The Frog Pond 2012 Season Comes to a close

(This is my Primary Frog Box)

Bass Season will be closing in exactly 4 days, so this post officially marks the end of the First Season of Frog pond reviews.. This year we banged out 40+ frog reviews as well as reviews for a couple frog related products like frog hooks and line. We thank you for tuning in, and want to remind you not to go away, as we still have two Year in Review posts dropping  and we will continue to update the Frog Pond on a regular basis to keep you updated on all frog fishing news over the course of the off season

We already have some great reviews lined up for 2013, and don't forget if you have any product requests or if you are a manufacturer (big or small) that would like to see your product reviewed on the Frog pond you can reach us at bass.junky@hotmail.com or on the Bass Junkies Fishing Addiction Facebook page

Again, thank you for participating in The Frog Pond Season #1.. see ya in 2013 with a ton more Frog reviews

Outdoor Advantage Boss Frog Review

     Boss Frog:      Colours: 35   Size: 3.5"     Pack Count:  7     

                             Leg Style: Buzz            Scent: Your Choice

Intro:

I found out about Outdoor Advantage while reading some forum posts on www.ultimatebass.com, I like what I heard and decided to place an order for multiple products including the Boss Frog. If you have not checked out the Outdoor advantage website you are missing out, they design custom baits at an affordable price.. here is what I think about the Boss frog

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: 4.5/5

for a smaller mom & pop style operation I was extremely impressed with the quality of the bait produced. It its very durable and the scent lasts for days (my fingers still stink) 

Castability: 3.5/5

The boss hog is one of the shorter frogs I fished this season coming in at the 3.5" mark. That being said it is made of a fairly dense plastic and casts very well. It cant be flipped, skipped or bombed for distance and no matter how it hits the water the deep hook cavity on it's back keeps it out of harms way

Presentation: 3.5/5

The Boss frogs swims well, and gives off a nice churn. It can at times take a few cranks to get it up on plane, but it runs true. Watch you speed when retrieving as at times this frog can go into a death roll, and that will turn off any fish previously paying attention. A wider stance may help future versions of this frog

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

I really like the deep well on the back of this frog. It gives you the option "to skin hook or not to skin hook". I personally still opt for the skin hook, but if the frog is bumped on your retrieve the point will stays hidden even if  comes loose.

The softer pliable material holds up well, but does not hinder the movement of the hook when a fish strikes. All in all the Boss frog offers a high hook-up ratio

Availability: 2.0/5

Because these frogs are available as custom orders, they can only be purchased through Outdoor Advantage. This is not a bad thing, but it hurts the baits overall review score

Options & Price: 5.0/5

Ok, here is where Outdoor Advantage is going to blow you away. First and foremost the Boss Frog comes in a crazy 35 color options.. yes you heard me,, 35 colours. It that is not enough choice for you it is also available in 8 scent options.. yes I said 8... and that is all in their standard order area, I have even told you about the custom order area in which you can choose, colour, scent, flakes, accent colors and more.. yes Outdoor Advantage is the king of choice, and if you want to know the best part.. they are only $4.50 for a 7 count bag.. that's $0.64 a frog

Ok, last but not least, Outdoor Advantage offers a very cool "Green" frog option. Yes instead of throwing away the extra bits, pieces and leftovers from custom orders, they turn them into a mixed 10 count bag of frogs that will cost you only $3.50. Very cool initiative, way to stay green ( i know there is a pun in there somewhere)

Where to Find:

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

Outdoor Advantage ($4.50)

Equipment:

As with most buzz frogs I like to throw the Buzz Frog on a Dobyns 735c, the rod has a soft enough tip to cast theses little guys a country mile and the back bone to yank a boss hawg out of the cover. 

PayCheck Transporter Frog

Transporter Frog:   Colors: 7    Length: 2 5/8"  Weight: 5/8oz   Pack Count: 1

Intro:

Paycheck Baits have a real winner when it comes to the Transporter frog. They have designed somthing new/different that will hook anglers and fish alike. If you have been looking for another monster frog to add to your arsenal you cant go wrong with the Transporter.. just ask Jason Statham 

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: 4.0/5

No complaints when it comes to the quality of the Transporter frog. The body borders on the thick/edge, yet holds up well when beaten up by fish or structure. The paint job and available colour options are very unique and help make the Transporter frog a true "one of a kind".. Lets not forget the Gammy hooks, always a good choice for your hollow bellied frog

 

Castability: 4.0/5

 The weight and body style make the Transporter a pretty easy frog to case. The body profile lands well and can even be skipped (a bit). It has a decent amount of back end weight that allows you to cast for distance in pretty much all weather conditions. 

Presentation: 4.5/5

I really like the way the Transporter frog moves, it spits and pops with the best of them, and has just a bit of sway when paused to give it a very subtle walking motion. I was able to chug it along at high, medium and slow speeds, and it never fouled up. The side arms and long back legs give up great motion even when paused, combine that with the popper mouth and gotta believe that this frog calls fish in from long range.

The ass-end of the transporter sits slightly below the water level, it does not dangle like and entice as much as some of the top rated frogs, but it has and OK "sit" 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

Paycheck really pushes a couple features of the Transporter, the first being the 60 degree Gammy hook and the second is the heavy duty hook harness. Both of these features are designed to improve your overall hook-up ratio when using this frog, the problem is that the ass end of the transporter is thick, wide and made of a material that although soft is not anywhere near as pliable as frogs such as the Live Target hollow body or the Booyah Pad Crasher. The below image clearly shows how much of the hook is visible when pressure is placed on the body of the frog.

Availability: 3.0/5

On-line this frog is a pretty easy find. Most of the big guns carry it. That being said, finding this frog at a local Ontario based tackle shop is another story. I think it have seen it once in all my travels

Options & Price: 3.5/5

The transporter is not horribly priced, it fits in just over the $10 mark putting it in live with some of the specialty frogs, but way lower then the imports. I like this fit, it is a quality product and worth $8-$10 but I would not pay much more for it

This Transporter is only available in one size. I'm still on the fence a bit, as at times it feels a bit big and bulky. I don't think it should be considered over sized but it does have a large frog feel to it

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($10.49)

Land Big Fish ($10.49) 

PayCheck ($10.99)

Bass Tackle Depot ($10.49)

Equipment:

As mentioned above the I find that the Transporter frog "fishes big" meaning that although it is not a bruzer when it comes to size or weight, it kinda feels like it is. So with that in mind I opt for my heavier rods when fishing the transporter. The Dobyns 736c is the perfect rod for this frog, an if you want some added beef give the DX795 a shot.. damn that is a nice rod for froggin

Retired: Berkley BatWing Frog Review

BatWing:      Retired!

Intro:

I know of at least one angler that was sad to see these frogs go, but that angler is not me. The Berkley BatWing frog is an oddly designed frog that is super light weight with a flat belly and odd legs. It moves surprisingly well over pads, and fish seem to eat it.. that power bait scent is still a winner. But overall as soft plastic frogs go, the BatWing cant compete with all the options available to todays angler, and thus Berkley has retired the BatWing (but not the Gulp version)

Overall Rating: 6.2/10

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

Quality: 3.5/5

Berkley has been making quality baits for years, and when looking at the BatWing frog it is not so much the quality of the product as it is the quality of the presentation. The material used stands up well to the abuse a bait goes through when landing multiple fish, but I feel it is over simplified and does not present as well as it could

Castability: 3.0/5

This is a very, very light weigh bait and it takes to getting use to when casting. The aerodynamic deisgn works in it's favour but overall it can be a nightmare to cast in windy conditions or without setting your drag to loose.

Presentation: 2.5/5

There may be some that will argue with my review, but I found this Frog lacked presentation altogether. The legs give off a faint soft flutter but the body imparts little action and even less when paused. I did have some rolling issues for awhile, and it took some getting use to to find the perfect retrieve.

The BatWing frog is a much better pad frog then open water frog. The flat belly allows it to sit better on top of the pads, and allows you to drag it at various speeds. If you put the BatWing through a bumpy ride it will flip on you, and good luck getting it to turn back over.

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

The thin body is one of the best things about the BatWing frog, it allows you to use standard and EWG hooks and still have room to slam the hook home. I don't like how your hook point sits on the back of the frog, the material is not build to skin hook well and there is no other place to put the hook. This is a good thing for your hook-up ratio but makes for difficult retrieves when in heavy cover.

Availability: N/A

Good luck finding a BatWing nowadays, sure some shops may have a dusty collection from years past, but I can find a single retailer currently selling it, including Berkley. You will still find some of the "Gulp" BatWing frogs hanging around but I will warn you if you think this i was a poor review just wait to I review the Gulp version, slimy soft mess that it is

Options & Price: N/A

There are not any, this frog is not available. When it was there were a few colour options as available. I like the black and red as well as a green white. No sizes changes but all frogs came with that secret power bait scent.

Where to Find:

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

I cant find one on-line store carrying the non gulp version of the BatWing!

Equipment:

This is a light weight frog so you may want to put away those ultra beefy rods. I fish the BatWing with a Dobyns 735c and the 805CBRM. As with other light weight frogs the 805's extra length helps fling the frog over greater distances. You wont need much more then 40lb braid and could get away with some thinner if you have casting difficulties.

SunLine FX2 Frog Line

Colors: 2  Sizes: 90yrd - 300yrd  Strength: 50-80lb 

Intro:

Ok, as the season here in Ontario comes to a close I thought I should get in at least one Frog line review for the 2012 season. So here it is, a quick review of SunLine's FX2 for flipping and Froggin. I have been super impressed with that SunLine has to offer in both braids and fluorocarbon, and by the start of next season I believe that 80-90% of my reels will be running SunLine.. the other 10-20% will be testing out whatever new line hits the market.

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

Quality/Durability: 4.5/5

As an angler who uses frogs on each and every outing all season long, I can safely say I gave this line a good and thorough workout. I tired both the 50lb and the 60lb versions (in green only) and I was extremely happy with the results.

FX2 is a very smooth braided line, and it's tight round shape gives you great casting distance even when throwing lighter weight hollow bodied frogs. As you can see below FX2 has a very "rope" like look to it. The 8 strand braid makes for a very strong line with a very high breaking point. It is highly resistant to abrasion and can be fished all day long around rocks and timber with little after effects.

Unlike many other braids on the market FX2 holds it's color very well. Yes it will fade with use but not as quickly as other brands. No more dreaded green fingers after a day on the water.

I really like that this line has been designed strong for an application like Frog fishing, many other braids on the market work well for froggin, but SunLine spent the time to design a line that takes into consideration all the features a frog fisherman would look for in a line, strength, durability, abrasion resistance and casting ability.. not to mention it cuts through pads like a knife 

Availability & Price:  4.0/5

If you had asked me about this product at the beginning of the 2012 season I would have said " I never heard it" and that would have been the truth. Sun Line is not a brand commonly found in Ontario.. or should I say it was not commonly found, because at last check at least 4 of my go to tackle shops now carry  Sun Line. On top of that there is no shortage of on-line shops that offer FX2 some with more options then other (see below).

The price point is about standard what you pay for many high quality braids, am I happy about it?. no, but I cant fault them for falling in line with the competition.. considering FX2 is better then a lot of the competition.

Options : 3.5/5

 I don't know how many options you need when it comes to line, but I will say that Sun Line offers you two separate colours (Green and Blue) as well as weight ratings from 50-80lbs. At times I like to throw my soft plastic toads on 40lb line so I would like to see a thinner diameter line added, but in my opinion there is no need to go any higher then 80lbs when bass fishing

Where to Find:

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

Bass Tackle Depot ($16.99 - $38.99)

Tackle Warehouse ($38.99) * 300yrd only

Land Big Fish ($17.99)*125yrd only

The Hook-UP ($18.99 - $34.99)

SunLine FX2 is the current leader in frog fishing lines, I will contiue to run it on both of my frog rods until another competitor steps up to knock them off the podium.. Any challengers?

Rebel Frog R Review

Frog-R:   Colors: 4        Size: 2"        Weight: 3/8oz      Pack Count:  1

    

Intro:

Rebel lures hold a place near and dear to my heart, the company name and logo are synonymous with classic old school fishing. They make me think of all the times I would route through my grandfathers tackle box borrowing lures that I had no idea how to use or what to do with. Over the years I have continued to be a proud supporter of Rebel products, and to this day you will find a bunch of Rebel baits in my arsenal including: the Bumble bug, Crickhopper, Pop-R and now the all new Frog-R.

Overall Rating:  7.6/10

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

Quality: 4.0/5

For a bait that is priced on the lower end of the spectrum you have to admit that Rebel puts out a quality product. The Frog-R is well designed, well built and looks great. The only real concern I have its with the hooks. I find them to be a bit on the budget side, but again I think this is one of the ways Rebel helps keep the prices down for the average every day shopper. Tournament guys will want to switch these hooks out, and even with that added cost the Frog-R is still comes in at a reasonable price point 

Castability: 3.0/5

The Frog-R is fairly light weight and that can and will effect your overall casting distance especially in windy conditions.  It will take a bit of adjustment on your baitcaster to find the perfect setting if you want to launch this baby to the moon. 

Presentation: 4.0/5

The Rebel Frog-R is a top-water/wake bait. It cruises just along (or slightly under) the waters surface, and leaves a nice wake. The soft erratic action is similar to walking the dog and really seems to entice fish to bite. Like all Rebel baits it is designed for ease of use, so pro's and novices alike should have no issue making this bait twitch, walk and wake to perfection 

Hook-Up Ratio: 3.5/5

There has been a saying in the fishing industry for years now, that sayin is "Big baits catch big fish" and although technically thats true, you can over look the importance of smaller bite sized baits that fish can gobble up with ease. The Rebel Frog-R is the perfect 1-bite brownie to a bass and this means better hook-up ratios

Again, if the stocked hooks were improved this Frog would easily get a 4+ rating in this category

Availability: 4.0/5

Rebel products are in line with Rapala and Berkley and Live Target, they are readily available and no matter how large or small your local bait shop is, I would be surprised if they don't carry some if not all Rebel products. The Frog-R has been a instant success, and is widely available in my area

Options & Price: 4.5/5

You cant complain about the price point on the Rebel Frog-R, coming in on average under the $4 mark you would be hard pressed to find any other hard frog bait priced anywhere near it.  As for the options, you currently have 4 life like color choices, as you can see from the top image, I own three of the 4, and think they each have a use in my arsenal

Where to Find:

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

Tackle Warehouse ($4.29)

Bass Pro Shop  ($3.99)

Lurenet ($3.99)

Cabela's ($3.99)

Equipment:

When fishing with a Frog-R I have been going back and  forth between two different rods in my arsenal. I started off using the 705CB glass rod, it is my standard crank bait rod for squarbills and other shallow running cranks. As I used it more I moved over to a SS704c witch is a micro-guide rod. I love this rod for most top water applications and the Frog-R is no exception.  Top water fishing is one presentation in which I have moved over from braid to fluorocarbon, more specifically SunLine FC Sniper

Gambler Double Trouble Toad Hook Review

 Colors: 1 Sizes: 4/0  Pack Count: 2  Features: Nose Screw, Twin Points, 

Intro:

I will be the first to admit I was a bit late in coming to the Gambler Cane toad. It was not an avoidance thing but more of a lack of knowledge. When I finally started to use it, I quickly came across some pro's and con's. One of the con's was my ability to find the perfect way to hook this frog so that it ran true, and still achieved a decent hook-up ratio. Well thank god for the Gamble Double Trouble Toad hook, as they are a match made in heaven 

Overall Rating: 7.3/10

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

Quality/Durability: 4.0/5

This hook came pretty damn close to getting a perfect score in it's overall quality, but I cant in good conscience give this hook anything over a 4, with that gawd awful soldering job that attaches the corkscrew bait keeper to the hook shank. It looks bad, and since it is not a smooth finish it can cause you grief on your retrieve when it catches on vegetation. 

The hook itself is top quality, it is a 4/0 gammy and is sticky sharp

I did have concerns with rigging the DTT, but after watching the below video I realized it was a me issue and not an issue with the hook. I had been attempting to rig the hook through the body or thinner part of the frogs legs, but I hated the result. In the below promo video Chris Lane shows you that the Double Trouble was designed to be skin hooked on the side of the frog and not pushed through the body.. this makes way more sense and I was a little disappointed that I did not figure it our myself

Rigging Video

Availability & Price 3.5/5

The on-line availability of this hook is pretty solid, you can get it from most of the big boys. Locally is a different storey, I have yet to see this hook on my travels and ended up buying it sight unseen from LBF.

As for pricing, the Double Trouble hook averages out at about $5.26 a pack or $2.63 a hook.. ouch, that makes it the most expensive of the three frog hooks I have reviewed so far

Options : 3.0/5

How do I say this.. there are no options, you get one size, and one colour choice. Is that a bad thing? technically no, and I don't think it should be a sticking point when making a hook buying decision. It may actually make it easier for you.. no decision, just a yes or no

Where to Find:

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

Gambler ($5.29)

Tackle Warehouse ($4.89)

Land Big Fish ($4.89)

Bass Pro Shop ($5.99)