Culprit Incredi Frog Review

Incredi Frog:      Colours:7   Size: 4"     Pack Count: 5     

             Leg Style: Buzz              Weight: N/A

Intro:

I don't use a lot of Culprit baits, and the ones I have used are pretty mixed results.

The Incredit frog was a pleasant surprise in that its built tough and swims well. This bait will catch fish and won't cost you an arm and leg.

Overall Rating: 7.3/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.0/5

I think Culprit called this frog the Incredi Frog solely based on it's  body builder frame. This is one tough frog, from the legs on up through the body right to the nose you won't find a weak spot. The Incredi frog is on some form of PED lets just hope we don't get busted.

When doing these reviews I often ready product reviews on various other sites and pages. I have seen some quality complaints from other users claiming that they received flawed frogs right out of the package (molding issues). I did not experience this product with any of the frogs in my packs.. but I'm all about full disclosure. 

Castability: 4.0/5

Being a larger frog does wonders for the Incredi Frogs casting ability. You can easily get distance when needed and its flat(ish) body still allows you to skip up under docks and overhanging trees.

The Incredi Frog lands with a nice slap but due to its shape it will often land belly up. It can be hard to flip once this happens but if you keep your hook point buried you will still be able to complete your retrieve. 

Presentation: 4.05

Thick leg with large kicker feet mean this frog is a beast on the retrieve. it churns some serious water and leaves an "incredi-bubble trail" (see what I did there). Its very easy to fish at both high and low speeds meaning it excels in most conditions. Personally I prefer to fish this bait over medium to sparse pads, making it do a little climbing but not an "incredi" amount (ok ill stop now). Its big body will require some pulling when going over pads but the grooves cut in the belly were designed to help off set the drag effect often seen in larger soft plastic toads.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

The Incredi frog is built right, long slender profile means less rubber getting in the way of your hook-set and the belly slot means easier access to the hook for both you and the fish. It also has a wider ass end so that anglers that like to throw double frog hooks can do so with ease (I need to do that more)

Availability & Price:3.0/5

Not common at all in my neck of the woods, I had to order this frog on-line along with the other Culprit frog "the Marsh frog". Price is decent at just under $1 a frog, but as you know I like a bit more of a margin when it comes to soft plastics. With that said these frogs will last for multiple fish and are worth the price tag.

Options: 3.0/5

With one size and a limited colour palette options are not exactly this frogs strong suit. 

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($4.49)

Culprit (direct) ($4.99

.

Equipment:

I completed all my Incredi 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 cover. Feel free to beef up or down, depending on your taste.

Scum Frog Scum Dog Walker Frog Review

Scum Dog Walker : Colors: 12  Length: 2.5"  inch Weight: 1/2oz  Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Im a big fan of Scum Frog baits, always have been and pretty sure I always will be. The focus on making quality baits with minimal bells and whistles so they can keep the price down and oh yeah.. catch fish! The Scum Dog Walker was a reader recommended bait and I have to say.. I'm impressed.

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 & Durability: 4.0/5

Scum Frog baits walk that fine line between having a thin flexibly body for improved hooksets, while still being thick enough to be durable. All in all they hold up well fish after fish but you may have to spend sometime turning and adjusting them on the hook.

Dont be afraid of the gaping hole seen below, I thought this frog may sink like a stone when I looked at it's belly but as it turns out this frog is a swimmer.

Castability: 4.0/5

The Scum Dog Walker is heavier then the standard line of Scum Frogs so casting distance is improved. It sill lands relatively soft so not to spook fish and once in the water it quickly drops its ass and spreads its legs in a fighting stance. The extra weight also helps with skipping, the old model is so light it could be awkward at times but the Dog Walker steps up its game.

Presentation: 3.0/5

I went back on forth on this one, and if the frog itself was not named the Dog Walker I may have taken it a bit easier on them here. Yes you can walk the dog with this frog but its not as seamless and easy as the name would suggest. It sits very low in the water and thus is swam or pulled over walked. On their website they actually provide instructions as to how to hold your rod in order to get the best results.

With that said it has a great pause and sit.. leading of course to the hookup ratio.

Hook-up Ratio: 4.5/5

Being a Scum Frog I knew this bait was going to score big in this category. The Ultra soft body, well placed hooks and of course a low sit give this frog an incredible hook up ratio. Its added weight also makes it harder for the fish to bump ip up into the air during a strike meaning it finds the fishes belly more often than the classic model.

Availability: 4.0

As with most brands with large line-ups Scum Frog is easy to find at most retailers, but the Scum Dog Walker might not be as readily available. All depends on how much room your local shop has on its shelves.

Options & Price: 4.0/5

Price is the big winner here, coming in under $6USD you can't find a better frog at the price point. Options are "Scum Frog Large" with 12 colours readily available. Like with other Scum Frog product some regions will also have speciality colours only available there.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($5.19)

Northern Lure Company ($5.40)

Bass Pro ($6.49)


Equipment:

All  testing was done on a  Dobyns DX746 it is my go to rod and handles both hollow and soft plastic baits alike. As for reels, the Daiwa Tatula HD pairs well with this rod and gives you a nice over sized spool for that added distance and power. Line choice was SunLine FX2

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B

Pads (Medium Cover): A

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: C+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: A

Terminator Walking Frog Review

Walking Frog : Colors: 8  Length: 3"  inch Weight: 11/16oz  Pack Count: 1

Intro:

The Terminator walking frog has been on my radar ever since an Instagram teaser post announced its arrival. Terminator is not a bait company you will find in my tackle box often, but if they make all their lures with the attention to detail found in the Walking frog, this won't be my last Terminator bait

Overall Rating: 9.2/10

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

Quality & Durability: 5.0/5

A thick tough body gives the Walking frog a good base to start with. It holds up well fish after fish and can even take the abuse of being bounced off rocks and timber (yeah I'm that guy). The hooks are well placed and strong, while the unique leg position reminds me of the Ish Phat phrog from Snag Proof.

Castability: 4.5/5

This is a beefy frog and casts incredibly well. I have been able to get this frog in and out of dangerous situations with ease while finding those holes you can't usually reach without throwing your shoulder out. It can be skipped but the odd body shape will catch water at times, and in all honesty that's the only thing that held me back from a perfect score here.

Presentation: 5.0/5

Attention to detail.. that's all you need to know. Terminator built the frog that frog fisherman have been asking for. It has a wide upper body and narrow waist meaning its extremely easy to walk and sits nicely on the pause.

At times it looks like its on steroids and yet  everything that makes it easy to fish, was also designed to help with the hook up ratio.

Hook-up Ratio: 4.5/5

Two razor sharp VMC hooks make up the dangerous end of the Terminator frog. The hug the body well and pick up little to no debris. The frogs body tapers in at the waste allowing you an improved hook-up ratio in comparison to other fatter frogs.

One of my favourite frogs in recent years has been the Ish phat frog and the tail end of the Terminator frog takes some of its family traits, yet the upper portion of the frog is improved from what Snag Proof offers

Availability: 4.0

Not exactly hard to find, but its not common either. I grabbed my frog from TackleWarehouse but I also found it in a few of the larger local shops. I'm kinda happy its scarcer as it means on my lake I may be the only one throwing it.

Options & Price: 4.5/5

With the Canadian dollar still slightly in the tank I was pleasantly surprised by how cheap this frog was. Coming in at under $10USD it was much easier to swallow than $18CAD for a new Live Target Sunfish.

As for options, it is only available in one size and with 8 color choices. The color options are nice and I can forgive them on the sizing since I believe the available size is perfect.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($9.69)

Land Big Fish ($8.76)

Bass Pro ($9.99)


Equipment:

All  testing was done on a  Dobyns DX746 it is my go to rod and handles both hollow and soft plastic baits alike. As for reels, the Daiwa Tatula HD pairs well with this rod and gives you a nice over sized spool for that added distance and power. Line choice was SunLine FX2

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): A

Pads (Medium Cover): A

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B

Walk the Dog: A+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: A

Live Target Hollow body Sunfish Review

Sunfish : Colors: 6  Length: 2 5/8"  inch Weight: 4/5oz  Pack Count: 1

Intro:

The Live Target Hollow Body Sunfish has to be one of the hottest baits to hit the market in years. The demand has been huge ever since they were launched back at ICAST 2015 and most retailers (Canadian anyways) are just starting to get their first shipments in now.. like the horror stories from Cabbage Patch Kids Christmases of the past, it won't be long before anglers are fighting in the aisles over the very last one before bass season even opens.

Overall Rating: 8.6/10

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

Quality & Durability: 4.0/5

Live Target makes a quality bait, no surprises here, they use a body material that holds up fairly well yet still collapses when setting the hook. The hooks are sharp and well positioned to stay debris free yet still find a home. My only real concern was that this bait was fairly leaky and I ended up needing to drain it on almost every retrieve.

This bait is so life like it even pisses on you just like every sunfish you have ever caught.

Castability: 4.0/5

I didn't really get to test drive the Hollow Body Sunfish under all the conditions I would have liked. I used shorter to medium casts in non windy situations and the bait performed flawlessly, It got where I wanted it to go and landed with a nice slap. The body shape makes it easy to skip meaning you should be able to fish the Sunfish in areas some other frogs might not get.

Some complaints I have heard when dealing with wind or longer casts is the baits tendency to knuckle due to its odd shape. This seems like it could be frustrating and may effect how and where you utilize the Sunfish.

Presentation: 4.5/5

Again a near perfect score in presentation is slightly sullied by how much water the sunfish takes on during each and every retrieve. If you don't give it a squeeze you can expect this top water frog to turn into a wake bait running 1-3 feet underwater.

All other areas of the frogs performance are perfect, it walks incredibly well and can be retrieved at both high and low speeds giving fish a very different look.

You can drag the Live Target Sunfish across thicker slop and pads but it really excels in open and sparse cover, its wounded bait fish look really needs to be seen to be believed and will ring the dinner bell of any fish in the vicinity.

Hook-up Ratio: 4.0/5

strong beefy Frog hooks and a soft collapsible body allow for a decent hook-up ratio. The bait has a small profile, the smallest size being the ultimate in one-bite brownie size.

Availability: 5.0

Live Target takes their queue from Apple and makes it really hard to find new baits when first launched. Sure the big guns will get stock but most of the smaller shops see delays which ends up hurting them as it drives anglers who desperately want this bait to buy it somewhere other then their local shop. With that said once in full launch mode this bait is everywhere and you should have no issues getting your hand on one if you really want to.. at times you may just have to sacrifice size or color choice since more smaller retailers won't stock all 24 sku's.

Options & Price: 4.5/5

When it comes to options are price the hollow body sunfish gets a near perfect score. It comes in 2 sizes that I will call small and medium and its available in 12 colors.. most of which are not sunfish. As for price this bait is slightly more expensive then the standard Live target frogs.. why? because anglers will pay for it (I did.. twice).

As mentioned above most tackle shops in my region are not carrying all 24 versions of this frog (2 sizes x 12 colors) so although the options are available you may be limited locally to what you can buy. This also goes for size, one major shop in my area is only stocking the smaller size and in all honesty I find it too small for my liking.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($12.99)

Bass Pro Shop ($12.99)

Land Big Fish ($12.39)


Equipment:

All  testing was done on a  Dobyns DX746 it is my go to rod and handles both hollow and soft plastic baits alike. As for reels, the Daiwa Tatula HD pairs well with this rod and gives you a nice over sized spool for that added distance and power. Line choice was SunLine FX2

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): A

Pads (Medium Cover): A

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: A+

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: C+

Snag Proof Bleedin' Frog Review

Bleeding' Frog:    Colors: 5     Weight: 1/2oz    Size: 3"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Snag Proof has proven to me over and over again that they know how to make a good frog, but every once in a while I feel that take a step back. In my opinion the Bleeding' frog is one of those instances. Its not a frog problem, simply put they loaded this frog up with a bunch of gimmicky features that for the most part don't put any more fish in your boat.

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: 3.0/5

Built Snag Proof tough you won't find many issues with this frogs quality and or durability. That is other then the usually read hook problem.. like braided line red hooks just don't seem to hold their color,  the more fish you land, structure you bang or pliers you use.. kiss the rod coating goodbye. Any since that is a feature of this frog I had to deduct points here.

Cast ability: 3.5/5

The Bleeding frogs large profile allows you to get some pretty decent casting distance when needed. It has an exposed rear weight that make sure it lands ass down 9 times out of 10 and its quickly in its fighting stance.

Like the red on the hooks, the exposed rear weight can wear down over time, this may shave a bit off the frogs weight, we are not talking jenny craig here, but it may be noticeable in the wind or when casting for distance.

Presentation: 3.5/5

The Bleedin' frog moves average to well in the water. Its not a great walker but also not one of the worst. The Version of this frog "with attitude" walks slightly worse then the version without the trailer hook.

Even with the rear weight I found my bleeding frog to sit more flat than ass down, This may be due to the larger body frame. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

As mentioned above there are two versions of this frog. One "with attitude" and apparently one without attitude. 'With attitude means it comes with a trailer hook and a $2 price increase. It may not look like it here but I bough the attitude version and ended up removing the trailer hook. Sure they are good in sparse or open water, but all in all I didn't find it made that much difference other then to the amount of time i spent cleaning my hooks.

Snag Proofs medium soft body allows for decent hook-up ratios. I don't have exact measurements but I will say this frog fishes larger then my SP fav's.

Availability & Price: 3.5/5

Reasonably priced at $7.99 these frogs are very common. Bleeding lures were the rage a few seasons back and still often hook anglers. 

Options: 3.0/5

1 Size, 5 basic colors and an attitude adjustment is what you have for options here. its standard dare for Snag Proof but as usual it leaves me wanting more.

Where to Find:

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

TackleWarehouse ($7.99)

Monster ($7.59)

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 60lb Daiwa J-Braid. This rod and reel combo offers the perfect balance of power and sensitivity needed when frog fishing, 

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): B+

Pads (Medium Cover): B+

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): C

Walk the Dog: C

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: C+

Boze Sumo Frog Review - Retired

Sumo:    Colors: 5     Weight: 5/8oz    Size: 2 3/4"   Pack Count: 1

      

Intro:

Last year I wrote my first Boze frog review, and it was at that time that I realized that I had been sitting on a review of the Boze Sumo walker for a couple years now.. you know a frog didn't make an impression what you don't even remember using it. So last season I tied it back on and gave it a few more casts hoping it would all come back to me, and I'd fall in love.. that was not the case

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: 3.0/5

I'm not really blown away by anything Ive seen on the Boze frog, but at the same time there's not a lot wrong with it. I'm not a huge fan or frogs with external weights, so that would be considered a bit of a con, and the frogs body is thicker then I would like, but that also means its durable. 

I had a few water issues with this frog, not titanic, more like a leaky canoe.

Cast ability: 3.5/5

With a slender body and a rear weight its easy to get this frog airborne and it covers some nice distance. The bellow of the frog is also nice and flat making it one of the easier frogs to skip.

Presentation: 3.0/5

The Sumo frog has an odd body shape that sits well in the water, but its not ideal for walking. I'm not sure if this is due to leg placement or the length of silicone used in the legs, but all in all this frog seems to trip all over itself when walking.

But.. the wide stance and flat body make it easy to pull the Sumo frog over pads and other debris on the water, it pushes or moved water well which is a great way to call fish in from all around.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

Between the round bend hooks and the firm body I found my hook-up ratio with the sumo frog was average to poor. I felt fish were not getting enough of the frog when they struck, and the hooks weren't finding a home on my hooksets. 

Availability & Price: 2.0/5

This is a hard category to grade on as this frog is all but obsolete at this time. I actually couldn't find this frog at all on any of the websites i frequent including Ebay.. hey maybe its a collectors item.

Options: 3.0/5

I loved the colour options available when this frog was in its prime, Boze offered a mix of traditional and bright colours. At one point two sizes were available but as mentioned above you'll be lucky to find either now.

Where to Find:

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

RETIRED

Equipment:

I ran this frog on a Dobyns 736c, paired up with a Daiwa Tatula HD reel on 60lb braid. This rod and reel combo is built to handle frogs of all shapes and sizes and work well in tandem with the Boze Sumo frog.

Field Test Report Card:

Open Water (Sparse Pads): C

Pads (Medium Cover): C

Slop & Grass (Heavy Cover): B-

Walk the Dog: C

Popping Action: N/A

Sit/Pause: C

The 2015 Frog Pond Season is Closed.. see you in 2016

see ya in 2016