Intro:
I love getting my hands on a pre-release frog, and again have to thank Hideki and the crew over at Teckel for getting us a Maracker early so that we could really put it through its paces. This frog was built to fish aggressively in situation in which your bait can be heard but maybe not seen. This frog is so loud you may want to wear ear plugs when reading the review.
Manufactures Description :
This frog is so new I cant even find a manufactures description. All I know is that Teckel will tell you this is one of if not thee loudest frog on the market (and I think their right)
Overall Rating: 8.1/10
Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-up Ratio Available Options, Product Availability & Price
Quality & Durability: 4.05
Teckel makes a great product with a unique body design and tough but pliable material that holds up not only fish after fish, but season after season. (The Choker is currently my go-to frog when the bite is tough and I need a confidence boost)
The hooks are sharp and well placed, leaving easy access for any fish that decides to eat your frog. The tail or rattle on the Maracker is made of plastic that has been finished in a shiny chrome coating. This is the only part of the frog that I'm worried about durability wise as in all honesty it has a cheap plastic feel to it (like a dollar-store toy) I'm worried that once it makes contact with and any structure above the water (branches, rocks or docks) that it is going to burst open like a piñata.
With that said I have put the Maracker through multiple days on the water and multiple fish hooked and landed without issue. Fingers crossed I don't find my self cleaning BB's of the boats carpet.
The hooks are sharp and well placed, leaving easy access for any fish that decides to eat your frog. The tail or rattle on the Maracker is made of plastic that has been finished in a shiny chrome coating. This is the only part of the frog that I'm worried about durability wise as in all honesty it has a cheap plastic feel to it (like a dollar-store toy) I'm worried that once it makes contact with and any structure above the water (branches, rocks or docks) that it is going to burst open like a piñata.
With that said I have put the Maracker through multiple days on the water and multiple fish hooked and landed without issue. Fingers crossed I don't find my self cleaning BB's of the boats carpet.
Castability: 4.5/5
Teckel frogs have always been a dream to cast , they have a great aerodynamic shape and their weighted well for both long distance and short skips and flips. Obviously with a large rattle attached to its ass the Maracker will effect its ability to skip as well as other frogs in the Teckel line but overall I had no issues placing it where I wanted to.
Presentation: 4.5/5
This isn't your standard hollow body frog, and the crew at Teckel will tell you it was designed for a more "tactical" approach to frog fishing. What does that mean? it means that it was built to work fast or aggressively in almost any type of cover. The Maracker does a great job of hugging the water even at your fastest most erratic retrieves. The rattle is crazy noisy and makes it nearly impossible for you or the fish to loose track of the bait.
If you prefer a slower more controlled retrieve the Maracker does that as well. Like all Teckel frogs it walks easily and can even twitch it in one spot to ensure the fish get a good look at it.
I'm not a huge fan of the sit/pause on this frog, the large rattle tail really drags the ass end down and makes the bait nearly completely vertical in the water. The flash and shine that tail gives off during the retrieve doesn't seem to held it any on the pause and I don't believe any of my strikes came when the maracker was sitting still.
Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5
No real concerns here, the Maracker has a nice slender profile that seem to be easy to eat. The hooks are strong and sharp, tuned upwards with just a slight gap off the body.
The only issues I came across were "missed fish" due to retrieve speed. I think this is more and more common as companies start to release frog baits that are designed to be retrieved at greater speeds. The Maracker and the Toad Runner both gave the fish fits, but often the fish blows-up behind or on just a small part of the bait. Once you find the speed the fish can keep up with, you will have no problem hooking them with this frog.
Innovation & Design: 4.0/5
The fishing industry is like a game of chess, and companies seem to counter each others moves. Last season Teckel broke the mold when they introduced the Sprinker Frog, but one short season later they already have competition in the footed frog market, so what's next, lets shake things up again (literally).
The Maracker took criticism early based on the belief that the tail of the bait was a swinging blade, but once anglers started to realize that the tear drop shape tail was actually a hollow plastic loaded with BB's the mood changed. This is something new, and although I would not consider it a replacement for an everyday walking frog, it is great for finding fish on medium to sparse cover or when the pads are thick and you really need to be heard.
The Maracker took criticism early based on the belief that the tail of the bait was a swinging blade, but once anglers started to realize that the tear drop shape tail was actually a hollow plastic loaded with BB's the mood changed. This is something new, and although I would not consider it a replacement for an everyday walking frog, it is great for finding fish on medium to sparse cover or when the pads are thick and you really need to be heard.
Availability, Options & Price: 3.5/5
this is a tough area to rate at this moment mostly because the Maracker is not fully launched at this time. So the fact that it is not readily available isn't a negative, its a timing thing. Due to land this month you will start to see the Maracker showing up in the normal sports. Some retailers (see below) already have them listed but no stock to sell. Keep your eyes peeled, this one will be ready soon.
At this time it looks like the Maracker will be available in 10 colors and one size. As always the color options are pretty cool with a nice mix of dark and light colors.
The price point is a bit of an ouch, coming in at $14.99USD which is $2 more then the standard Teckel offerings but in line with the Sprinker. If you are an Canadian angler you can expect to see these retailing for close to $19
At this time it looks like the Maracker will be available in 10 colors and one size. As always the color options are pretty cool with a nice mix of dark and light colors.
The price point is a bit of an ouch, coming in at $14.99USD which is $2 more then the standard Teckel offerings but in line with the Sprinker. If you are an Canadian angler you can expect to see these retailing for close to $19
Situations for Success:
The Maracker frog performs best at a medium to fast retrieve in medium cover and open water situations. Dont be afraid to really work that rod tip and do your best to drive already aggressive fish nuts! Unlike other baits that tend to skip and hop when you pick up the speed, the Maracker holds to the water and almost dances.
i dont use the Maracker as much in the heavier slops as the rattle and swivel will pick up debris on the retrieve, With that said if you think you need a little extra sound dont hesitate to pick it up and drag it over pretty much anything.
Looking Back:
The Maracker frog performs best at a medium to fast retrieve in medium cover and open water situations. Dont be afraid to really work that rod tip and do your best to drive already aggressive fish nuts! Unlike other baits that tend to skip and hop when you pick up the speed, the Maracker holds to the water and almost dances.
i dont use the Maracker as much in the heavier slops as the rattle and swivel will pick up debris on the retrieve, With that said if you think you need a little extra sound dont hesitate to pick it up and drag it over pretty much anything.
Looking Back:
Back in early June, 2018 we filmed an unboxing of the Maracker Frog and gave a short review of our first impressions. If you haven't already give the video a watch and see how many of those initial thoughts still ring true HERE
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 Teckel Maracker on a Dobyns 735c which is a great rod when you are looking for a mix of power and tip. 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): A
Pads (Medium Cover): A-
Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C+
Walk the Dog: B+
Popping Action: NA
Sit/Pause: B-
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