Lunker Hunt Popping Frog Review

 Popping Frog:   Colors: 8     Length: 2 1/8"     Weight: 1/2oz   Pack Count: 1
 Popping Frog:   Colors: 8     Length: 1 3/4"     Weight: 1/4oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Here we go, another "real leg" frog from LunkerHunt, this time we are taking a look at the Popping version of their popular LunkerFrog. I don't know about you, but I was sure glad to see they released a standard frog this season, here's hoping this is the last of the real leg fad.

Manufactures Description :

The Lunkerhunt Popping Frog™ calls fish in by creating a surface disturbance. Its concave face catches water, causing popping and spitting noises. 

The swimming legs of the Popping Frog create explosive strikes! 

Popping Frogs feature a weedless design and hollow body construction. The Popping Frog’s supersoft hollow body compresses quickly under the slightest amount of pressure. When it does, sharp high quality upturned hooks are ready for the hookset. 

The Popping Frogs generate tons of action with minimal movement. They can be worked along edges, through grass, in pockets and on open water.

Overall Rating: 5.8/10

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

Quality & Durability: 3.05

Ok, lets get this out of the way, the legs on this frog (like with every other LunkerHunt frog) continue to be an issue. They fish clumsy, and can and will get in the way when you attempt to set the hook on a fish that actually falls for your bait. They don't last and are often ripped off after the first or second fish.

I recently watched a video in which an angler actually cut of the legs and replaced with with silicone, good idea, and LunkerHunt must have agreed as their new from this year has silicone legs

Castability: 3.0/5

The casting distance has never really been an issue with LunkerHunt frogs, but the landing is, as with the swim it lands clumsily and not often enough in a fighting position. The legs make it an awkward bait to skip so for accuracy sake stick to shorter target casts.

Presentation: 2.0/5

I feel like I'm getting a little repetitive here, but this version of the LunkerHunt series of frogs seems to fish even worse then the others. Its cupped mouth does push water well enough, but the body jerks oddly when doing so and as mentioned above (repeatedly) its clumsy legs flail about with no real purpose. Even the pause isn't realistic on this frog leaving me pretty much nothing positive to say about it. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

The one perk that all LunkerHunt frogs have going for them is their body material. its soft, pliable, durable and mashed down well to expose the hooks. The hooks are sharp and come out at a decent angle. Like with the other real leg frogs your concern will also be the legs getting int he way, they can and will ball up on hook sets and at time will catch the hook covering the point.

Innovation & Design: 3.0/5

If I included this section in the first LunkerHunt LunkerFrog review I wrote back in 2012 I would have given them full proper here, the idea when first launched was a new one and offered anglers and whole new look. I didn't work, but I love that they had the balls to try it.

Now 5+ years later I wish they would move on, this type of frog is stale, and although they still seem to sell I don't know any anglers who would throw it in public.

Availability, Options & Price: 3.5/5

I think I'm being generous here as I'm having a hard time finding this frog online other then on the Storm Website (and you cant buy it there) and on Ebay (for outrageous prices). I'm not sure if this frog has been sent into retirement but what I can say is it is getting harder and harder to find.

Situations for Success:

I'm going to say your best bet to be successful with this frog is to ignore the legs and fish it where the bass cant see it. Fish it in heavy cover and slop using its weight to your advantage. The legs may cause it to roll a bit but it should sit well when paused.

I'm also seen all LunkerHunt frogs fished using the limb dangling method, this may be one area the legs actually come in handy. So if you regularly fish overhangs see if you can get a fish air born.

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)

Equipment:

I fished the LunkerHunt Popping frog on a Dobyns 735c which provides enough tip to walk and pop along with the backbone needed to yank fish from cover. Pair it with a Daiwa Tatula reel with a 7.3:1 gear ratio

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): C

Pads (Medium Cover): C

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: D

Popping Action: C+

Sit/Pause: C

Storm XS-Soft Bloop Frog Review

 XS-Soft Bloop Frog:   Colors: 8     Length: 2.75"     Weight: 7/10oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

If this frog looks familiar thats because it is.. Storm a sister company to Rapala makes the XS-Soft Bloop frog using the same body mold as the Terminator frog. it's not stealing when you designed the the original is it?

Like most Storm lures the XS-Soft Bloop frog is a small step down in quality from the Terminator frog but unlike other storm products I didn't notice a price drop? Interesting.

Manufactures Description :

Built specifically to fish the toughest cover, Storm's SX-Soft Bloop Frog soars into snaggy spots and pops its way into the mouth of a big, hungry fish. It can be fished straight like a frog crossing a lake; walked side-to-side; or blooped agressively for maximum splash.

Trailing legs add additional attraction.

Comes rigged with VMC double hook

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: 3.05

The name "Storm" never really strikes fear in the hearts of fish, but it has often been a fisherman favorite often due to the lower retail value on many of their products.

Don't get me wrong, there are many areas you can get away with spending a little less, but when it comes to frog fishing few companies can pull off the low cost to quality ratio.. with that in mind The Storm XS-Soft Bloop Frog did experience some noticeable cut backs, the XS body for one is very thin and can be torn up easily. The VMC hooks though quality are not are stout as the heavy duty hooks found on the Terminator frog a frog as mentioned above sold by their sister/parent company Rapala at pretty much the same price.

A quality complaint I do have is that I bought the clear (ghost frog) and after a few trips is was starting to yellow. Now it's more of a piss frog then a ghost frog.

Castability: 3.5/5

No real concerns here, the light weight crazy soft body still casts well due to its well placed rear weight that not only propels the frog forward but also ensures its lands ass/hooks down.

Presentation: 4.0/5

Like with the Terminator Popping frog the Bloop frog is a great walking bait and I usually only take advatage of the cupped popping mouth then I get it out in the open or fishing between pads. This Terminator/Storm family of frogs are known for their walking and sitting capabilities and there is no question this frog lives up to his big brothers reputation. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

You may have expected to see a bit of the score jump here as the XS-Soft frog was designed for increased hook-up ratios. But with the down grade to the hooks, and the fact that the points have more then once buried themselves in the side of the bait, i couldn't really go any higher then the 4.5 I gave the Terminator frog.

Innovation & Design: 3.0/5

This is where things get weird. The Innovation and Design was done a couple years ago on the Terminator frog, all Storm did here was release a bait with a much softer body material than the original Terminator frog. With that said I do like the idea of companies releasing frog with thinner or thicker skin and offering that up as an option,  a frogs body material is just as if not more important than length, weight and color options.

Availability, Options & Price: 3.0/5

I think I'm being generous here as I'm having a hard time finding this frog online other then on the Storm Website (and you cant buy it there) and on Ebay (for outrageous prices). I'm not sure if this frog has been sent into retirement but what I can say is it is getting harder and harder to find.

Situations for Success:

Like with most popping frogs the XS-Soft Bloop frog excels in medium to sparse cover situations. Target cast the frog to open pockets or structure in which you would like your bait to spend more time in the attack zone.

The Soft skin is great for those days in which the fish are not fully committed but watch using this bait on lakes with toothy fish as it will shred under the teeth of a pike or musky

Where to Find:

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

Storm Lures (?)

Equipment:

I fished the XS-Soft Bloop Frog  on a Dobyns 735c which provides enough tip to walk and pop along with the backbone needed to yank fish from cover. Pair it with a Daiwa Tatula reel with a 7.3:1 gear ratio

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): B-

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): D

Walk the Dog: B+

Popping Action: B+

Sit/Pause: B

Z Man Pop Frog Z Review

 Pop Frog Z:   Colors: 5     Length: 4"     Weight: NAz   Pack Count: 4

Intro:

I've been sitting on this review for a couple seasons now, mostly because the influx of new frogs hitting the market each season make it hard to keep up, and secondly because Im not really a fan of Zman soft plastics and buy them only for the review process. With that said, lets take a look at the Zman Pop frog.


Manufactures Description :

Popping, gurgling, and pushing water with each rod twitch, Pop FrogZ float and maintain a horizontal profile - even when motionless on the water - thanks to their buoyant ElaZtech® construction. Their unique hybrid curly-paddle tail legs create incredible swimming leg making this one of the most versatile baits on the market for surface feeders. Take your topwater fishing to a whole new level!

Overall Rating: 6.6/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.5/5

Zman is best known for the longevity of their Elaztech series of baits and the Zman Prop frog is no different. This frog can be fished all day long, for fish after fish, with almost no fear of loosing a leg or tearing up the bait.

The only real area of concern is if you accidentally place a Zman bait in with any of your other plasric baits, like a Japanese fishing fish, Zman baits eat the competition. 

Castability: 3.0/5

Like with the original Zman frog I find the Z Man Pop Frog to be awkwardly light weight which effects its castability by forcing  me to over power my cast in order to get the distance Im looking for. As we all know when trying to force distance into a cast we are sacrificing accuracy. With this in mind If I was to be fishing the Zman Pop frog I would focus on shorter targeted casts.

The long legs and body material can also decrease this baits effectiveness when skipping, I find the bait often trips over itself and doesn't  have the weight and density needed to get a nice skip.

Presentation: 3.0/5

I struggled with writing this portion of the review as the bait performs well on its own, but when compareid to other top water toads and popping toads it seems to be inferior. Like with the classic Zman frog I find that the use of the Elaztech material used to make the frog durable in turn hinders its performance on the water. The legs kick a little subtler then other frogs and the soft Elaztech month is not idea for popping and gives the water more of a push then a pop.

Perks to the Zman Pop?, like with other Zman products the Pop Frog Z floats when paused even when paired with larger hooks. Its long narrow body glides well when you give the rod tip a jerk and can be walked similar to a hollow body frog.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

The Pop Frog Z  provides a decent hook-up ratio. The ultra soft and collapsible body will bend and squish in any direction, making it easy for the fish to get this whole frog in it's mouth.

The body material holds the hook well, and a back slot keeps your hook point hidden during the retrieve. If you like to rig it with a slight skin hook on the hook point be careful not to bury the hook to far in, as this material is so stretchy that it will hold the point and you wont be able to burry it home when the fish strikes

Innovation & Design: 3.0/5

Zman has always been a company at the for-front of innovation, you don't have to look to far to see that their 2 most recent innovations (the chatterbait and the Ned Rig) have taken the fishing word by storm the past few years. With that said when it comes to their frog baits the only real innovation they have is their Elaztech body material, and its place in fishing can be debated. I for one am not a fan.

Availability, Options & Price: 3.0/5

Since my last review of a Z-man product they have become much more readily available. They are easy to find at most online retailers and at local tackle shops even in the smaller markets. As for options the Pop Frog Z is only available in 4 colors and one size. The colors are pretty standard fair but most anglers should be able to find one that suits them.

As for pricing they are well priced at an average of $3.99 a pack. This sounds good off the hop but also remember that Zman ships these with only 4 frogs in a pack leaving your final price at approximately $1.00 a frog. (good thing they last)

Situations for Success:

When fishing the Zman pop frog I tend to focus on shorter targeted casts in medium to sparse cover. I feel I had the most success when fishing the Pop Frog Z at medium to high speed retrieves or when giving the bait sporadic twitches and pauses.

If you fish lakes loaded with toothy fish its also a nice bait to have in the boat to help stem the bleeding of going through pack after pack of your favorite soft plastic toad.

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:

I fished the Zman POP Frog Z 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.

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+

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+