although this was a nice feature I found the bait fished better without the rattle and have since removed it.
The body material has also been changed and feels softer and more pliable while still being durable. The nose of the bait and been wound up to help reduce the amount of water that can come in through the nose as well as keep the hook harness from pulling out while fighting the fish.
The Phat Matt Daddy is designed to be used with their new frog kit and actually comes with a removable rattle. Although this was a nice feature I found the bait fished better without the rattle and have since removed it.
Availability, Options & Price: 3.5/5
The Phat Matt Daddy is available in one size and 10 color options. Either R2S didn't let Ish name the baits (after the horrible job he did naming the frog) or he toned it down a bit as the color names aren't as crazy as they are cool.
Pricing is right on the mark at $10.99, you don't mind paying the extra $1-2 over other similar baits since the quality is there plus they include the removable rattle.
Pricing is right on the mark at $10.99, you don't mind paying the extra $1-2 over other similar baits since the quality is there plus they include the removable rattle.
Situations for Success:
The Phat Matt Daddy truly is an all around frog that can be fished in almost any situation. It walks well and sits on the pads squarely ensuring the fish gets the bait when they blow up on it.
The PMD will see most of its time on heavy to medium heavy cover when the fish are aggressive. As mentioned above the larger profile can be an issue when the fish are less aggressive so let the way the fish are striking dictate when you use this bait.
Where to Find:
In case you are having a hard time finding these locally, here are some reliable options for you.
Equipment:
I fished the Phat Matt Daddy on a Dobyns 736c which is my go to power rod when frog fishing heavy cover. I Paired it with a Daiwa Tatula 150 reel with a 7.3:1 gear ratio, these new reels are powerful, lightweight and look awesome.
Field Test Report Card:
Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+
Pads (Medium Cover): A+
Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): A
Walk the Dog: A
Popping Action: NA
Sit/Pause: B
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