Top Frog Awards 2015 - Best Hollow Body and Soft Body Frogs from 2015

I thought I would switch things up this year, and instead of nominating a frog from each of my review categories, I will be focusing on the highest rated frogs overall, and this year (although I expect some flack) the Top frog Awards go to.. Teckel USA Honker and the Gary Yamamoto Yamma Frog

Here's why...

Top Frog Award - Best Hollow Body

TECKEL USA HONKER

With an overall score of 7.8/10 the Teckel Honker not only was the highest rated hollow body frog from this seasons reviews, but it was also the most surprising. After reviewing the Teckel Whacker last season I expected to be in for more of the same, but in all honesty the Honkers unique blade like legs really gave this bait a new lease on life.

the flutter and splash produced by the blade feet were visible from almost the moment this frog hit the water, and although I expected them to get hung up on every little piece of floating debris they actually fished fairly clean.

Couple it's on water performance with the fact that Teckel uses quality components and you have a frog that is built to last all while putting fish in your boat, a pairing not often seen in this industry where quality baits don't always catch fish, and fish catching baits rarely last. If only this frog was more readily available it would be nearly perfect.

Check out my full review HERE

Top Frog Award - Best Soft Body Toad

Gary Yamamoto Yamma Frog

This Top Frog choice i expect to get a little flack for. I heard it when I first posted the review and I expect to hear it a bit more now. But with that said I instantly fell in love with the Yama Frog's on water performance which led me to giving it a 8.6/10 review, which was not only the highest rating for a soft body toad in  2015, it was my highest rating every in this category.

With a wide body and thick flexible legs the Yama frog can be swam both as a swim frog (soft churn) as well as a buzz frog (hard churn) the ribbed body gives off a little extra commotion and it's incredibly soft plastic body is pliable enough to ensure solid hook-ups and dense enough that its added weight makes the Yamma frog a dream to cast.

The elephant in the room here is that its durability is suspect, a problem that plaques all Yamamoto baits.  It is nothing for me to go through a pack of these frogs in a single trip (when the frog bites on) and with a Yamamoto price tag things can and will get expensive quick.

All in all this is a frog that shouldn't be overlooked, and is my Top Frog choice from 2015

Check out my full review HERE

Mann's Goliath Frog Review

Goliath Frog:    Colors: 5     Weight: 1oz   Size: 3 1/2   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Big flat and floppy the Mann's Bait goliath frog is more flat tire then it Goliath. This bait moves a lot of water and gives fish a healthy target, but its actual performance leave much to be desired.

Overall Rating:  6.0/10

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

Quality & Durability: 3.0/5

Kind of a mix of Good, Bad and Ugly here.. first off the frog is simply put.. UGLY, but strap on your beer goggles as we all know its not how the frog look that matters (well at least some of us know that). The bad is the baits body construction and finish, it looks like a kindergarten art project and at times fishes like one. As for the good, the hooks are sharp and strong, just not positioned well.

Castability: 3.0/5

With a kite like body this for gets caught up in the wind and can be blown off target easily. The flat belly does help when skipping, so reserve this frog for shorter targets and leave it at home when distance and spot on accuracy is needed.

Presentation: 2.5/5

I found the Goliath frog was awkward to fish, it could be walked but at times it skated across the top or just pushed water instead of walking. This often had to do with the distance you were retrieving the bait. Just like on the cast this frog performs better at shorter distances when you have more control over its movement. When casted for distance I found it was harder to walk during the fist half of my retrieve 

Hook-Up Ratio: 2.5/5

I don't like the body deign on this frog, its wide body over shadows the hooks that appear tiny on its back. I think placing the hooks on the outside of the frogs lets, snug up against the body would have provided it with a better overall hook-up ratio. 

Availability & Price: 3.0/5

Mann's baits are pretty common in most areas, and this frog was easy to find. For the quality I feel the price is slightly high, but it is under the $10 mark so I can't be too picky. I felt there would have been more bang for the buck at the $5-$6 price range. 

Options: 3.0/5

The Goliath frog is available in one size and 4 colors. The colors are the standard yellow/green, a white/green, a  brown and finally black. Not exactly mind blowing, but pretty standard frog color choices.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($8.99)

Cabela's ($7.99)

Mann's ($8.99)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 40lb braid. It you are working sparser cover feel free to drop down to a 735c and use that extra tip to really make this bait dance. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): C+

Pads (Medium Cover): B-

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: B

Renosky Rockin' Rattlin' & Walkin' Shad Review

Walking Shad:    Colors: 6     Weight: N/A   Size: 2 or 3"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

One of the first shad style hollow body baits to hit the market, the Renosky RRW Shad brings with it some interesting features.. including a vertical body profile, as well as each colour coming with its own specific tail design and replacement tail.

Overall Rating:  6.3/10

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

Quality & Durability: 2.5/5

Rensoky is really hit or miss when it comes to the quality of their baits. The Shad has a thick air tight body that keeps water out, but also takes a long time to get its shape back once a fish hits it, or you squeeze it too tight. (guilty)

The tail looks pretty budget and like the Rensoky frog it can be pulled off during battle,  but Ill be honest, it moves incredibly well in the water and really makes the shad come alive.

Castability: 3.0/5

This frog/Shad is properly weighted and the body shape allows for great casting distance. Its not a great bait for skipping, but if you want to cover water and need an agile bait, this frog may just be for you.

Presentation: 3.5/5

I was extremely happy with this baits on water performance, it fishes like a quality swimbait and can be walked across the top of the water at almost any speed. The tail on this bait really, really impressed me, it may look cheap but it has a purpose.

Unlike other shad style frog baits the Renosky RRWS sits vertical in the water instead of on its side , and acts more like a fleeing baitfish then a wounded one. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

I might be slightly generous here with a score of 3/5, as this frog does have some weaknesses, mainly the side profile and thicker back can make it awkward when it comes to hammering the hooks home.

The hooks also are not covered as well as they could be, and pick up some serious debris when fishing in medium to heavy cover.

Availability & Price: 3.0/5

Another "only at tackle warehouse" bait, this frog is not exactly easy to find but its low $5 price point saves the day here.

Options: 4.0/5

Renosky offers up a cool assortment of options on this bait including 6 colours that each have a unique matching tail. Some have a crawfish tail, others a standard shad tail or jig skirted  tail. I like this idea, as it is one step closer to matching the hatch.

Oh yeah, the RRW Shad is also available in 2 sizes.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($4.99 - 5.99)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 40lb braid. It you are working sparser cover feel free to drop down to a 735c and use that extra tip to really make this bait dance. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B

Pads (Medium Cover): B-

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: B