Jackall Grinch Review

The Grinch:   Colors: 6     Length: 5.3"     Weight: 11/16oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Jackall has been banging out an abundance of new baits over the past couple seasons, and more importantly they have been banging out new ideas. Both the Kaera and Grinch are new frogs to their line-up each in its own way bucking tradition. While the Kaera came in small and compact the Grinch is a long stick-bait style frog designed to kick and pull across cover.


Manufactures Description :

UPSIDE-DOWN PADDLE TAIL The upside-down paddle tail design allows the Grinch to keep kicking hard underwater during faster retrieves, also allowing it to keep kicking even when fishing in heavy cover.SLENDER FROG-LIKE BODYImitating a small batfish, the body shape attracts bass and triggers their instinct to eat! The Grinch creates a splashing sound to attract fish from long distance.

Overall Rating: 7.6/10

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

Quality & Durability: 3.55

Jackall makes quality baits that hold up well fish after fish. With that said anytime a component of a Hollow body frog is made of soft plastic my score for durability has to drop a little. The Grinch is made of up two parts, and nearly 50% of the bait is the soft plastic tail that is attached the the body with a single staple.. a big one, but still a staple.  So far, it has held up well, but the fact that Jackall quickly released replacement tails (smart) tells me guys have been needing to replace them.

The other 50% of the frog, (the hollow body portion) is extremely well built, the body is durable (boarding on tough) the hooks are stout and sharp. This really is the tale (tail) of two frogs.

Castability: 4.5/5

Long, lean and it has some weight to it, this frog casts like a bullet and will get you some serious distance when needed. The body shape allows it to skip thought the soft tail can and will trip it up on you. So watch your angle and maybe look for short skips.

The round body and weighted tail ensure the Grinch always lands in fighting position and I cant remember ever having it land on its back.

Presentation: 4.0/5

I love the sound this bait makes coming across the water, its gurgle and plop is seriously impressive and must drive fish crazy. My co-angler fished this bait before I did, and on his very first cast I snapped my head around to see what he was throwing because of how awesome the sound was.

The Grinch could be compared to the Teckle Sprinker Frog and the Booyah Toad Runner, it provides the same sound and commotion though fished at a slower retrieve or even better with short pulls. The tail churns the water while the pencil bait shape skips along the water and grass.

Although not quit as fun as the other two frogs mentioned above, I did have a blast fishing this bait and managed a few fish (my co-angler had more success and bigger fish) Im not sure the spot it hold in my overall arsenal, but Im trying to find a home for it as it has earn a place on the water.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

The Grinch is a big bait with lots of body and tail to get in the way of your hookset. It fishes best when the bite is aggressive as you will really need to fish to eat this frog in order to get hooks on him. With that said Ive caught a mix of large and small fish that had no issues swallowing the Grinch whole.

The Grinch's body was designed with two walls on either side of the bait that that hooks really hug up against. The hooks themselves are stout and sharp, but the body wall they hug up against is firmer than it needs to be and as you can see from the images it can make it hard to really mash down the body to expose those great hooks.

Innovation & Design: 4.0/5

The Grinch is a Frankenstein bait of sorts, combining the body of the hollow bodied frog with an upside down rigged paddle tale. This innovative combo gives you a very active retrieve that goes where most other baits cant... the grass and slop. Believe me, this bait works, and although you may need to spend some time getting your retrieve down the tail action will catch you fish when fishing open water and sparse pads.

The design does have some down sides and one is that the tail is held onto the frog with a Giant staple and like with all soft plastic baits it will need to be replaced, so you may want to order up a couple extra when you place your order for the Grinch. With that said Im multiple fish into to my bait and have not yet had any issues with the tail being ripped or coming loose.

Availability, Options & Price: 4.0/5

Jackall baits are pretty widely available, and most of the ones I have checked out are stocking the Grinch. It is also widely available on-line making it easy for every angler to get their hands on.

The color options is limited with only six options available at this time. Jackall seemed to opt for bright colors that could be considered bait fish patterns but I just dont know what part of the world these bait fish would come from.

Pricing is set at what has become the bar for north america frog prices - $9.99 - for the quality and the fun you will gave fishing it, its well worth the price.

Situations for Success:

The Grinch is a medium to sparse cover frog that excels when you need a bait that will be heard coming across the water. It fishes well both at slow and medium retrieves and can also be pulled spastically causing a unique commotion. Due to its long profile you really want to make sure the fish has a chance to really take this frog in prior to setting the hook.


Looking Back:

Back in May, 2018 we filmed an unboxing of the Grinch 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.

Tackle Warehouse  ($9.99)

Tackle Direct ($9.99)

Bama Frogs ($9.99)

Equipment:

I fished the Grinch Frog 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. (like the Boom Boom frog)

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C+

Walk the Dog: C+

Popping Action: NA

Sit/Pause: C+

Yum Tip Toad Review

Tip Toad:   Colors: 10     Length: 4"     Weight: N/A   Pack Count: 5

Intro:

This will be the third YUM frog I have reviewed over the last 6+ years and to their credit each and every one of those frogs has been completely different. From the classic Buzz Frog with that almost tire like rubber (not a complaint) to the oddly shaped Money frog (that was a complaint). What the Tip Toad brings is a streamlined body that cruises through cover and two perfectly place hook point covers that will allow this toad to be fished in almost any situation.


Manufactures Description :

Designed to dominate the buzz frog market, the Yum Tip Toad combines several key features to give anglers the ultimate blend of performance and all out attraction. Carefully sculpted and precisely placed, the Yum Tip Toad’s legs have undergone round after round of refinement to ensure maximum water displacement and create the acoustic equivalent of fleeing prey.

Precisely shaped to generate lift in a hurry, the Yum Tip Toad gets up on plane quickly, so you get the most out of every turn of the reel handle. Along the back, the Yum Tip Toad is molded with hook bend placement notches that ensure proper rigging with 4/0 and 5/0 frog hooks. Offered in a range of pro-selected color patterns, the Yum Tip Toad is sure to be a mainstay among topwater anglers.

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.0/5

YUM makes a quality bait and the Tip Toad is no different. They ensured they used the right amount of rubber in the right sports to get that perfect mix durability and fishability. The legs and feet are tough and have held up well for multiple fish while the body material also takes to repetitive hookups.

The weak spots on the bait are the hips and the newly designed hook point caps. The hips have been narrowed to hold the bend in your hooks which make that area thinner then the rest of the body. I have had a few baits rip right under the hook leaving the frog a double amputee.

One of the best features on this frog or any new toad this season is the notches that YUM added to the back of the frog allowing you to easily skin hook your hook points when using a double hook. Although this is a great feature the notches get the shit kicked out of them and don't last very long. (but they are great while they last )

Cast ability: 3.0/5

The Tip Toad performs best when cast for medium distance or short targeted casts around structure. Even with its aerodynamic design it felt forced trying to get any real distance out of the bait and that always comes at the cost of accuracy.

The beefy legs can make this frog a bit clunky or clumsy when trying to skip, but its doable.

Presentation: 4.0/5

The Tip Toad looks great coming across the water, its give you that great V-shape wake  with a nice churn to call the fish up. The thick paddle like legs get it up on plane quickly and easily and give off a nice flutter when you kill the bait during the retrieve.

the Tip Toads design allows you to fish it aggressively in pretty much any water condition and around any structure. The security of having your hook points buried is something not be be undersold as it ensures a clean retrieve each and every time.

I primarily fish soft body toads on screw lock hooks, and the nose of the Tip Toad holds the screw well and keeps your frog running true all day long.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

Kudos to YUM for not only designing a bait that fishes well, but also for considering what a bait needs to hook up well. By narrowing the hips and giving you a place to place your hook without having to go through the bait, means there is absolutely no rubber to get in the way of your hookset.

Another important attribute is the notches on the back of the Tip Toad, these allow you to cover the points of your double hook keeping them free of debris even when fishing the nastiest of cover. Clean hooks provide cleaner hookset and hook up ratios. Its that simple.

Innovation & Design: 4.5/5

The Tip Toad is loaded with innovated designs most of them I already covered above. The main innovations in my opinion are the hook holding hips and of course the hook point notches on the frogs back. I do feel that a 3rd notch should have been added for those anglers that prefer to fish the single hooks over double hooks.

Availability, Options & Price: 4.0/5

This frog is still pretty new and I have not seen it hit the shelves in most Canadian retailers. I'm guessing its late release means that it will be way more common in the 2019 season. With that said it is easy to snap up on-line at most YUM retailers.

The price point is a nice selling feature, coming in at $2.99 a pack these frogs will cost you a measly $0.59 a piece.

Color options right out of the gate are healthy (10) focusing mostly on natural colors. This bait is only available in one size at this time. I do like the body length but feel it could use a bit of a bulk up when it comes to the body size.

Situations for Success:

As mentioned above this frog is designed for use in heavier cover situations and is great in medium to sparse cover and grass. it excels in short targeted casts to pockets and or cover and is easy to get up on plane and leaves a nice churn in the water.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($2.99)

Bass Pro Shop Teaser Tubes ($2.99)

Equipment:

I fished the Tip Toad on a Dobyns 734c or 735c which provides enough tip to easily cast this light weight bait as well as the power to pull fish out of cover. Try using a Diawa Tatula 150 with a 7.3:1 gear ratio and 40lb Daiwa x8 J-Braid.

LunkerHunt Compact Frog Review

Compact Frog:   Colors: 10     Length: 2 1/4"     Weight: 1/2oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

LunkerHunt has been pushing the frog envelope trying new unique approaches to frog fishing,  over and over again, year after year. But this time I think they got it right.


Manufactures Description :

Pro and avid anglers have been modifying their skirted frogs for years. The goal being to create a smaller target for bass to hone in on. Modifications create a frog that bass can eat in a single strike. 

The Lunkerhunt Compact Frog has been designed for maximum efficiency and high percentage hook sets. It features short skirts, a compact body design, short wide gap hooks, and delivers high buoyancy right out of the pack. The Lunkerhunt Compact Frog has a smooth, consistent walk that pushes water and simply catches fish!

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.05

I have had many issues with LunkerHunt frogs over the years but the quality has never been one. The body of their frogs has consistently been durably yet pliable and when you can catch fish on their baits they hold up.

The Compact Frog is one of if not the most durable frogs released by LunkerHunt, the main reason for this is that the Compact frog is free from those awful life like legs found on the classic Lunker and Combat Frogs. They never lasted and usually were a bulky mess effecting your hook set more than your retrieve.

Castability: 4.0/5

With a healthy body size and and healthy 1/2oz  weight  this frog casts well provides a solid yet not splashy landing. You'll be surprised at the distance you can get on those frogs and very happy with your ability to place it right where you want it.

Presentation: 4.0/5

This short stubby frog is built for dragging and pulling across cover, it is the area it excels  and will get you bit.

As for walking, it can be walked but its profile is more conducive for slower retrieves or or even working in one spot (target fishing). As you try to pick up the speed you will find the frog a bit clumsy and its just not as fun to fish at a steadier retrieve.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

The compact frog was designed to do one thing and one thing only.. get eaten. Its short compact body has trimmed back legs that offer fish the perfect bite size snack. This frog gets swallowed whole and sucked under with ease.

No clumsy life like legs to get in the way here.

Innovation & Design: 3.5/5

Nothing truly innovative here, unless we take into consideration that LunkerHunt backed away from the design that made them famous. That takes guts, and in this case it paid off.

For years now companies have been offering baby, or jr versions of their frogs, the unique approach that LunkerHunt took was to bulk up the baits weight and body thickness, while still giving the frog a smaller profile or footprint. This allows you to cast and fish the frog at a distance yet still take advantage of the small profile trend.

Availability, Options & Price: 4.5/5

The compact frog is available in one size (compact) but in 10 color options. I bucked my trend of fishing natural coloured frogs and went with the sunrise color.

As for pricing LunkerHunt baits are always reasonable and the Compact frog is no different coming in at $6.99USD. I wish more frogs were priced in this range.

When it comes to availability you can get it online at TW, but I'm not sure how common it is in local retailers throughout the US. Being a Canadian company you can help be trip over them in ever respectable tackle shop across the country.

Situations for Success:

If you have been frog fishing for any length of time then you probably have different types of frogs you fish for various conditions and types of cover. The Compact frog is more of a dragging frog and performed best when dragged across pads, slop and grass. Heavy, medium and sparse cover will be where this frog performs best and a slow drag with pauses in the pockets will really drive fish crazy


Looking Back:

Back in June, 2018 we filmed an unboxing of the Compact 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.

Tackle Warehouse  ($6.99)

Fishing Tackle Store ($8.99)

Sail ($8.49)

Equipment:

I fished the Compact Frog 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. (like the Boom Boom frog)

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): C

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): A

Walk the Dog: C+

Popping Action: NA

Sit/Pause: B+

Frog Addict Unboxing Review - LunkerHunt Compact Frog

Welcome to Frog Addicts Unboxing reviews.  Here you will get an up close and personal  look at at BassJunkies initial thoughts on each new frog fresh out of the package and long befor it hits the water. You cant always judge a book by its cover, or a frog from its packaging.

 No rehearsals, no scripts,  but maybe a few edits. 

This week we take a look at the LunkerHunt Compact Frog. One of the first LunkerHunt frogs not to have those crazy legs, but instead utilizing the traditional silicone rubber.

Product Description

Pro and avid anglers alike have been modifying the skirted legs of their hollow body frogs for years with the goal of creating a smaller target for bass to hone in on. That is why Lunkerhunt has developed the Lunkerhunt Compact Frog, which is designed to deliver maximum efficiency and higher percentage hook ups right out of the package.

Featuring a short, compact body that pushes a tremendous amount of water and produces a smooth consistent walk-the-dog action, the Compact Frog is also equipped with pre-trimmed skirted legs that help create a smaller profile and provide a target that bass can inhale in a single strike.

Outfitted with a beefy, wide gap, double hook, the body is molded seamlessly around the hook, allowing the Compact Frog to remain extremely weedless and still collapse easily for tremendous hook sets. Available in a wide range of highly detailed colors, the Lunkerhunt Compact Frog offers tournament-ready performance as soon as you tie it on.

Product Specs

Weight: 1/2oz
Length: 2.25"

Watch for a full on the water review coming next week!

Evergreen SS77 Soft Shell Frog Rev

SS77 SOFT SHELL:   Colors: 9     Length: 3"     Weight: 11/16oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

If you have never splurged on one of EverGreen's frogs in the past, then you may not understand how happy I was to see them release a new one. High quality, uniquely designed fish catching machines is what Evergrfnn is known for, but these machines come at a price. Is it worth it? read on...


Manufactures Description :

The compact profile bait which comes in six distinctive color patterns is versatile and can be walked on top, popped or splashed. The six, clean, color finishes mimic an assortment of looks or forage items. One of the most effective baits around thick vegetation, the top water frog has long held an important role in every bass anglers arsenal. The new Evergreen Showerblows Softshell SS-77 has redefined what a soft body frog is all about.

Overall Rating: 8.3/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.55

Evergreen makes high quality baits PERIOD. From the super soft yet durable body material, to the stout sticky sharp hooks to the leather striped fur tail you will be hard pressed to fish a bait with so many quality components.

Attention to detail is key, check out the fur tail and how the leather strip is up with all the fur facing down (in the water). Not all fur-using frogs have been designed this way and it is somthing I have complained about in the past. Sure it is not as appealing to the anglers eye, but more importantly it is more attractive to the fish. Nice work Evergreen

Castability: 4.05

The SS77 has a sleek aerodynamic body that casts and lands really well.  Its flat bottom gives the frog a nice skip if and when you need to work under cover and its weight is evenly distributed  which provides a softer landing on longer casts. I had no issue keeping this frog upright and Im very happy with its overall performance.

Presentation: 4.5/5

Add another one to the list, the 2018 season is loaded with Frogs that are fun to fish, and mark my words the EverGreen SS77 is fun and easy to fish.

the SS77 walks incredibly well and can be walked with a wide wobble or shorter more erratic twitches. The cupped mouth is a great replacement for a popper mouth and allows you to decide when, how often and how much water you want to displace. This key when navigating various types of structure and the fishes mood.

There isn't a time when the SS77 isn't moving, even on the longest pause that fur tail breaths in the water making it look more alive then most other baits you could through. Silicone often clumps and clings, while fur is constantly moving.. did I mention how much I love fur trimmed baits?

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

The Shoft Sell frog really lives up to its name and has an incredibly soft body and mashed down well when a fish strikes it. The fur tail almost breaths in the water giving the fish a nice target.

The body of the SS77 is a large and the hooks are slightly small in comparison. I would like to see these cover a bot more of the frog but all in all they are in a good position and with a slight tilt upwards you will be happy with this frogs performance in the hook-set portion of your game.

Innovation & Design: 4.5/5

I love the look of this frog, and I love that they are bringing back fur . For too long Fur has been ignored by most companies when designing new frogs and there is not a material out their that breaths on the pause quite like Fur. Just ask Optimum who haven't changed their best selling frog in years.

minus the Fur the SS77 could be considered a knock off bait.. lucky for EverGreen they knocked off their own bait bringing some of the features of their popular Shower Blow top water popper to this frog, a genius idea that works. I dont often fish popping frogs as I prefer the versatility of walking frogs, the SS77 combines the best of both worlds.

Availability, Options & Price: 3.0/5

The SS77 is a Japanese import so you know the price is going to hurt, and at $15.99USD it really does. Anytime a frog is over the $9.99-$12.99 range I have to really think about adding it to my arsenal and by the time it hits $15.99 I really have to think about it.

Options vary depending on where you buy your baits. Tackle Warehouse has 6 colors listed but I have seen as many as 9 color options on other sites. Due to the price these are not common, even more so at smaller local shops so you will probably have to order one.

Situations for Success:

The Evergreen SS frog is at its best when the fish get a chance to see it perform. Focus on medium to long casts over medium/sparse  cover or open water. Longer casts give the fish a chance to be driven crazy by the Soft Shells walk and spit and after awhile they just won't be able to take it anymore and NEED to slaughter it. I've had some pretty aggressive blow-ups on this frog both on the walk and on the pause when that fur tail does what it was design to do... breath in the water.




Looking Back:

Just a few weeks ago we filmed an unboxing of the SS Soft Shell 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.

Tackle Warehouse  ($15.99)

Japan Lure Shop ($11.74)

Equipment:

I fished the SS Soft Shell 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): A

Pads (Medium Cover): A+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: A+

Popping Action: NA

Sit/Pause: B

Frog Addicts Newsletter Vol 7 - July 2018

Welcome to the 7th edition of the Frog Addicts Newsletter. Each month we will be reviewing up to the minute frog and bass fishing related news plus recapping the previous months "Best Of" when it comes to social media, frog videos and more.. Here is what's happening in the world of frog fishing.

Frog NEWS and Baits Hitting the Shelves

With Icast 2018 now in our rear view window lets take a look at just some of the baits that will be available over the next few months

Gurgle Toad 

by Strike King

One of the first releases at ICAST 2018 was the Strike King Gurgle Toad, a soft plastic toad designed to  deliver a steady kick and bubble trail. The Gurgle can be fished by itself or threaded on the back of a buzzbait, and  features a horny toad style body and two J-shaped feet that generate a gurgling commotion as it shoots across the surface.

Available: Now!

Tip Toad
by YUM

Although we touched on this bait last month, it is now available in stores so I thought it deserved a second mention in the newsletter.  Officially released at ICAST 2018 is available in 10 colors. First impressions are that the Tip Toad should churn some serious water and may see some work under a flipping skirt or on the back end of a jig. 

Available: Now

Top Posts from @FrogAddicts

To get your pics features on the @FrogAddicts Instagram page just tag #FrogAddict in your post or send them via personal message, Here are the top five trending images from April 2018

#1 - @chriszalud17

What a view, looking like frog heaven - photo by @chriszalud17

#2 -  @rarely_indoors

 Great shot by @rarely_indoors of a @zmanfishingproducts frog fish. There is not a tougher frog on the market.

#3 - @jasonsealock

@jasonsealock breaking in the all new @zoombaitcompany Frog

#4  - @jofishphotography

frog addict @jofishphotography with a beautifully sloppy frog fishing pic.

#5 - @briezziee

@briezziee showing off a custom frog rod, it’s all about matching the hatch, lol. - not a bad looking @spro.u.s.a frog either

Top 5 Frog Videos

Here they are, BassJunkies favourite frog videos from April 2018 (we may have cheated a bit here and there). As always be sure to check out our YouTube Channel for frog unboxing reviews, action on the water as well as a collection of our favourite frog fishing videos including the ones below. 

#1 - Frog Fishing Details That Result in More Bass

The biggest challenge you face when pulling up to a massive grass mat is determining where bass are located. Wired2Fish intern and competitive high school angler Kobie Koenig talks about the types of bass-holding irregularities he looks for, and how to targets them with hollow body frogs. He adds several pointers ranging from when to downsize to smaller frogs, top color choices for the conditions, casting techniques and more in this action-packed video.

Feature Frog: Spro Bronzeye
Channel: Wired2Fish

#2 - 5 New Frogs You Should Try This Summer

There are some GREAT new frogs on the market that you need to try out! Tim shows some of his newest additions and explains what he uses them for. From open water to thick matted vegetation, there are a bunch of great new frogs on the market.

Feature Frog: Various
Channel: Tactical Bassin

#3 - She wants to go Frog Fishing

You guys ready to see Bethany lay the hammer to a big frog fish?

Feature Frog :  Spro Bronzeye
Channel: Alex Rudd Fishing

#4 - Zona Breaks Down Frog Fishing for Area Lakes

Zona offers insight on when frog fishing shines on natural lakes and discusses two different types of frogs and when each is at its best.

Feature Frog: Strike King Sexy Frog
Channel:Michiana Outdoor News

#5 -  Frog Fishing for Bass at Summit State Park

Multi tasking day on the lake! Taking a break from some wildlife photography to catch some bass on a top water frog lure

Feature Frog: Unknown
Channel: JasonLee