Jackall Gavacho Frog Review

Gavacho Frog:   Colors: 6     Length: 2.75"     Weight: 2/3oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Jackall fooled me once before with a frog bait, so I'm kind of hesitant to give another one of their frogs high marks out of the gate. We all remember when they launched the Iobee frog back in 2011/2012 and of course the industry went nuts for it. I myself enjoyed some success with the Iobee straight out of the package but it quickly worked its way back down to the minors with its incredible ability to sink.. how will the Gavacho frog hold up? 

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: 4.5/5

I like the feel of this bait, the body is soft yet durable and its held up well for multiple fish (though I am sad to say I have since lost it to a bowfin). The hooks are sharp and well placed.

The big question with any frog and even more so with a popper frog is does it sink? and unlike the Iobee this frog appears to be a champ when it comes to floating. I'm happy to report that even with aggressive popping I have been unable to sink this frog. 

Castability: 4.5/5

The Gavacho frog casts well and lands well. The 3-legged shirt gives off a nice profile and the frogs body is in fighting position right after hitting the water.  

Coming in at 2/3 of an oz, the Gavacho could be considered a hefty frog yet it still can be skipped, flipped, pitched or bombed.

Presentation: 4.5/5

Knowing full well that I'm not much of a popper guy I was quite happy with the Gavacho's ability to pop and walk. This is one loud bait that works well both aggressively popping, gently spitting or simply walked. Try mixing all three of these retrieves up and see what drives the first to attack.

I like the Gavacho's profile but will admit I had minimal success on the pause. This could have been situational but it also effected my confidence during the retrieve (or should I say pause) which is a big part of my frog fishing technique. Beacuse if this I often kept the bait moving in pockets, small twitches allowed me to walk the dog while still in one place. Not all frogs can pull this off and its a large perk to those that can.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

The Gavacho is equipped with two well placed (turned up) hooks that are pretty much wrapped up in the frogs body. Jackall calls this its  3-dimensional contour a design that is great for keeping the bait snag free, unless you of course are trying to snag into a hungry basses mouth.

As you can see from the above image and even more so in the lead image, the hook points are well below the frogs back and still don't fully expose when pressure is placed on the bait. This can and has cost me a fish or two.

Innovation & Design: 4.0/5

2 thumbs up for innovation and trying something new. Jackall took what they learned from the Iobee and designed a popper that stays a float better then most frogs in this category. I also like that they took license with the body and leg shape as well as building a mouth that works great spitting or popping.

Being that it's Jackall we are talking about you know they also released this bait in some funky which also gives the Gavacho a unique look on the water... Now if we could only do something about that name

Availability, Options & Price: 3.5/5

Jackall baits are getting easier and easier to get your hands on, this once import only is now becoming the north American standard (much like their parent company Shimano). With that said the Gavacho is not are readily available as many other Jackall baits, I'm not sure if it was the poor sales of the Iobee (a quick to clearance frog) or if the strange look and still higher end price tag chased some would be buyers.

Options for the Gavacho are slim, one size and 6 color choices are all you get. But, as mentioned above this is Jackall so the 6 colors choices aren't your standard black, white and leopard. 

(the color I chose was a take on blue gill)

Situations for Success:

Like with most poppers the Gavacho is going to be at its best in medium to sparse cover, and even when there is no cover at all. It works great in stained water where its larger profile can still be seen.

I recommend using a more subtle spit in between bursts of walking. As mentioned above i had little success in the pockets when paused and would also attempt to keep the Gavacho moving whenever I could.

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)

Reaction Strike ($9.99)

Equipment:

The Gavacho fishes well on the Dobyns 735c or 736c which provides enough tip to make accurate casts and to induce a nice soft popping action.

As with any hollow-body bait, this frog should be worked on 40lb-60lb braid line. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): B-

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: A

Sit/Pause: B+

Savage Gear 3D Floating Skirt Frog Review

3D Floating Skirt :   Colors: 4     Length: 2.25"     Weight: 1/3oz   Pack Count: 1
3D Floating Skirt :   Colors: 4     Length: 2.75"     Weight: 1/2oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Savage Gear has been unsuccessfully making frogs for a few years now.. yes you read that right. 

It's hard to fault them as they came out of the gate swinging introducing two frogs each with a completely different take on classic frog legs, the "imitation" and the "action leg" series were both noble efforts that didn't work.. so in 2017 Savage Gear is back, this time with a more traditional approach

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.5/5

The quality and durability of their baits continue to be Savage Gears best selling feature. They have built a frog body that toes the line on being tough enough to handle a beating, while still collapsing for a quality hook-set. 

Personally on the confidence side of things I find the body tougher then I would like, Im willing to replace a few more frogs in order to land a few more fish. 

Castability: 4.0/5

Just like the other models in the Savage Gear line-up the Floating Skirt frog is easy to cast for both distance and accuracy. It can be skipped well and its large profile offers up a nice target the instant it lands.

Presentation: 4.0/5

The Floating skirt really upped the presentation game, I hated both the Imitation and Action leg frogs, both were poor swimmers that didn't move well over any sort of cover, hell they were even sloppy in open water.

The SG floating skirt frog swims well and can be walked fairly easily. Its larger body can come across clumsy or drunken but I don't think that's a bad thing as what fish doest enjoy easy pray. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

Again the Floating Frog gets some leverage over its older brothers in this category. The Imitation and Action leg frogs where large and clunky and always got in the way. This more traditional approach is much easy to fish and to hook-up.

I still have concerns with the larger body shape and the material used. The Floating Skirt Frog can use a bit of a diet and some skin softener.

Innovation & Design: 3.0/5

It's hard for me to score SG in this category as they did what I wanted them to do.. get rid of the legs and go with a more traditional skirt. Their earlier unsuccessful frogs would and should rate higher on the innovation factor but the overall design was flawed.  I'm happy that SG listened to their fans and released this frog, I just wish they had made a few more changes/updates.

Availability, Options & Price: 3.5/5

With a $7.99 price tag this frog wont hurt your wallet compared to many of the frogs floating around. With that said the color options are kinda lacking with only 4 Colors to choose from. The option to go up and down in size in nice, but its not a real big swing in either direction. 

Situations for Success:

The SG Floating Skirt frog is an all-around frog that can be used in heavy to sparse cover. Its body does tend to roll a bit when in heavy pads so I tend to use it more in slop or medium to medium heavy cover. On the retrieve I like a medium speed walk with a number of pauses mixed in. Its a large profile bait and looks like an easy meal so don't hesitate to let them see it.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($7.99)

Reaction Strike ($9.99)

Equipment:

The Floating Skirt frog fishes well on the Dobyns 735c or 736c which provides enough tip to make accurate casts all while still having the backbone needed to haul fish out of the nastiest of cover. Paired with a Daiwa Tatula CT you will be able to cast this frog for miles or skip it up under cover.

As with any hollow-body bait, this frog should be worked on 40lb-60lb braid line. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: C+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: B+

Terminator Popping Frog Review

Popping Frog:   Colors: 16     Length: 2.5"     Weight: 9/16oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

The year of the popping frog continues. I cant confirm that all the  big-wigs from the bait companies got together in the off season and agreed to make 2017 the year of the popper, but it sure as hell  feels like it.

So here we go, last years Highest rated frog and still the frog ponds reining camp the Terminator frog is back, this time with a big ol' popping mouth, here's what i think...

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: 4.5/5

The Terminator Popping frog is equipped with the familiar tough skin found on the OG version. It holds up very well, fish after fish and it supports even the most aggressive popping action.

I know you will see this one coming when I say that the Terminator Popping frog does take on water if and when you give it a workout. Yes this is common with most if not all popping frogs, but gosh darn it, I expect more. 

Finally one of the biggest perks to the this bait (also shared with the original version) is its the narrow ass-end making this bait easy to swallow and ensuring the fish stay pinned. 

Castability: 4.0/5

Both Terminator frogs cast well and land with some authority.  I love the distance I can achieve even on under-arm pitches. Like with the traditional Terminator frog you can skip this bait but its odd shape can and will catch an edge from time to time.

Presentation: 4.0/5

To walk or to pop, that's the questions here. And in my opinion this frog is better suited as a walking bait and should only really be popped before or after the pause for added effect.

But if you really want to pop a frog you could do worse, the Terminator Frog has a nice wide mouth that spits and pops with the best of them. Again I think my personal preference is bleeding in here as I prefer a quieter spit but for those who disagree, this is your frog.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

The Terminator popping frog has all the same traits that made the walking frog a success. It has strong sharp hooks (VMC)  and a tapered rear end making sure the fish gets to the hooks quickly and easily. It's silicone legs are well placed and ensure nothing gets in the way of your hook set.

Innovation & Design: 3.5/5

When it comes to innovation and design you just need to ask yourself, is simply adding a popping mouth to your already popular frog enough? obviously Rapala/Terminator thought so, but for my money (and score) I would have liked to see a few more changes.

Hell they used the same mold for the Storm SX Bull frog as well.  Is there any other Rapala brands that will be releasing a frog using the same mold? 

Availability, Options & Price: 4.5/5

You gotta hand it to them, the Terminator team ain't shy when it comes to offering up color options for their frogs. With 16 Colors to choose from you could spend a great deal of time in the frog isle contemplating life. I would have preferred if they chopped down the color choices and replaced them with a few size options instead.

Price is still a sticky point, this frog hovers around the $10 USD mark making it an borderline expensive non-import option. 

Situations for Success:

Even with the added mouth this bait is more successful as a walking frog and works best being popped just after prior to or after the pause. try mixing things up until you can find the speed and combination of walk/pop the fish are looking for.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($9.59)

Bass Pro Shop ($10.29)

Cabela's ($9.99)

Equipment:

Mixing things up this season I have been working many of my hollow body popping frogs on a Dobyns DX746C, this rod is lighter in the hand but still has all the power you know and love from a 6 power Dobyns rod. The tip is very responsive and works great for popping baits. The Daiwa Tatula CT is my reel of choice offering up great casting and pitching ability.

As with any hollow-body bait, this frog should be worked on 40lb-60lb braid line. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C+

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: B+

Sit/Pause: A

Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Spit Shad Review

Spit Shad:   Colors: 8    Length: 2 1/3"     Weight: 1/2oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

The Spit Shad did what most sophomore release baits cant do, and that's improve on an already good thing. With that said Spro did makes some changes that negatively effect this frogs (or shads) performance. 

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: 4.0/5

Spro has been doing the frog thing longer then most and it shows in the quality of product they release.  The Spit Shad body has a similar shape as the original shad but the body material seems to have been reinforces or beefed up to help improve its ability to pop. This makes it a bit more durable then its older brother but as you will see below it does effect its hook-up ratio.

The Spit shad comes in an impressive assortment of colors and finishes, and is equipped with 4/0 Gamakatsu hooks.. any questions? 

Castability: 4.5/5

The Spit Shad has the same aerodynamic body as the classic bronzeye shad but the cupped popping mouth will add a bit of drag. Overall the Spit Shad casts well and the body shape ensures a soft landing even on longer casts.  

Presentation: 4.5/5

I'm a big fan of the original Bronzeye Shad and to this day it is the only Spro frog that is in my main frog box but with that said The Spit Shad may be joining it shortly.

I'm not a huge popping frog guy, i like to walk and shake frogs but do understand the need for a popper from time to time. The smaller cupped mouth of the Spit Shad makes this the perfect popper for me, the bait walks easily producing soft spits or spurts that can be increased by increasing the motion of your rod tip. I really appreciate the fact that I can decide when to and when not to pop even when working the bait at faster retrieves.

The small mouth also improves the frogs ability to climb over pads and thicker slop without getting a mouth full.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

The Spit Shads profile makes it an easy snack for any bass that comes calling. It has a narrow body and both legs protrude from the end making sure absolutely nothing gets in your way. As mentioned above the back of the Spit Shad does appear to be built up or reinforced and this makes it harder to collapse the bait and means less hook point is exposed. This is the only fault I have found with the bait so far.

Innovation & Design: 4.5/5

 The trend towards hollow body bait fish is picking up steam and more and more manufactures are joining the party. So far Spro has created my favourite design in this new category, even if it is the least bait fish looking profile of the bunch.

As for design features the Spit Shad has a great body for walking and its mouth does live up to its name offer more of a spitting action then a popping action. The mouths shovel like design moves water while still allowing the bait to walk offering anglers the best of both worlds

Availability, Options & Price: 4.5/5

Spro baits are extremely easy to fins and you should have no issues buying one locally or from the various on-line retailers that stock them. When they first launched Spro set the high water mark for pricing, ranging between $9-$10, while this use to be an ouch factor, its now common and Spro's pricing is very competitive in the US market (though many Canadian companies have crazy markups on them).

Situations for Success:

The Spit shad does it's best work in open water and medium to sparse cover situations. It has an incredibly sexy walk that needs to be seen, and when you work it right the Spit Shad, gurgles, spits and and drools water all over the place. Take your time with this bait and be sure to throw in some random pauses and erratic chugs. There is no real wrong way to work this bait.

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)

Spro  ($10.47)

Bass Pro Shop ($10.49)

Tackle Direct ($11.99)

Equipment:

The Spit Shad fishes well on the Dobyns 735c or 736c which provides enough tip to make accurate casts all while still having the backbone needed to haul fish out of the nastiest of cover. This season I have been using the Daiwa Tatula SV though designed for light baits this reel offers great control for frog fishing due to its heavy duty dray and larger swept handle.

As with any hollow-body bait, this frog should be worked on 40lb-60lb braid line. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): A+

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C+

Walk the Dog: A

Popping Action: B+

Sit/Pause: B+

Strike King Super Toad Review

Super Toad:      Colours: 6   Size: 3.5"     Pack Count: 5     

             Leg Style: Buzz             Weight: N/A

Intro:

Before this season I believe my last "Strike King" review was the Rage Toad all the way back in 2012. Not only did that bait fair well (I'm a fan of most Rage products) but its also still available for sale today.. 5 years later. That's a testament to the baits quality, and of course angler demand. Like many other sophomore releases the Strike King's Super Toad does not quite live up to its older brothers reputation, and Ill be surprised to see it around come 2022 (man it felt weird even typing that)

Overall Rating: 7.2/10

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

Quality & Durability: 3.5/5

Like them or not Strike King makes a quality bait that's fished by the weekend warrior and tournament angler alike. The Super toad is no different, it was built with a high attention to detail making it easy to rig and easy to fish all while not breaking the bank.

On the durability side of things it struggles a bit. On my first day on the water with this bait I blew through a pack of super toads (5 in total) and 2 of the 5 only lasted one fish each. The first lost a foot and the second ripped 3/4 or the way across the body, leaving both legs hanging from a thread.

Castability: 3.5/5

Fairly easy to cast you should have no issues getting some decent distance with the Super Toad. Its flat belly and legs make it easy to skip and the toad's fall rate is slow enough that you are not in a rush to get cranking when it first lands.

Presentation:4.0/5

The Super Toad has some pretty big feet and churns up some serious water. It fishes well at both at high and medium speeds, it you run it much slower then that and the legs tend to trip up on you.

The Super Toad is an easy bait to keep upright, and even during those times in which I found it swimming on its back all it took was a slight pause to have it instantly roll back over on its belly. This is a pretty big perk when fishing medium and heavy cover when toads tend to roll as the crawl over the pads.

With its really flat belly the Super Toad doesn't climb all that well, and you will notice it drag when it hits the pads, at times I had to increase my speed to keep it moving.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

No concerns here, the Super Toad has a slim profile that holds both 3/0 and 4/0 hooks perfectly. The back of the bait leaves you a nice place to skin hook your hook point and as mentioned above the Super Toad's ability to roll over ensures your hook stays clean and is in perfect condition when its time to set the hook.

Innovation and Design : 3.0/5

The Super Toad is a pretty standard design with no real bells and whistles. It does the job but nothing about it is a game changer or fills a need or gap on the market. it kinda feels like it has been awhile since Strike King launched a new toad so they threw this together and put the weight of their big guns behind it.

Availability, Options & Price: 3.5/5

This is a Strike King product and should not be hard to find in either your local tackle shop or Super Store. With that said its online presence is oddly lacking. You will be able to find the Super Toad at either Tackle Warehouse or Land Big Fish (for now anyways)

Situations for Success:

The Super Toad is a great bait for both calm and moderately windy conditions. I like to cast it over the targeted area and allow it to get up a full head of steam as it approaches the strike zone. Vary your speed until you find what the fish are looking for on any given day, but remember this is a noise maker and it will be more successful when fish are aggressively hunting.

If you are missing strikes have two follow-up baits ready, a hollow body frog (slower presentation) and of course a something to flip or pitch.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($3.79)

Land Big Fish ($3.69)

Equipment:

I completed all my testing with a Dobyns 734c paired with a Daiwa Tatula.  This frog is fairly light weight and likes a little extra tip to help impart action around and under cover.

D&M Custom Baits Super Newt Review

Logger Toad:      Colours: 8   Size: 5"     Pack Count: 2    

             Leg Style: Mixed               Weight: N/A

Intro:

The D&M Super Newt is a reader recommend review.

This bait fell off my radar a bit as it is not a traditional frog bait and would be considered more of a crossover. It does contain many of the traits you look for in a soft plastic toad but its overall size and weigh make it a tough sell to anglers not fishing California waters. 

Overall Rating: 6.1/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.0/5

The Super Newt does seem to be constructed of "super human" materials, its body is thick and durably ensuring it wouldn't easily loose an appendage. The nose of this bait is perfect for the use of screw in hooks, it leaves plenty of room around the screw ensuring it wont pop out easily or tear up the head of the bait.

Castability: 3.0/5

This is a big heavy bait and needs some serious gear in order to launch and retrieve it. Most soft body toads take advantage of a rod with a bit more tip play but in this situation I recommended a stouter rod. The weight of the Super Newt also makes it come down a bit hard, so watch your height as this things often clears the shallow end of the pool with its canon ball like landing. Stealth is not the Newts strong suit.

Presentation: 3.5/5

Once you nail the retrieve the Super Newt offers up super sized commotion, though it will take a few retrieves and maybe an equipment change to get the desired action. I found my traditional toad rod felt a bit lite for the Super Newt and I ended up jumping up to the 736 series which I usually fish exclusively with hollow body frogs. Once I nailed things down and and found the right retrieve (medium/fast) the bait sat up well and the legs and tail combined to really stir up the water.

I also found it awkward to get proper hook size and placement in order to run this bait straight. The beefy nose is perfect for screw in hooks but the tail has a fin that gets in the way of the hook placement when using single hooks. On the reverse end none of the double frog hooks I own will fit the bait? Help!

I ended up pairing the Super Newt with a 7/0 Trokar Magnum swim bait hook (still not really happy with it)

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

I went with a solid 3/0 when it comes to hook-up ratio but that really is dependant on finding the appropriate hook style and size. There is also an awful lot of plastic on the ass end of the Super Next and more then once i had a leg to the tail pinned after a hook set. Once I'm able to find a double toad hook that fits this bait I believe the success ratio will increase

Innovation and Design : 3.0/5

D&M tried something different and you have to give them props for that.  The Super Newt was built to be a dinner bell and in that its a success, but some of its strengths are also its downfall. The super thick kicker legs feel like they were built more for durability then presentation. Actually most features on the Super Newt feel geared this way. I think D&M would have produced a better bait by cutting back on some of the excess plastic and letting the design do its thing. The legs and tail need to see Jenny Craig before I tie one back on.

Availability, Options & Price: 2.0/5

The Super Newt is not easy to find on-line with only two suppliers carrying the line. One of which is Tackle Warehouse, which is tD&M's saving grace here. As for options you can find the super Newt in 8 Colors and two sizes, though for the life of me I can only find the one size.

With all that in mind the largest issue here is the price.. wait for it, wait for it.. $7.49 for a 2-pack, yes a 2-pack. This soft plastic toad will cost you $3.75 each, while most other soft plastic toad run from about $.80 to $1.20 each. I get it D&M has "custom baits" in their name, but come on, that price is over the top.

Situations for Success:

First and foremost the Super Newt requires a gear check, make sure your toad rod has the backbone to cast and retrieve this bait without putting additional stress on the rod or your back. Once you have that down dig out your hook box and find the right size and or style of hook (don't go smaller then 6/0 and probably start with a 7/0). The Super Newt is a search bait and should be fished medium to medium/fast over weed beds and edges. Sparse cover is key, you will get tired quick lugging this frog over pads all day long.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($7.49)

Outdoor ProShop (Monster) ($6.99)

Equipment:

I completed all my testing with a Dobyns 735c... then an 736c paired with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel.  This frog is fairly beefy so check your gear and find the perfect fit.

Eco Pro Tungsten Eco Toad Review

Eco Toad:   Colors: 9     Length: 2.5"     Weight: 2/3oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Any frog that lands me a fish on my first cast gets bonus points.. not really, but they should right? The Eco Toad by Eco Pro Tungsten achieved this feat earlier this week when I opened the packaged tied it on, made a long cast and almost immediately set the hook. Both hooks in the top of the mouth.. sold

The Eco Toad is flying under the radar this season, with a few larger companies launching new frogs this one quietly went unnoticed.. but not for long, once Anglers start getting some time on the water with these beauties I expect they will fly off the shelves (Update: At time of writing Tackle Warehouse is currently sold out of all colors.. 06/28/2017))

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: 3.5/5

As you can see from the overall raring and the below scores, I really like this frog, and i wish I could give it an even higher score then i did, but a few issues plaque this bait in the early going and I'm afraid it will get worse the more I fish the Eco Toad, and I plan on fishing it allot.

The quality is top notch, lets remember this frog is built with tungsten weights and  Trokar hooks. The baits design is nearly perfect making the Eco Toad an incredible swimmer while still offering up the perfect bite sized snack.

Whats the problem you may ask? The issues I ran into (on the durability side) are that the ultra soft body material wears quickly. My frog is wearing around head of the bait, and after my first day on the water the material around the nose of the bait was loosening around the eyelet allowing water to seep in. This turned the Eco toad into a sinker that had to be drained every few casts. I'm already contemplating super gluing the nose to stop the damage from spreading.

Castability: 5.0/5

With a nice aerodynamic shape and a healthy Weight (2/3oz) you can pitch, flip, skip and long bomb this sucker.  It travels and lands well, making it great for distance or target specific fishing. I don't think the Eco Toad landed on on back once and if and when it does happen the narrow body and deep V should make it roll over like a well trained dog.

Presentation: 4.5/5

This baby is a champion swimmer and can cover water fast or slow without rolling. it's narrow head and hips make it easy to walk all while giving off a nice profile on the pause.

The Eco Toad has a unique yet familiar look to it, the body is a similar length to what you are use to fishing but the nose is narrower and the belly has a  deep narrow keel, which seems to help it move over structure and pads (less belly drag).

Moving down the bait the Eco Toads belly slightly swells to help protect the trokar hook points and then thins out again similarly to the Terminator frog. The narrow ass makes for easy eating and is one reason my hook up ration was so high.. speaking of:

Hook-Up Ratio: 5.0/5

Eco Pro Tungsten did a few things very right when it came to ensuring that the fish eat this frog and get pinned while doing so. We have covered a couple of these perks above, but we will touch on them again just so we are all on the same page.. Sharp well placed Trokar hooks, super soft body material and thin Olsen twin sized hips.. that's just for starters, another trait this bait has that I feel improves its hook-up ratio is the body material itself. As you can see from the images the Eco Toads back  is covered in bumpy warts, these act like a tread that give the fish a little something extra to hold while giving the bait a more life like feel. like studded winter tires

Innovation & Design: 4.0/5

Eco Pro took a basic frog design and improved it, and they did so without hurting my wallet. They slimmed down their frog in the nose to improve it's walk, they slimmed down its legs to improve hook-up ratio. They created a deeper steeper keel to improve motion in the water an on the pads, and they made sure it looks good to both the fisherman and the fish. Nice job, I can see why Tackle Warehouse is completely sold out (at time of writing)

Availability, Options & Price: 3.0/5

I love the color mix and had a hard time choosing just one. I will be picking up the Bluegill option on my next Tackle Warehouse order for sure.

As for price it is surprising low for a bait with a nice set of features and a beautiful finish.  Lets not forget this frog is weighted with tungsten.

The downfall here is that the frog is hard to find.. currently on-line I could only find it at Tackle Warehouse, no other Eco Pro retailers have it listed, and as I mentioned above.. at time to writing TW is completely sold out!

Situations for Success:

The Eco Toad is an all around frog that can be fished in any cover and any situation. I love it's versatility and the fact that I can fish it at any speed until i find what the fish are looking for. I recommend starting out with a medium fast retrieve pausing over edges and pockets. Look for movement under the pads and slow down and take your time if you think or see that your being followed. This bait looks great, so don't be afraid to let it be seen, long pauses or twitching it in place will also go along way.

If you don't want to constantly retie or you just have room in your box for one frog.. make it this one.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($8.49)

Equipment:

The Reaction frog fishes well on the Dobyns 735c or 736c which provides enough tip to make accurate casts all while still having the backbone needed to haul fish out of the nastiest of cover.

As with any hollow-body bait, this frog should be worked on 40lb-60lb braid line. 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): A

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B+

Walk the Dog: A+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: A-