Sizmic Pop'n Toad Review - Retired

Sizmic Pop'n Toad:      Retired!

Intro:

Yes, it is time to review yet another "retired" frog. The Sizmic Poppin toad by Uncle Josh is a bait that saw very little time on the water (obviously) and to this day can be chalked up to a good frog gone wrong! 

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: 4.0/5

There is many things I did or do not like about the Sizmic Poppin Toad, but the durability was not one of them. This baby looked and felt like it was made of tire rubber, it it extremely durable and holds up well to the abuse both the angler and the fish put it through. I believe it was made almost to durable and that in the process made it a bait that did not swim or pop as well as it should (more on that later) 

Castability: 4.0/5

The Sizmic pop'n frog has a dense  body and casts and skips very well. The Pop'n version is a floater, and weighs less then both the original and Magnum toads, but still holds it's own when cast

Presentation: 2.5/5

This is where the Sizmic popin toad leaves much to be desired. Yes, you can pop and work it back to the boat, but overall if you were going to have to compare it to a real frog, it would have to be a dead one. It just kinda sits there (or floats I guess) The profile and the action just don't cut it, and this frog is surpassed by pretty much every other frog I have test driven on the Frog Pond (that says a lot)

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

The Sizmic toad has a nice thin profile and makes for a good hook-up ratio. The slot on the back hides the hook well without impeding its ability to be hammered home on a hook-set (a nice feature I wish more companies would add)

Availability: N/A

Although not as hard to find as some of the other retired frogs I have reviewed, it is not readily available. Below you will find 3 places you can locate Sizmic popp'n toads on line (non of which are the actual manufacture). Dont hold me to this, as if you are reading this review in the year 2015 there is a good chance these will be gone

Options & Price: N/A

For whats left of them, they are not badly priced coming in on average at the $3 per pack mark. With 6 frogs in a pack thats only $0.50 per, and not a bad deal. Obviously color choices will be limited, but if you find them in black or white, I would take the plunge and give them a shot.  

Where to Find:

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

OC Fishing Gear - $3.79

OverstockBait.com - $2.99

Gatror Tackle - $3.08

Ebay is always an option when looking for retired frogs. At time of posting there were a few listings for multiple packages

Equipment:

As with most popper frogs I recommend using a Dobyns 735c, this is firm enough to get a great poppin action out or the bait without manhandling it.  As for reels, you dont need to go super beefy, but as with most frogs you want the power to pull it out of some of the nastiest slop or cover. Give the Daiwa Lexa 300 a try.

Optimum Pop'n Furbit Review

 Poppin Furbit:   Colors: 12        Size: 3.00"        Weight: 5/8oz      Pack Count:  1

      

Intro:

Much of this review will be similar to the review I complete on the standard Furbit, That being said there are some changes made to this frog that will slightly affect it's overall score and the way it fishes.

Overall Rating:  7.8/10

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

Quality: 4/5

The Poppin furbit is a quality built frog from head to tail. The choice of body material gives it a thicker skin then many frogs on the market, yet it is still very soft and pliable. The skin stands up better to the abuse you will put it through day in and day out on the water, while still being soft enough to easily collapse when a fish hammers it. 

Unlike standard hollow body frogs the Furbit utilizes rabbit fur for the "leg" yes the Poppin Furbit is a single legged bait, this not only imparts amazing movement in the water, but the fur will hold scent better then silicone or rubber legs

The Poppin Furbit comes with a with a 6/0 Owner hook and an external belly weight.

Castability: 3.0/5

The Furbit series of Frog cast extremely well, they are belly weighted and hefty enough to travel  serious distances even in windy conditions.  With the exposed belly weight and Colorado blade this frog lands hard (and is meant too). The wide popper mouth may cause this bait to cast shorter distances then it's brother (the non-popper version) but all in all I think you will be happy with the result. 

Presentation: 5.0/5

this is not your average everyday frog, the rabbit fur leg and the addition of a small #3 Colorado blade really give this frog a unique look while in the water. The Poppin Frubit has a single leg that provides a slither like motion when walked, and flares out in a nice subtle motion when paused. Fishing the two Furbits side by side I think I prefer the popper model, both frogs walk very well, but the single leg looks better in the water and with the addition of the popper mouth it gives you another tool to use when simply walking just wont cut it.

Just like with the Standard Version the Poppin Furbit  comes with a #3 Colorado blade that gives the frog a bit more flash and splash and makes sure it is seen from below. It is not always needed and can at times get in the way. (loose small particles of slop can catch it). When Fishing the Furbit I will usually start with the bladed version and move away from it if the fish are looking for a faster presentation or if I'm having a hard time hooking up (some times small changes can be big confidence boosters) 

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

I have a fairly high hook-up ratio when fishing with both Furbit frogs. The slender/narrow back end and the fact that the fur lays flatter then rubber legs means that the fish can get more of the frog in his mouth. The body of the Furbit is a bit denser then other frogs currently available, but this has not effected my fishing or hook-ups. (Body density does play a role in a frogs overall hook-up ratio and that's why I mention it here). The large weight at the back end of the frog can help your hook up ratio, as it helps drive the hooks home when the fish bites down on it (see below)

Although I like the blade for presentation purposes, anytime anything is added to the tail end of a frog I have a hard time giving it a perfect rating. I feel any object at the back end of a frog can effect your hook-up ratio by simply getting in the way of the hooks.

Again I believe this frog fishes better with the blade, but if you are having issues with hook-ups, don't be afraid to remove the blade.

Availability: 3.5/5

The Optimum Furbit Frog is widely available on-line from Optimum and other major retailers. In the Canadian market place it is not as readily available at local shops. I hope this improves as this is a good product and deserves to be seen by more anglers

Options & Price: 4/5

Coming in around the $10 mark, which appears to be the new standard for hollow body frogs, the Furbit will not do too much damage to your wallet. As for options, the Furbit is currently only available in 1 size but does does come in 12 color options, some of which are very unique.

Where to Find:

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

Optimum Baits ($11.99)

Tackle Warehouse ($10.99)

Land Big Fish  ($10.99)

The Hook Up ($9.99) 

Bass Tackle Depot ($10.99) 

For the price savvy customer "the Hook-up" is the place to go, but as with the standard Furbit they have the worst colour selection available (of this group) with only 8 of the 12 colors available.

Equipment:

As with the Standard Furbit I like to fish the Poppin version with a  Dobyns 736c, this stick was built for frog fishing and will not let you down no matter the situation. As mentioned in the last review I find the Furbit to fish a little heavy but the 736c was designed with the tip you need to throw and manoeuvre it with ease

I like to pair my hollow body frogs with a Diawa Advantage reel, but this year with the introduction of the Lexa my Advantages may get a bit of a break.

As for line, like always I recommend 40-60lb braid when fishing Hollow body frogs, (Insert your fav brand here)  Last year I had great success with Sunline FX2 frog line and will continue to use it on my frog rods this year

Mann's Hard Nose Swim Toad Review

hard Nose Swim Toad:    Colours: 8   Size: 5"     Pack Count:  5     

                                    Leg Style: Swim            Scent: Salted

Intro:

The Manns Hard Nose Swim Toad is one of the soft body frogs that I can attribute to my  love of soft body from fishing. It is an extremely easy to use bait that has built tuff so we as anglers are not constantly adjusting and or replacing frogs while on the water. I always carry a pack of these with me when tournament fishing as they help me keep my line wet longer then any other from in my arsenal   

Overall Rating: 8.2/10

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

Quality: 4.5/5

This frog came very close to getting a perfect score in this category due to the "hard nose" alone. Mann's must have this patented as I'm not sure why no other companies and have tried it out or at least attempted a version of it. No other frog holds you hook as long or as well as the Manns Hard Nose Swim frog.. now if only the legs held us as well 

Castability: 4.0/5

The weight of this bait is the only think that prevented it from getting a perfect score in the cast-ability category. It is light weight, and you will need to play with your reel a bit to find that sweet spot that allows for long distance casts without the heartache of picking birds-nests every few casts  (we have all been there). All in all the design of the hard nose swim toad makes it cast very well, it is aerodynamic and skips very well (the hard nose is a huge help in keeping the bait in place on the hook even on harder skips)

Presentation: 4.5/5

If you are looking for a loud obnoxious swimming motion and sound, then this is not the frog for you. It has a very subtle or gentle churning that gives off a softer ripple then many swim frogs. It moves well in and over cover, and has a nice sink when paused. There is nothing bad I can say about the Swim Toads presentation so much so that it is making me rethink the fact that I only gave it a 4.5/5?

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

With a flexible body that would rival that of a 20 year old yoga instructor the Hard hose swim toad will provide you with an a very high hook-up ratio (if you let it). The body and legs do their best to get out of the way on a hook-set and let you slam it home.

I do wish this frog came with some sort of hard guard or slot on it's back, as the only issues I find is that the super soft body can be torn up by the hook point and it will often leave you exposed on the retrieve. Sure this is good for the hook-up ratio but it also means more fowl ups on grass and pads if the frog rolls on you.

Availability: 3.5/5

For a bait that is as popular as the Mann's hard nose swim toad, I'm continuously surprised on how few on-line retailers carry it. I know locally I can walk into over 80% of the tackle shops and buy it right off the shelf, yet on-line I have to do some searching or I can be forced to do business with shops I don't usually order from.. Tackle Warehouse is the only place I regularly purchase from that carries this bait currently.

Options & Price: 3.5/5

At its very best this bait has 8 color options, all of which are pretty decent (most retailers I found only stock 5-6 of those colors). I tend to stick to the Black, White or even the Green Pumpkin versions as I'm quickly becoming a "green pumpkin" believer.

As for the price there is pretty drastic range right now, two of the retailers have it on for $4.19 which works out to $0.83 a frog.. not bad.. but it can be found as low as $2.89 from places like Tackle Warehouse and I will admit at that price these are worth every penny ($0.58 a frog)

Where to Find:

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

Mann's Bait ($4.19)

Tackle Warehouse ($2.89)

Cabela's ($4.19)

Equipment:

As with the majority of my swim frogs I find that they are best paired with a Dobyns 735c if you are fishing them at long distances or around any sort of cover. If you are fishing open water area you could get away fishing the Hard nose swim toad on the 734c, it has a bit less umph and a softer tip to work it's magic. As for lines I like to go a bit lighter with swim frogs and usually throw in the 20lb range an no higher then 40lb. This season I will be giving my swim frogs a work out on the new Daiwa Lexa reel, there has been a load of hype around it and I cant wait to get it on the water

Spring is HERE.. The Frog Pond is Open!

It's about damn time! this was quite the winter, heavy snow falls and poor ice conditions made for a not to fun winter for this fisherman, but things are looking up, today marks the first day of Spring and with it, the return of the The Frog Pond

 I already have a whack of reviews ready to tide you over until Bass season officially hits, and once it does I have a bunch of 2013 frogs on order and ready for test drives.

Thank you for checking in over the winter and be sure to come back on April 1st for the first (weekly) frog review of the 2013 season.

The Frog Pond is Closed for the Season: See you in 2013

The main objective of the Frog Pond is to provide you with accurate on-water reviews of Frogs and Frog related products. With the closing of Bass Season on November 30th we have lost the ability to test run any new Frogs and thus have shut'er down for the season.

Rest assured come the spring we will be back at it, providing you with weekly Frog reviews of Hot new products as well as good old classics



 We spent the off season stock piling frogs from the coming season, if you have any recommendations for products you would like to see reviewed in 2013 please let us know

Top Frogs Awards 2012: Soft Body Toads

Intro:

Last week we awarded TOP Frog Rankings to a selection of Hollow Body frogs, so this week it's time for the soft body frogs (or toads) to shine.

The Same rules apply: Top Frog awards are given to  products that came out on top, not only in their overall rating, but also in each of the categories I review.. kinda like the Oscars, you may not win best picture, but you still have the chance to win for cinematography.. here we go

Quality: Stanley "Ribbit"

there are not many frogs on the market today that are built as tough as the Stanley Ribbit. The quality of plastic/rubber used is soft enough to impart the action required in a buzz frog, yet firm enough to do battle with a Pike and live to cast again.

This is a well designed frog and deserved of it Rank as Top Frog: Quality

click Here to see the full review

Castability: Kicker X Fish "Xplodin Toad"

As an angler that prefers to work with swim frogs over buzz frogs I was pleasantly surprised by the Kicker X Fish Xplodin Toad.  It's fishes very well at various speeds and casts like a bullet. A very aerodynamic body made of a firm dense rubber/plastic is the key behind this baits casting ability. If you are looking for a frog that you can cast into tight spots or on windy days, look no further then the Xplodin Toad

click Here to see the full review

Presentation: Gene Larew "Three Legged Toad"

Some may say I'm bias here, as the Gene Larew Three Legged Toad is one of my all time favourite frogs, That being said, I'm awarding it the Top Frog award for Presentation, not based on on my bias but based on how well this frog fishes, and that fact that it flat out catches bass.

the Three Legged Toad is designed well using two kind of plastic/rubber.  The body is super soft and marshmallow like, and the legs are a more tradition plastic that give off the subtle churn I like to see when fishing a swim frog. 

Hook-Up Ratio: Gene Larew "Three Legged Toad"

The soft squishy body of the Gene Larew three legged toad is what provides it with it's superior hook-up ratio. It holds your hook firm when retrieved, but any pressure from a fish will loosen it and the body collapses as it is was a hollow body frog. I think you would have a hard time finding a frog with a better hook-up ratio in the market today

click Here to see the full review

Availability: Zoom "Horny Toad"

The Zoom Horny toad has been on the market for years now, and continues to impress anglers with its durability, presentation and it's ability to catch fish. This frog is in most anglers tackle bags, and Ill tell you why.. it's because it is priced right and can be found on the shelves of most tackle stores from coast to coast. 

click Here to see the full review

Options & Price: Outdoor Advantage "Boss Frog"

This is one of the more recent frogs I have reviewed, and the timing could not be better, as I cant think of another frog that so easily won it's category. Outdoor Advantage's "Boss Frog" clearly takes the cake when it comes to available options... 35 Colours, 8 scents

match that with a price point of $4.50 a pack or $0.64 a frog and you can see why the Boss Frog gets the Top Frog Award for Options and Price 

click Here to see the full review

Highest Overall Rating: Stanley Ribbit

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

This years Top Frog award goes to the Stanley Ribbit, with perfect or near perfect scores in categories like Quality, Castability and presentation, there was not frog that could touch it for "best overall score".

This was my first season fishing with the Ribbit and I was impressed with it's action on the water and how well it help up fish after fish, as noted many times, I'm not much of a "buzz frog" guy, but the Ribbit helped open my eyes to a wide selection of buzz frogs.

Congrats to Stanley for banging out a Top Frog

click Here to see the full review

Best Places to Frog Shop:

When if comes to service, price, shipping and availability, here are the 3 best places to build your frog arsenal

LandBigFish (*)

Tackle Warehouse

The Hook-Up

* For you Canadian shoppers, LBF is your best bet, they ship USPS and you will avoid all those messy brokerage fees that UPS charges. Tackle Warehouse is quick, but since they Ship UPS, you can expect a minimum $20 plus duty and taxes on any order over $19.99

Frog Equipment:

When it comes to soft body frog (or toad) fishing there is no better rod on the market then the Dobyns 735c, I always have one rigged up and ready for battler no matter the conditions.

When it comes to line choice, Sunline FX2 is really up for the challenge that is frog fishing. It's tuff, yet smooth, and holds up well under the stress a frog line can be put under. This was my first season using it, and I could not be happier. When Toad fishing I usually drop down to 40lb or lighter, no need for 60/80lb line

Top Frog Awards 2012: Best Hollow Body Frogs

Intro:

Alright, another Bass season has come and gone, and during that time I had the pleasure to review 41 different frog baits. Each frog was rated on Quality, Castability, Presentation, Hook-Up, Availability, Options & Price. Below is a list of the best of the best  for each category and of course the overall Highest rated frog (reviewed this year)..  This is kinda like the Oscars, you may not win best picture, but you still have the chance to win for cinematography.. so here we go

Quality: Booyah Pad Crasher

The Booyah Pad Crasher has quite a few things going for it, and was in the running for Top rated frog of 2012. But the team at Booyah will have to console themselves with the award for 'Quality" as the PadCrasher frog is as good as it gets when it comes to the durability of the body, hooks and overall package.

For the Full Review click HERE

Castability: Ish Phat Frog 

For me, the Ish Phat frog redeemed Snag Proof's entire family of frogs. I had long since moved on from the Pro series or Bobby's perfect, finding them behind the times and not able to keep up with all the advancements made by other companies. Then came the Ish Phat Frog, and everything changed, yes it still looks kinda ugly, but hey, it fishes with the best of them and casts like a dream. This year the IPF takes top prize when it comes to "cast ability" of a hollow body frog. Its hefty body gives you the perfect weight for casting for distance in any weather and it's flat bottom makes it one of the best "skipping" frog on the market today.  If you are like me and wrote this guy off as "just another snag proof" frog, then you need to take the time to see what your missing.

For the Full Review click HERE

Presentation: Deps Slither K

The Deps Slither K has to be the best frog I fished with this season and if it was not for my passion to test and review baits I probably would not have thrown any other frogs.

Yes, it is designed well, yes it has a great hook-up ration, but all in all, the best thing about the Slither K is how it moves in the water.. it slithers, crawls and skates across any form of structure or open water. This thing was build to move, and move it does

For the Full Review click HERE

Hook-Up Ratio: Deps Slither K

Between the test drive, the original review, and the above statement, there is not much more I can say about the Deps Slither K. It has been awarded top prize for "Hook-Up ratio" based on the fact that no frog I have ever purchased produced right out of the gate as well as the Slither K. Blow-up after Blow-up the hooks of the Slither K constantly found their home and fish were boated.. nuff said

For the Full Review click HERE

Availability: Live Target 

The saying goes "they multiply like Rabbits" but whoever coined the phrased obviously did not know about Live Target frogs, because if they did the term would now be "multiply like frogs"

These things are everywhere. I cant remember the last time I walked into a Tackle shop that did not carry Live Target products, and even more specifically frogs.


For the Full Review click HERE

 Options & Price: Scum Frog (Original)

One of the frogs that got me hooked on frog fishing is still one of the best products on the market today. These lightweight beauties cast well and their hooks always find a home. But where they truly excel is in the sheer range of selection available. The below 8 are colors I carry and are by no means the entire list of options. When it comes to price, the Scum Frog is also hard to top and often can be found in around the $3 mark.. Try one, they are worth 10x's what you pay for 'em


For the Full Review click HERE

Highest Overall Rating:  Live Target Hollow Belly

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

It should come to no surprise that this years top overall rating was awarded to Koppers Live Target. This frog set the gold standard in quality, presentation, hook-up ratio, and availability. The Live Target Hollow belly really blew the competition out of the water ( 2 years ago) and started what has now become the evolution of the frog market.. they set the bar, and it will only get better from here

congrats for banging out a great frog

Best Places to Frog Shop:

When if comes to service, price, shipping and availability, here are the 3 best places to build your frog arsenal

LandBigFish (*)

Tackle Warehouse

The Hook-Up

* For you Canadian shoppers, LBF is your best bet, they ship USPS and you will avoid all those messy brokerage fees that UPS charges. Tackle Warehouse is quick, but since they Ship UPS, you can expect a minimum $20 plus duty and taxes on any order over $19.99

Frog Equipment:

When it comes to hollow belly frog fishing there is no better rod on the market then the Dobyns 736c. On my boat it is used exclusively for hollow belly fishing and always has a frog tied on and ready to go.  http://dobynsrods.com/champion-series

When it comes to line choice, Sunline FX2 is really up for the challenge that is frog fishing. It's tuff, yet smooth, and holds up well under the stress a frog line can be put under. This was my first season using it, and I could not be happier.