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.

NetBait Kickin B Review

Kickin B Standard:      Colours:10   Size: 4"     Pack Count: 5
Kickin B Mini      :      Colours:10   Size: 3.5"     Pack Count: 5               

Leg Style: Buzz              Weight: N/A

Intro:

This is NetBaits first time in the frog pond, and so far its made a pretty decent splash. The Kickin B is the second frog this year that fits into both the soft plastic toad as well as the "cross over bait" categories, meaning its the perfect combination of flipping bait and toad. 

Overall Rating: 7.0/10

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

Quality & Durability: 3.5/5

The Kickin B has a rockin body, nice and thick with plenty of ribs to churn the hell out of the water. As the legs taper down they start to thin out in order to give the bait its presentation, unfortunately this is also the baits weakest link (see the last photo). It will hold up for a few fish, but tail grabbers and toothy critters will be the death of the Kickin B

Castability: 3.5/5

The Kickin B has a thin slender body that casts fairly well. It could use a bit more weight if you are looking for serious distance or of course you could also added a belly weighted hook (but that makes the retrieve that much harder). Flipping is what this cross over bait does best so keep this frog in your bag for shorter targeted casts to structure or around docks.

Presentation: 4.05

I'm a big fan of the way this frog swims. Its the perfect mix between a buzz frog and a swim frog. The legs are swim style legs giving a nice churn behind the bait, while the ribbed body offers extra bubbles around the bait as it moves through the water. I can hear Jaws music in my head on each and every retrieve. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

The frogs Slim body and tucked in legs make for an above average hook-up ratio. The only areas in need of improvement would be that there is no easy way to skin hook this bait, the bodies material is a bit tougher than most and doesn't easily hide a hook point. Its also too slender for a double hook, which when Im fishing open water is my preferred hook (at this moment in time)

Availability & Price:3.0/5

NetBait products are hit and miss in Ontario, I have no dealers close to me so refilling my arsenal will become a chore. On-line they are fairly common so add a pack to your next tackle warehouse order. The price is great at under $0.80 a piece.

Options: 3.5/5

Available in two sizes and 10 colours Netbait would seem to have your options covered. But because this is a crossover bait and not a standard frog I think they are missing some key colours when it comes to toad fishing.. white being one of them. 

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)

Net Baitt (direct) (N/A)

BassTackle Depot ($3.99)

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Equipment:

I completed all my testing with a Dobyns 734c paired with a Daiwa Tatula HD.  This frog is needs a rod that will allow you to manoeuvre it around cover while still hauling big bass out of the grass..

Keitech Noisy Flapper Frog Review

Noisy Flapper:      Colours:10   Size: 3.5"     Pack Count: 5     

             Leg Style: Swim/Buzz               Weight: N/A

Intro:

Probably the bait I was most excited to purchase going into this past off season, and believe me, my list a long one. I really like what Keitech has been up to over the past few seasons and even the baits I have yet to catch fish on, still get high marks in my book, they seem to focus on quality durable baits that make a commotion in the water.  Bring on the Noisy flapper 

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

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

Quality & Durability: 5.0/5

The body of the Noisy Flapper is soft yet incredibly durable. It feels like it has been injected with somthing that allows it to be pulled on, tugged and hammer at all while keeping its shape and appendages. It's not often you find a bait this durable in this price range.

 The keys parts of a soft body toad that need to be durable are its nose and of course its legs, Keitech seems to understand this as they have built a frog with a boxers nose and a runners legs. This frog will hold up fish after fish.

Castability: 4.5/5

The Noisy Flapper has a beefy profile that casts incredibly well. Its aerodynamic shape looks kinda like the bat mobile or in this instance bat plane, and cuts through the air and breeze well. Its softish sponge like body material makes a nice slap when it hits the water altering any fish in the area of its presence while not spooking them. The Flapper can also be flipped and skipped quite easily making it a great frog around trees and docks. 

Presentation: 5.05

The Noisy Flapper is not your average frog and could be described more as a cross over bait, it is the ideal top water frog, and when the going gets tough it can be flipped (weighted or not) or paired with your favourite jig. This bait is a force to be reckoned with.

The long legs get you a powerful buzz/churn on the retrieve switching to a soft flutter then the bait is killed or paused. Fish will come from a long way out to swallow this bait so keep your eyes peeled and watch for the wake.

Hook-Up Ratio: 5.0/5

With the combination of its wide body (ass end at-least) and the soft material the Noisy Flapper is easily one of if not thee highest hook-up percentage frog in my arsenal. Keitech has taken all the hook-up ratio keys to success and said "why not use them all"

One of these keys that is often overlooked is the ability to use a double frog hook on a soft plastic toad. Not all baits are wide enough and provide enough hiding spots to make this work. The NF seems like it was built with this as its primary rigging style not just an option. And believe me, its will improve your catch ratio.

Availability & Price: 3.5/5

Keitech baits are becoming more and more common in the US market place but in smaller or rural Ontario its not exactly easy to find. Enter Tackle Warehouse. I had to order my baits on-lines though I have since found them in some of the shops I frequent while on the road (a couple hours away)

Price is not bad here, it is over the $1 per bait mark so I did deduct points for that. But the quality and durability of this bait makes it worth the extra coin. There are other companies out there charging more for inferior baits and Ill happily pay for quality.

Options: 4.0/5

One size baits seems to be common in the soft body toad market and the Noisy Flapper is no different. Where this frog excels is in its colour choices where all 10 colours offer the angler and fish a slightly different look.

Im a big fan of their natural colour options and I will also be adding some brighter colours like the Lime chartreuse and Okeechobee craw. The later will probably get some time on my flipping rod.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($5.95)

Land Big Fish ($5.99)

Bass Tackle Depot ($5.99)

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Equipment:

I completed all my Noisy Flapper frog testing with a Dobyns 735c paired with a Daiwa Tatula HD.  This frog is heavy duty but still needs a soft tip to help finesse it around. Feel free to beef up or down, depending on your taste. I also played around a bit with a 705 glass rod, the even softer tip makes it very easy to slide into overhanging cover while still allowing me to haul the fish out.

Big Bite Baits Rojas Fighting Frog

Fighting Frog:      Colours: 18   Size: 3.5" and 4"     Pack Count:  7 &10     

 Leg Style: Punch            Scent: N/A

Intro:

Ok, Ok, I get it, I knew I was going to take some flack for this one, but hey.. Big Bite Baits calls this a frog bait, so who am I to dispute them (or Dean Rojas). So here it is, the first every review of a "flipping frog"

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: 3.0/5

There are times in which I had seperated Quality and Durability, because not all high quality baits are durable, and not all durable baits are quality.. this is one of those instances

there is no doubt that he Big Bite Baits Rojas Fighting frog is a  quality bait, it was designed extremely well, and has more bells and whistles then any flipping bait should, yet all of them play a roll in it's success.. that being said it is not a durable bait and you can expect to burn through that 7-10 count pack if the bite is on

The issue lies with the body cavity of the bait, there is so much going on that the area that holds the hook is very thin and gets torn up during the fight. They must have known this may be an issue, as in this instance the price and the pack count offset the amount of baits you will use

Castability: 4.0/5

When it comes to pitching/flipping baits you not only need to consider it's castability but also it's ability to easily slide through cover. The Fishing Frog offers you both of these perks yet still have enough limbs and appendages to offer a nice presentation on the fall

Presentation: 5.0/5

This bait is slick, I dont know about you, but Im constantly looking for a slender profile flipping bait that still flaps and flails up a storm, and the fighting frog achieves this. I personally prefer the 4" model and rig it both on l1/4 to 5/16oz weights all the way up to 1/2oz when flipping heavy cover.

The Fighting Frog is the perfect bait to have rigged up as a frog fishing follow-up bait.. if you miss that big blow up, just flip this baby in the gaping hole and hold on tight

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

With a slim hook slot on its back (see above) and a deeper well on it's belly (see below) the Fighting frog makes sure your hook is always in position to hit home with little to no plastic in the way. it is so deadly accurate I have yet to miss a fish on one, but at the same time theses qualities that make it a killer hook-up bait are the same qualities that cause it to be so weak and you will quickly burn through a pack if the bite is hot

Availability: 3.5/5

Bite Big Baits are getting more and more popular, and are available in a wider selection of shops each season. Personally I have some driving to do when I want to purchase them and I often resort to ordering them on-line (shipping is cheaper then gas money)

Options & Price: 5.0/5

Big Bite Baits offer a killer selection, the Fighting frog is currently available in 2 sizes (3.5" and 4") and 18 colour options. I like the bigger size and usually fish the 4" on a 5/16 oz weight so it keeps some of its flutter. My colour choices are the Okeechobee Craw and the Junebug.

Where to Find:

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

Big Bite Baits ($4.69- $5.49)

TackleWarehouse ($3.49 - $3.99)

Land Big Fish ($3.49-$3.99)

Equipment:

Since this is a flipping frog, I prefer to fish it on the Dobyns DX795. This rod is bit and beefy yet very light weight and of course well balanced. My reel of choice is the Daiwa Lexa 300

I though I would include the below pic of a crappie I picked up on the Fighting Frog while flipping docks. I think he must have got the surprise of his life when he gave it a tug and received my big bass hook set in return