Mann's Hard Nose FrankenToad Review

Frankentoad:      Colours: 9   Size: 4"     Pack Count:  5     

                            Leg Style: Swim            Scent: None

Intro:

As a big fan of the "hard nose" series of Mann's baits, I was excited when I saw the FrankenToad added to their line-up back in 2011. It has a unique look and feel that I thought would add a slightly different (and beefier) presentation not seen on the classic hard nose swim toad. Boy was I wrong, now just 1 year later the FrankenToad is nearly extinct (clearance on most websites) and I know why.. It just cant compete

Overall Rating: 6.3/10

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

Quality: 3.5/5

The FrankenToad is part of Mann's "hard nose" series, but could just as easily be classed as a hard nose, soft tail bait. Yes the FrankenToad is built with a hard durable nose that Mann's baits are known for, they hold on tight and last for multiple fish. But on the flip side the tail and legs of the FrankenToad don't hold up their end of the bargain, the lighter material rips easily and does not move as well as the legs on the Mann's swim toad

Castability: 3.5/5

No real issue here, the FrankenToad casts well, and it's broader body makes for a great skipping frog

Presentation: 3.0/5

I was not happy with the swim on this frog, the legs are slightly lipped and try to bridge that gap between a swim and buzz frog, but what your left with is a frog that only performs as a half ass swim frog or a half ass buzz frog (depending on how you look at it). Im not sure what the extra little tail was meant to do, but in my mind it accomplishes nothing (and even less when it gets ripped off)

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

Again, no real concerns with the hook-up ratio on the FrankenToad. I would prefer that it provide me with a place to bury or hide my hook point, but this is an issue on the classic Mann's swim toad as well (so nothing new here). You are forced to skin hook into the back of the frog and the material rips/tears easily damaging the bait

Availability: 2.0/5

Good luck with this one. Last year I saw this frog all over the place as it was the "hot" new product on the market. 1 year later it has been tossed aside and discontinued by most major retailers that stock Mann's line of products 

Options & Price: 3.0/5

When it was available you could not complain about 9 colour choices and an average pack price of $3.99 or $0.79 per frog. That being said, you will have a hard time finding all 9 colours currently but on the other hand the price has dropped as companies clear them out

Where to Find:

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

Cabela's ($3.99)

Land Big Fish ($3.27)

Yes the list is short. LBF is clearing these out, they still have good colour selection and the best pricing options. Cabelas is still selling at full pop, but is down to  3 colours or so

Equipment:

I threw the FrankenToad on both my Dobyns 735c as well as my 805CBRM. Both rods can handle this frog with ease.  Although it can be used as both I treat the FrankenToad as a swim frog and not a buzz frog. what this means to me, is that on average I retrieve it at a higher rate so a reel with a decent gear ratio is needed to keep this weird ass frog moving.

Deps Slither K review

Slither K:   Colors: 6   Length: 2.4"  Weight: 3/8oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

The Deps Slither K was a reluctant add to my arsenal, not because I had and issue and concerns with the quality of previous Deps products but more because of it's size. The Slither K is a small profile light weight frog, and personally I prefer my frogs with a bit more meat on them. That being said the Slither K is doing everything it can to change me mind about small profile frogs

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: 4.5/5

What can I say, you get what you pay for and believe me the Deps slither K is worth the price of admission. Yes it is a highly expensive frog, but it is a quality bait from top to bottom. 

The body of the Slither K is ultra soft yet very durable, it is equipped with a fur tail instead of the standard silicone/rubber strands. The Fur not only stands up better to use, but it also imparts a better action (in my opinion) 

Castability: 4.0/5

This is the area that I was most surprised by. This little compact light weight frog casts very well. It can be long bombed or flipped up under cover with ease.

I broke some of my own rules and actually started testing this frog during a tournament. I had originally put it on because the lake we were fishing has sparse cover and I wanted to use a frog that moved well. As it turns out the only time I was able to use a frog was in one back bay, but the entrance was blocked by timber. I almost retied in an attempt to get a heavier frog on that I knew would make the distance easily, but instead I gave the Slither K a shot and it did not disappoint. Long casts with ease and I cant complaint about landing a fish on my first cast either

Presentation: 5.0/5

 Damn, does this frog every move. If you are looking for a frog that walks, hops, and even imparts action on the pause, the the Slither K has you covered. It's boat haul design and short frame give it an erratic walk that can be altered with slow or fast retrieves. The slithering fur tail gives this frog some additional action when in motion as well as on the pause. I learned the value of fur while fishing the Furbit, and I think this short tail piece is even an improvement on the furbits longer legs (longer is not always better)

Hook-Up Ratio: 5.0/5

I knew I would be giving this frog a perfect score when it came to the hook-up ration about midway through my second trip with it. At that time I was 8 for 8.. yep you heard that right I landed all 8 of the first 8 fish that blew up on the Slither K, so add the fish from my tournament and the Slither K was 9 for 9 right out of the gate. The first fish I missed was actually my fault and not the frogs, it was a short strike jsut feet from the boat that caught me by surprise and i pulled the frog away way to soon.

What makes the Slither K a great frog from your hook up percentage is three things really... first off the small body is like a 2-bite brownie, it fits easily in the fishes mouth and is really hard to miss. Secondly the body is super soft, it compresses with ease and you wont have a hard time putting that hook home. Last but not least the use of fur over silicone/rubber means there is less junk to get in the way of those hooks .

Availability: 3.5/5

The availability of the Slither K to the Canadian market is slim to none, It is nearly impossible to find locally and when you do the price is over the $20 mark. That being said they are readily available on-line from most of the big guns you count on for quality products.

Options & Price: 3.0/5

Ok, ok, I know, the price point on this bad boy hurts. Coming in at $19.99 there is not really many frogs worth or asking that price point. I think the score reflects the high price point, but still takes into consideration that overall the quality of the frog puts it into an elite category.

When it comes to options the only ones available are color changes. The Deps Slither K comes in 6 color options all of which are fishing catching choices. I opt to carry this frog in the Swampster and Albino colours

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($19.99)

The Hook-Up Tackle ($19.99) 

Land Big Fish ($19.99)

Optimum Baits ($19.99)

All of thee above on-line stores have all 6 color options and are available for the same price point. I have been buying mine direct from Optimum as they are quick and have decent shipping into Canada

Videos:

Tackle Warehouse 

Bushon.net (Best shows the Frogs Action)

Equipment:

I have been throwing the Deps Slither K on my Dobyns 736C, you may think that rod may be a bit much for this small frog, but you will be presently surprised by how easily it casts. The reel of choice has been the Daiwa Advantage but at time I have gone down slightly to the T3 Ballistic, both reels can handle the pressure of frog fishing and after that it comes down to personal preference.

This is my fav frog of 2012 so far, it has not left my rod in weeks and I can safely say it wont be going anywhere any time soon

Live Target Field Mouse Review

Field Mouse 60T:   Colors: 4     Length: 3" (w/o Tail)    Weight: 5/8oz   Pack Count: 1

Field Mouse 70T:   Colors: 4     Length: 3 1/2" (w/o Tail)  Weight: 3/4oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

If you have been following this blog for any period of time, then you will know that in the past I have shown some love to a few of the Live Target Frogs. The LT Field Mouse is not one of those products. Between some serious hook slippage and durability concerns I have my doubts about this product, but that being said it is a Live Target product, so Im not ready to write it off as of yet

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: 3.5/5

This is the first live target product that I can honestly say I have encountered quality issue with. From the first time I watched a buddy fish with it, I watched as small 1lb fish destroyed one. I had already purchased my pair, or I would probably never would have.

When I got mine on the water, I experienced a couple issues that I can trace back to quality. The first issue I encountered was how easily the rubber tail can be ripped or torn. The below image was take after the second blown-up that bait encountered (not second fish.. second blow-up). The tail now dangles from a thread and I dont expect it to last much longer.

The second issue I had was in the durability of the body. The way the hook lay againt the body I often get the point pinned into the back of the mouse. This can effect your hook-up ratio and the more holes you add the more water the bait takes on.

On the Plus side, this is a Live Target bait, so it looks great

Castability: 4.0/5

For a fairly light weight bait the Field mouse dies cast fairly well. It lands properly and covers good water. Im not sure there was need for the smaller size, as I find the larger mouse to be smaller then I would like.

Presentation: 3.5/5

There are some pro's and con's associated with the presentation of the LT Field Mouse. First off, this mouse moves very well in the water, it can be moved at fast, medium or slow retrieves and still get the job done. The issue I have is that my retrieve is often interrupted by a "blow-up" not a bad thing right? well it is if the fish misses but easily knocks the hooks out of position thus ruining the rest of your retrieve and chance to get a second blow-up from that fish. The below picture shows off the issue I have encountered over and over again with the Field Mouse. These hooks pop out easily when struck by fish or caught and pulled through pads.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

The LT Field Mouse is a nice bite sized snack for most bass, which means getting it into their mouth is not an issue. But putting the hooks home can be. As mentioned above I find the hook points on this mouse often can and will bury themselves into the back of the mouse. If your points are not exposed you will have a hard time landing the fish. The tick rubber tail can also get in the way at times, although I did not find this was as big of an issue as the other concerns I have with the mouse

Availability: 4.5/5

There is not much to say here, this is a Live Target product and they are pretty much available anywhere. I think I can get them at my local gas station and coffee shop. So yes, getting your hands on these mice is easy. Same goes for on-line shoppers, google this mouse and you will be able to shop to your hearts content 

Options & Price: 3.5/5

Unlike the other Live Target hollow body fogs on the market today, you have limited sizes and colours to choose from. The Field mouse is available in two sizes.. small and tiny. If you are going to give this guy a shot do yourself a favour and purchase the larger size. As for the price this product comes in at close to the 11$ mark, not outrageous, but higher then the RatN Rat previously reviewed

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($10.99)

eTackle ($11.47) * Canadian 

Bass Pro Shop ($10.49)

Land Big Fish ($10.99)

As usual Tackle Warehouse and Land Big Fish have the best prices and selection for this product. Both are competitive and should be able to get you what you need. 

Videos:

Live Target Promo Video

Icast 2011 Video

Equipment:

Unlike the first mouse/rat bait I reviewed (the RatN Rat) the Live Target field mouse is light weight more finesse style frog. I opted to use my Dobyns 735c rod as it has a bit softer of a tip and allows for greater accuracy when casting lighter baits.

Snag Proof: Ish Phat Frog Review

Ish Phat Frog:   Colors: 15   Length: 3"  Weight: 0.67oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Im not a huge fan of most Snag proof frogs, believe me, I know Im in the minority here, but they look dated, are made (usually) with a firmer harder plastic then other frogs on the market, and their legs stick out to the side and get in the way.. the Ish Phat frog on the other hand has broke the mould and made me a believer in Snag Proof products 

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: 4.5/5

From top to bottom the Ish Phat frog is a quality designed and built frog. The soft plastic body collapses easily but still holds up over multiple fish and structure abuse. The hooks are strong, sharp and well positioned. The new second air chamber is one of the largest improvements, and makes the Ish a nearly unsinkable frog. 

Good color selection but still I cant give it full marks as many other frogs has surpassed it with life like features and markings 

Castability: 5.0/5

 The low profile body design (wide and flat) and hefty body (0.67oz) makes this frog a breeze to cast. It can easily get some serious distance in all weather conditions and I can skip it up under trees or branches with ease. This is one of the best casting frogs I come across and if there is any wind in the forecast it makes it an easy choice to tie one on

Presentation: 4.0/5

The Ish Phat frog works well in both sparse and thick cover. It's body is designed to walk, and walk well it does, but the flat bottom and extra weight make it the perfect heavy cover frog. It sits very well on the pads and fish have a hard time knocking it off. 

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.5/5

The changes made from a traditional Snag Proof frog design to the Ish design were put in place to do one thing.. Improve your hook-up ratio. And they perform as advertised. The slender soft body collapses easily, the hooks are placed well, and grab tight. The Ish frogs legs come off the back of the frog instead of the side and stay away from your hook points. I had great success while fishing with the Ish Phat frog, the softer yet heavier body sits very well in the water and fish just crush it

Availability: 4.0/5

Snag Proof products are readily available in my area, I cant remember the last tackle shop I was in that did not carry their line of frogs. On-line on the other hand, I was surprised to find some of the top guns not offering the Ish Phat frog. I like to do the majority of my shopping at LBF and although they carry some Snag Proof frogs they are not currently carrying the Ish (Bass Pro also does not have it listed on-line although I have seen it in store)

Options & Price: 4.0/5

The price point on this frog is Ok, not good, not bad, and surely not ugly. I would like to see it priced a bit lower, but since there is more at work inside this frog I understand why it is priced higher then frogs like the Booyah Pad Crasher. When it comes to color options there are a total of 15 available colours. Not all stores carry them all, so don't expect to see more then 8 options at most retailers

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($8.99)

Snagg Proof ($9.95) 

The Hook-Up ($8.99)

Bass Tackle Depot ($8.99)

Videos:

Tackle Warehouse Icast 2009 

Tackle Tour (Ish) 

Equipment:

I have been throwing the Ish Phat frog on my Dobyns 736c, and find it to be the perfect rod for this frog. The extra weight  allows you to cast this frog a mile, and this beefy rod makes sure you can get fish out quick. Sunline FX2 frog line in 65lb is what I have been using all season and I have no complaints.

Stanley Ribbit Double Take Hook

     Colors: 2 Sizes: 4/0,5/0,6/0  Pack Count: 2  Features: Nose Screw, Twin Points, Weighted option 

Intro:

When I started this blog I did not intend to include hooks, line or other accessories (frogs only!) but as I started to watch the frog market expand I realized I was doing myself and my readers a disservice by not expanding into hooks. Personally before I started this blog I only used the Zoom Horny toad hook or various EWG hooks, but I now see I was missing out.. the Stanley Ribbit Double take is a quality hook that works extremely well with the Stanley Ribbit frog

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

Each frog is rated on the following criteria: Quality, Presentation, Available Options, Product Availability & Price

Quality/Durability: 4.5/5

Im finally getting around to reviewing a second frog hook. The Stanley Ribbet Double take is a very high quality hook that has some defining pros and some cons associated with it. 

Lets start off with the Pros, the Double take hook lives up to it's name, it is a strongly built hook with twin (or double) points that are razor sharp and stand up fish after fish. The Hook it built to perfectlu hold Stanley's Ribbit Frog, after twisting your frog onto the nose screw the hook points should easily slide through the thigh portion of the frogs legs (see below)

You really need to watch you hook size though, as not all sizes match up with all sizes of Ribbit (con #1). I fell into this trap, as no where did the hook package read which size Ribbit frog  this hook was recommended for. The issue is, if you are using  a hook that is too large for your Ribbit the hook will go too far down the leg and kill the action of the frog. If you use a hook that is too short, the points will be too high into the meat of the frog body and you may miss fish.

This leads me to Con #2. The Stanley Ribbit Double take hook was designed for the Stanley ribbit frog, and does not fit a large portion of the soft plastic frogs on the market today... to clarify, it does not properly fit. You can make it work, just not as originally intended.

Ok, now for some more pros... The Double take hook when used with the proper size frog will provide you with a perfect rigging. The below pic clearly shows how straight this frog has been rigged, and a perfect rigging simply means this frog will fish straighter, cast better, provide less spinning and less veering off to one side or the other

I dont have to tell you, a cleaner straighter running frog will catch more fish.

Availability & Price 3.0/5

Unlike the Zoom hook previously reviewed the Stanley Ribbit Double take is not widely available in Canadian retailers. That being said it can easily be found on-line in most major retailers.

As for pricing, this bad boy is expensive, coming in on average at $4.99 for a 2-pack (non weighted) the per hook costs comes in at $2.49, that's just over twice the cost if the Zoom Horny toad hook.

Options : 4.5/5

Stanley has loaded this hook up with options, it is currently available in 2 weighted models,  front weighted and bellied weighted as well as non-weighted (my preference). Weighted models are available in two colours, a standard nickel as well as red.

3 Hook sizes are available, 4/0, 5/0 and 6/0. As mentioned above please be wary of matching the hook to the Stanley ribbit frogs you own. If these hooks are rigged wrong you are either going to kill the motion of the bait or miss fish

Where to Find:

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

Stanley ($5.29)

Tackle Warehouse ($4.59- $5.09)

Land Big Fish ($4.79 - $4.99)

Bass Pro Shop ($5.29 - $6.79)

The prices kinda vary here, and so does the selection. Obviously buying direct from Stanley will give you full access to the line of hooks. Tackle Warehouse and BPS on the other hand both have the worse selection of the 4 companies listed. If you are looking for decent pricing a good selection, LBF is your best bet (although they do not have the full line)

River2Sea Bully Wa Frog Review

Bully Wa 45:   Colors: 14     Length: 1-3/4"    Weight: 1/5oz   Pack Count: 1

Bully Wa 55:   Colors: 14   Length: 2-1/4"    Weight: 7/16oz   Pack Count: 1

Bully Wa 65:   Colors: 14   Length: 2-1/2"    Weight: 5/8oz   Pack Count: 1

Bully Wa 75:   Colors: 14   Length: 3"           Weight: 3/4oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

My introduction to the the River2Sea frog line-up was the Dahlberg Diving frog, and to be honest, I was not a huge fan (review seen here). So I was a little sceptical about tying on another R2S product, but Im sure glad I did, the Bully Wa is a far superior product to the Diving frog and will rival many of the top frog on the market today.. this frog would be a great addition to any anglers frog fishing arsenal 

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: 3.5/5

Prior to fishing with the Bully Wa if you had asked me my opinion on the quality of products produced by River2Sea, I would have suggested that they were a low quality mass produced cheaply to be sold cheaply to weekend warriors and guys who get out fishing once or twice a season. Now having fished with the Bully Wa frog I cant say that all of the above in untrue, but what I can say is that the Bully Wa is a quality product that fished very well, and is priced below what it would be if it had a another name on the box

Castability: 4.0/5

Speaking from my experience using the larger model Bully Wa's I can honestly say this frogs cast very well. The low profile body cuts through windy conditions to ensure you still get some distance on your cast. I did find that this frog landed upside more often then some of the other frogs I have been fishing but not enough to effect its rating (in this section anyways)

Presentation: 3.5/5

The Bully Wa frog was designed like a high performance SUV, it has a low wide stance that helps make you keep all 4 tires on the pads and makes it hard to flip over when on ruff terrain.. that being said, mine flipped over... a lot... and I found it was harder to get Bully Wa turn back upright then it was to flip it over in the first place. This was a minor annoyance and something I could over look due to how well the frog performed the other 80% of the time. The deep keel and low frame do make the Bully Wa a breeze to fish. Whether on pads or in open in water, it moves well and is usually in position to hook any fish that takes a swipe.

Hook-Up Ratio: 4.0/5

I find that I can be easily biased on any frog that has a 100% hook up ratio on it's first day of testing. Yes I know many other factors come in to play in a situation like this, but for me I was very happy with the the hook-up ratio and how well the hooks held on to the fish once hooked.

I on trip 2 I was fishing some pretty heavy slop which meant that once hooked it was a drag race to get the fish in, but the Bully Wa held strong and both fish hooked this way were landed

Availability: 4.0/5

If there is one thing that River2Sea has done really well (other then make frogs) it is infiltrating  the market. I would suggest that over 80% of my local fishing retailer carry River2Sea products. Originally I would have said this was based solely on the low price point making their products friendly to all levels of angler, but now I can see there is some quality behind that price point

Options & Price: 4.5/5

With 4 sizes and a total of 14 colour options you will have no lack of choice when choosing a Bully Wa. Personally I use the 65 and 75 series as I like a little beef with my frogs. Price wise the Bully Wa falls nicely under the $8 mark which makes it one of the cheaper frogs on the market.

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 - $7.99)

River2Sea ($6.99 - $8.49) 

Land Big Fish ($6.99 - $7.99)

Bass Tackle Depot ($6.99- $7.99)

Videos:

FHC Outdoors 

Tackle Warehouse (Scott Martin) 

Equipment:

The River2Sea Bully Wa series of frog is best fished with a Dobyns 735c or Dobyns 736c. I personally tend towards the 735c for this frog as I like a rod with a bit more tip. This low profile walking frog benefits from its ability to move the in water, and as with any bait, the rod tip is important to achieving walking success. Dont get me wrong the 736c will also accomplish this, but it is a bit stiffer

Creme Fish Frog Review

FishFrog:      Colours: 9   Size: 4"    Weight: N/A      Pack Count:  5     

                        Leg Style: Buzz      Scent: None

Intro:

The Creme FishFrog is my first introduction into the Creme line of baits. I really liked the look of the bait when I saw it on-line and just had to have one. I have fished the FishFrog multiple times now and although I dont have any real complaints with this bait, I do find that it does not offer the user anything new or unique that is not already offered by some higher quality (or more readily available) products.

Overall Rating: 6.0/10

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

Quality: 4.0/5

As I kind of touched on above I have no real concerns with the quality or performance of this bait, and actually I think one area I can praise this bait would be in it's quality and durability. The body is built tough it holds hooks well and takes all the abuse a fish can throw its way. Haven't lost a leg yet!

Castability: 3.5/5

A nice arrow dynamic fish shaped design helps cast this bait for long distances., Couple that with a fairly hefty bait (for a soft plastic frog) the Creme FishFrog is a dream to cast. If you like to skip frogs, this beaut will do that to

Presentation: 3.5/5

Overall the FishFrog moves very well in the water. The fish shaped design allows you to easily pull the frog back to the surface after your cast and keep it up during the retrieve. The legs are solid and kick very well without having to keep up a high rate of retrieve. This frog has an odd bulbous belly that helps keep the hook point out of harms way so your retrieve should be uninterrupted (other then from fish hopefully)

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.0/5

No real complaints with the hook-up ration on the FishFrog, the body is made of a fairly pliable plastic that contorts easily. The only concern you may have is how dense the body is. It holds the hook very firmly and if you barrie it took deep you are going to be in some trouble. 

Availability: 1.0/5

Ok, so the availability of this frog kinda sucks. I cant even find it on the Creme site, and was only able to find it on two other websites.. one of which (TackleWarehouse) is obviously discontinuing them as they only have 1 color option in stock.

Options & Price: 3.0/5

Creme offers the FishFrog in 9 color options, and at an average price of $3.79 a pack or $0.75 a frog. This is a decent assortment and price for a smaller vendor.

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($3.89)*

Land Big Fish ($3.69)

* Tackle Warehouse only has one color left, so I beleieve they are discontinuing this product.

Equipment:

I threw the FishFrog on both my Dobyns 735c as well as my 805CBRM. I think I preferred the 735c as this frog still handles well with beefier rods and does not require the same amount of tip as other more finesse style frogs